Colchester railway station

Colchester
National Rail
The old station building, which is now the rear entrance
General information
LocationColchester, City of Colchester
England
Coordinates51°54′02.23″N 0°53′34.27″E / 51.9006194°N 0.8928528°E / 51.9006194; 0.8928528
Grid referenceTL990263
Managed byGreater Anglia
Platforms6
Other information
Station codeCOL
ClassificationDfT category B
History
Original companyEastern Counties Railway
Pre-groupingGreat Eastern Railway
Post-groupingLondon and North Eastern Railway
Key dates
29 March 1843 (1843-03-29)Opened
Passengers
2018/19Increase 4.453 million
 Interchange Increase 0.602 million
2019/20Decrease 4.249 million
 Interchange Decrease 0.591 million
2020/21Decrease 1.029 million
 Interchange Decrease 0.129 million
2021/22Increase 2.913 million
 Interchange Increase 0.391 million
2022/23Increase 3.393 million
 Interchange Increase 0.451 million
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Colchester railway station (also known as Colchester North or simply North Station by residents) is on the Great Eastern Main Line (GEML) in the East of England, and is the primary station serving the city of Colchester, Essex. Its three-letter station code is COL. It is 51 miles 52 chains (83.1 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street and on the GEML is situated between Marks Tey to the west and Manningtree to the east. Colchester is also the location of a major junction where the GEML links to the Sunshine Coast Line, which runs south to Clacton-on-Sea and, via a short branch, to Walton-on-the-Naze; services to and from Colchester Town also join the GEML at the Colchester junction. The junction is grade-separated so trains branching to and from Colchester Town or the Sunshine Coast Line do not need to use the main line's tracks to cross it.

Colchester station was opened in 1843 by the Eastern Counties Railway. It is currently managed by Greater Anglia, which also operates all trains serving the station.