The cheapest and fastest trains from Preston to Chelmsford
Cheapest price
£106
Average price
£106
Fastest journey
4 h 23 m
Average duration
4 h 23 m
Trains per day
1
Distance
311 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Preston to Chelmsford is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Preston to Chelmsford will cost around £106 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £106.
Of the 1 trains that leave Preston for Chelmsford every day 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 311 km distance in an average of 4 h 23 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 23 m .
The slowest trains will take 4 h 23 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.


Travel Information
Compare train and flight for Preston to Chelmsford
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Preston to Chelmsford among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from £73. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 10m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £73, and a flight costs an average of £157.
Distance: 311 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Flight |
|---|---|
£90 Average Price Cheapest | £157 Average Price |
4h 20m Average total duration 3h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 10m Average total duration Fastest 1h 10m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Live departures
Preston to Chelmsford train times
The table below shows live departures for Preston to Chelmsford trains for tomorrow, Friday 20 March. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 08:01 Preston | 4h23 | 12:24 Chelmsford | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Preston to Chelmsford by train or flight
Compare train and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
21 Mar
22 Mar
23 Mar
24 Mar
25 Mar
26 Mar
27 Mar
Why should you book Preston to Chelmsford trains with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Avanti West Coast?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Avanti West Coast, but also compare tickets for the likes of Caledonian Sleeper to find the best option for your trip from Preston to Chelmsford.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Avanti West Coast with all available travel options, which are train and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Preston to Chelmsford.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu or Raileurope?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of Caledonian Sleeper to find the best option for your trip from Preston to Chelmsford.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train and flight to find the ideal travel option from Preston to Chelmsford.
Journey information
Overview: Train from Preston to Chelmsford
Trains from Preston to Chelmsford run on average 7 times per day, taking around 3h 50m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £73 if you book in advance.
The earliest train runs at 05:11, the last at 20:59. The fastest train covers the 311 km distance in 3h 48m.
Distance 311 km |
Average train duration 3h 50m |
Cheapest ticket price £73 |
Trains per day 7 |
Fastest train 3h 48m |
First train 05:11 |
Last train 20:59 |
Train companies: Avanti West Coast, Caledonian Sleeper from Preston to Chelmsford trainsAvanti West Coast, Caledonian Sleeper trains will get you between Preston and Chelmsford from £73. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Avanti West Coast
Caledonian Sleeper
FAQs: Preston to Chelmsford train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Preston to Chelmsford by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Chelmsford, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Preston and Chelmsford
- 5:30 AM - 8:00 PM Monday - Friday
- 6:30 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday
- 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday
- Free
- The car park is open 24 hours, located adjacent to the station with access from Butler Street.
- Rise
- The Olive Tree Brasserie
- Turtle Bay
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps.
- £0.30
- Holiday Inn Express Preston - South
- Delta Hotels Preston
- Macdonald Tickled Trout Hotel
- Located in the main hall
- Enterprise
- Europcar
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platforms 1-3 for long-distance services
- Hall 2: platforms 4-6 for regional and local services
- Bus: Several lines available
- Train: Northern, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express services
- Opening hours: Monday - Friday 05:50 - 22:00 Saturday 05:50 - 22:00 Sunday 07:00 - 23:00
- Type of shops available: Newsagent Flower stall Hairdresser Dry cleaner
- Car Park: Premium Bay
- Staff help available: Yes
- Step free access coverage: Yes
- Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided
- Accessible taxis: Details of nearest taxis are shown on station information poster
- Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station
- Accessible toilets: Yes
- Ramp for train access: Yes
- Wheelchairs available: Yes
- Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No
- Toilets Location: The toilets are located on each platform. The accessible (radar key) toilets are located on the Ground Floor, near the lifts.
- National key toilets: Yes
- Baby changing facilities: Yes
- Storage sheltered: Yes
- Storage location: There is a dedicated Cycle Point, with free cycle parking, plus secure cycle parking and premium cycle parking. This is in Park Road, opposite the station.
- Storage CCTV: Yes
- Location for Rail Replacement Services: Replacement transport stop at the bus stop on Victoria Road by station entrance
Most popular train connections from Preston
More options for your journey from Preston to Chelmsford
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