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The red sandstone ruins of Arbroath Abbey, with its tall broken gable and arcaded walls, seen across old gravestones on a sunny day

Scotland Station code ARB

Arbroath

Arbroath guide: the red sandstone abbey linked to the Declaration of Arbroath, the Signal Tower Museum and dramatic cliffs, on LNER's Aberdeen line.

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The red sandstone ruins of Arbroath Abbey, founded in 1178Photo: Tom Parnell from Scottish Borders, Scotland, CC BY-SA 2.0

About Arbroath

Arbroath is a harbour town on the Angus coast, about 17 miles beyond Dundee by rail. Its story as a town begins with the abbey founded by William the Lion in 1178, whose red sandstone ruins still dominate the centre and are closely tied to the Declaration of Arbroath.

The town is equally defined by the sea. The Signal Tower Museum by the harbour was once the shore station for the Bell Rock Lighthouse, and the town is famous for the Arbroath smokie. North of the promenade, the red cliffs of Seaton Cliffs are riddled with sea caves, arches and stacks.

Journey

ARB
Fastest from London King's Cross
Around 6 hours
LNER routes calling
1
Previous and next calling points on each LNER route serving Arbroath
RoutePrevious stopNext stop
London – Aberdeen stop 23 of 26

May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station

Fastest scheduled LNER train in the May–December 2026 timetable: 6 hours 3 minutes (King's Cross 10.03 on weekdays). All LNER Aberdeen trains call here.

Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.

Key facts

Opened
1848 (permanent station 1858; building 1911)
Platforms
2
Managed by
ScotRail
Passengers a year
362,306 entries and exits (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Did you know?

  • Arbroath North signal box, built in 1911 just north of the station, is category B listed: Historic Environment Scotland says it is the only signal box in the country whose cabin oversails its base on metal brackets projecting towards the track.
  • The station building stands above the railway, with the platforms below street level.
  • The town once had three stations called Arbroath; two of them, Catherine Street and Lady Loan, closed in 1848.

Photos of Arbroath

Arriving at Arbroath

The station building on Keptie Street sits above the tracks, with the ticket office, toilets and lifts down to the two platforms: platform 1 for trains towards Dundee and platform 2 for trains towards Aberdeen. Taxis wait on Keptie Street, and bus stops are next to the entrance. For the abbey and the town centre, head east – Historic Environment Scotland puts the abbey about half a mile from the station.

Historic Environment Scotland puts Arbroath Abbey, in the centre of the town, about half a mile from the station; Trainline's station guide describes the town centre and main shops as roughly a seven-minute walk east.

Getting around

The abbey, high street and harbour are all walkable from the station. Seaton Cliffs start at the far end of the promenade beyond Victoria Park, about 1.25 miles from the town centre.

Other train services and connections

  • ScotRail: frequent trains to Dundee and Aberdeen, with onward connections to Edinburgh and Glasgow
  • CrossCountry: a limited service towards England
  • Caledonian Sleeper: overnight trains to London Euston

Station facilities

  • Step-free accessStep-free to both platforms (National Rail category A), with a lift from the station building to each platform
  • StaffingStaffed Monday to Saturday 06:15–23:00 and Sunday 09:15–23:00
  • Ticket officeIn the station building: Monday to Thursday 07:00–17:00, Friday 07:00–18:00, Saturday 07:00–17:00, Sunday 09:10–16:30
  • Ticket machineOn platform 1, including collection of tickets bought online
  • Waiting roomsOn both platforms: Monday to Saturday 06:00–19:30, Sunday 09:00–19:30
  • ToiletsIn the ticket hall
  • Accessible toiletUnisex accessible toilet in the ticket hall (RADAR key)
  • Baby changingAvailable
  • Food and drinkMobile coffee van
  • Wi-fiStation wi-fi available
  • Left luggageNot available
  • Car park18 spaces run by ScotRail, open 24 hours, with 3 accessible bays; £1 a day, free for Blue Badge holders
  • Cycle parking10 sheltered stands
  • TaxisTaxi rank on Keptie Street
  • Help pointsOn both platforms, with induction loops

Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.

History of the station

Arbroath's first railways were two separate lines, the Arbroath and Forfar and the Dundee and Arbroath, each with its own station. The Dundee and Arbroath Railway opened the present station on 1 February 1848, at first as a temporary stop, and the other two stations closed that year; it became permanent on 14 December 1858 as a link between the two companies' lines.

The North British line north to Montrose opened to goods in 1881 and to passengers on 1 May 1883, putting Arbroath on the through route between Dundee and Aberdeen. The present station building dates from 1911, the same year as the tall Arbroath North signal box beside the level crossing to the north, which Historic Environment Scotland listed in its 2012–13 signal box review as an impressive survival of its type.

A day in Arbroath

Abbey, harbour and cliffs in a compact town on the Angus coast.

  1. Morning

    Arbroath Abbey

    Walk into town to the red sandstone ruins and the visitor centre that tells the story of the Declaration of Arbroath.

    Arbroath Abbey in Things to do

  2. Late morning

    Signal Tower Museum

    Down by the harbour, the former shore station for the Bell Rock Lighthouse now covers the lighthouse, the harbour and the town's fishing heritage.

    Signal Tower Museum in Things to do

  3. Lunch

    An Arbroath smokie

    The town is famous for its smokies, haddock smoked over a hardwood fire – look out for them while you are in town.

  4. Afternoon

    Seaton Cliffs

    Follow the promenade past Victoria Park to the red cliffs, sea caves and arches of the Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve. Keep to the waymarked paths and check the Trust's page for path closures.

    Seaton Cliffs in Things to do

Things to do near Arbroath

Walk or nature spot

Seaton Cliffs

A Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve of red sandstone cliffs with sea caves, stacks, blowholes and arches, reached on foot from the promenade. Stick to the waymarked paths: the Trust warns of unstable edges and part of the path is closed (as of September 2026).

About 1.25 miles from the town centre Official website for Seaton Cliffs (opens in a new tab)

Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.

Day trips from Arbroath

  • Dundee

    V&A Dundee, RRS Discovery and the McManus are a short hop down the coast.

    LNER trains to Dundee take about 18–19 minutes (four a day on weekdays in the May–December 2026 timetable), and ScotRail runs frequent trains too.

  • Montrose

    Birdlife on Montrose Basin, a heritage air station and the Georgian House of Dun.

    LNER's Aberdeen trains take about 15–16 minutes (four a day on weekdays in the May–December 2026 timetable).

  • Stonehaven

    A harbour town with a seawater lido and Dunnottar Castle on its clifftop.

    LNER's Aberdeen trains take about 38–40 minutes (four a day on weekdays in the May–December 2026 timetable).

Where to stay in Arbroath

Arbroath has guest houses and small hotels close to the harbour and centre; Dundee is a short train ride away for more choice.

Tips for your visit

  • Arbroath is known for the Arbroath smokie, a local smoked fish – look out for it while you are in town.
  • Historic Scotland sites such as the abbey charge for entry; members of Historic Environment Scotland go free.

Questions about Arbroath station

How far is Arbroath Abbey from the station?

About half a mile, according to Historic Environment Scotland – an easy walk east into the town centre.

Is Arbroath station step-free?

Yes. National Rail lists step-free access to both platforms, with a lift from the station building down to each one.

Can I park at Arbroath station?

Yes, but it is small: ScotRail's car park has 18 spaces, including 3 accessible bays, at £1 a day (National Rail, checked September 2026).

Are there toilets at the station?

Yes, in the ticket hall, including a unisex accessible toilet.

Can I leave luggage at Arbroath station?

No. National Rail lists no left-luggage facility here.

Do all LNER Aberdeen trains stop at Arbroath?

Yes. All of LNER's Aberdeen trains call here; the fastest from King's Cross takes about 6 hours in the May–December 2026 timetable.

Sources we checked (September 2026)

We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.

  • assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
  • lner.co.uk/travel-information/timetables/
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbroath_railway_station
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbroath
  • historicenvironment.scot/visit/all/arbroath-abbey/
  • historicenvironment.scot/visit/all/arbroath-abbey/plan-your-visit/
  • angusalive.scot/museums-galleries/visit-a-museum-gallery/arbroath-signal-tower-museum/
  • scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserve/seaton-cliffs/
  • thetrainline.com/stations/arbroath
  • nationalrail.co.uk/stations/arb/
  • dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
  • portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB52054
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbroath_smokie
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_British,_Arbroath_and_Montrose_Railway

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