Scotland Station code MTS
Montrose
Montrose guide: Montrose Basin wildlife reserve, Britain's first operational military air station and the Georgian House of Dun.
- Around 6 hours 20 minutes from London
- 1 LNER route
- 4 things to do
Montrose Basin, the tidal estuary beside the railway, at low tidePhoto: Bill Harrison, CC BY-SA 2.0
About Montrose
Montrose is a handsome coastal town between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers. The railway passes Montrose Basin, a tidal estuary of 750 hectares that the Scottish Wildlife Trust manages as a reserve; in autumn and winter it hosts tens of thousands of migrating pink-footed geese.
Beyond the birds, the town has one of Scotland's first purpose-built museums, founded in 1842, and the heritage centre at Montrose Air Station, which became Britain's first operational military air station in 1913. A few miles inland, House of Dun is a William Adam country house of 1743 overlooking the Basin.
Journey
MTS- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 6 hours 20 minutes
- LNER routes calling
- 1
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Aberdeen stop 24 of 26 | Arbroath | Stonehaven |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
Fastest scheduled LNER train in the May–December 2026 timetable: 6 hours 20 minutes (King's Cross 10.03). 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
- 1883 (building 1984)
- Platforms
- 2
- Managed by
- ScotRail
- Passengers a year
- 317,406 entries and exits (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- The railway viaducts south of the station were designed by Sir Thomas Bouch, engineer of the first Tay Bridge. After the Tay Bridge disaster, load tests left one of them seriously distorted, and it had to be dismantled and rebuilt before passengers could use the line.
- Kinnaber Junction, just north of Montrose, is where the east and west coast routes from London to Aberdeen converged – the crucial point in the 1895 'Race to the North'.
- Montrose North signal box, built in 1881, is category C listed and, since resignalling in 2010, controls the whole area, including the single-track line over the viaduct.
Photos of Montrose
-
(view larger)
Montrose Basin, the tidal estuary beside the railway, at low tide Photo: Bill Harrison, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
(view larger)
Montrose station, with the footbridge and lifts linking its two platforms Photo: Nigel Thompson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arriving at Montrose
The station building, with the ticket office and toilets, is on platform 1, used by trains towards Dundee; trains towards Aberdeen use platform 2. A footbridge with a lift to each platform links the two, and the platforms overlook Montrose Basin. Taxis can pull up right in front of the building. Montrose Museum is about a third of a mile south-east as the crow flies, on the edge of the town centre.
The station overlooks Montrose Basin. Taxis can pull up directly in front of the station building.
Getting around
Local taxi firms serve the station. House of Dun is 4 miles west of the town, so a taxi is the simplest way there without a car.
Other train services and connections
- ScotRail: trains to Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, plus the roughly hourly Aberdeen Crossrail service to Inverurie
- CrossCountry: southbound trains only
- Caledonian Sleeper: overnight trains to London Euston (not Saturday nights)
Station facilities
- Step-free accessStep-free to both platforms (National Rail category A), with a lift to each platform
- StaffingStaffed Monday to Saturday 06:20–19:30 and Sunday 09:10–16:30
- Ticket officeIn the main building on platform 1: Monday to Thursday 06:30–15:15, Friday 06:45–17:00, Saturday 07:30–15:30, Sunday 09:15–13:15
- Ticket machinesOn both platforms and at the south entrance
- ShelterSheltered waiting and seating
- ToiletsIn the booking hall, open only during ticket office hours
- Accessible toiletUnisex accessible toilet on the concourse
- Baby changingAvailable
- Food and drinkNone at the station
- Wi-fiNo station wi-fi
- Left luggageNot available
- Car park50 free spaces, open 24 hours, covered by CCTV
- Cycle parking10 sheltered stands
- TaxisTaxi rank at the station
- 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
Montrose's station was opened by the North British Railway on 1 May 1883, when its line from Arbroath opened to passengers, carrying trains on to Kinnaber Junction to join the main line to Aberdeen. It stood quite separate from the Caledonian Railway's terminus nearby. Opening was delayed after the Tay Bridge disaster, when tests on Thomas Bouch's viaducts south of the town showed one had to be taken down and rebuilt.
The station has changed its name several times – Montrose Central under British Railways, Montrose East from 1952 and plain Montrose again from 1961. The present building was opened on 30 July 1984, and a 2010 resignalling closed two signal boxes, leaving the listed Montrose North box in charge of the area and making the southbound platform usable in both directions.
A day in Montrose
Birds, planes and local history – check opening days before you travel outside summer.
-
Morning
Montrose Museum
Walk into town to one of Scotland's first purpose-built museums, covering local, natural and maritime history, with free entry.
-
Late morning
Montrose Basin
Scan the tidal basin from the Scottish Wildlife Trust's visitor centre, with telescopes and panoramic views – in autumn and winter it fills with migrating geese.
-
Afternoon
Montrose Air Station
Visit the volunteer-run heritage centre at Britain's first operational military air station, opened in 1913, with a full-size replica B.E.2a.
Things to do near Montrose
Montrose Basin
An enclosed estuary of the South Esk that attracts over 100,000 migratory birds in autumn and winter. The Scottish Wildlife Trust's visitor centre has telescopes and panoramic views across the reserve.
Montrose Air Station Museum
Montrose Air Station opened in February 1913 as Britain's first operational military air station and closed in 1952. The volunteer-run museum includes a full-size replica B.E.2a aircraft and tells the stories of those who served there.
Montrose Museum
Founded in 1842 by the town's Natural History and Antiquarian Society, this temple-fronted museum covers local, natural and maritime history, from early archaeology to the Jacobites. Entry is free (as of September 2026).
House of Dun
A Georgian house designed by William Adam and built in 1743, with fine plasterwork, formal gardens and woodland walks overlooking Montrose Basin. It is run by the National Trust for Scotland.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Day trips from Montrose
-
Stonehaven
Clifftop Dunnottar Castle, a seawater lido and a pretty harbour.
LNER's Aberdeen trains take about 23 minutes (four a day on weekdays in the May–December 2026 timetable).
-
Aberdeen
The Granite City's free art gallery and maritime museum, and the old university quarter.
LNER's Aberdeen trains take about 43–45 minutes (four a day on weekdays in the May–December 2026 timetable); ScotRail also runs to Aberdeen.
-
Arbroath
Abbey ruins, the Signal Tower Museum and Arbroath smokies.
LNER trains to Arbroath take about 17 minutes (four a day on weekdays in the May–December 2026 timetable).
Where to stay in Montrose
A small choice of hotels and guest houses in the town centre and near the beach.
Tips for your visit
- House of Dun takes part in ScotRail's 2-for-1 offer: two adults for the price of one with a valid rail ticket and a paper voucher (check the NTS website for the current terms).
- Opening days at Montrose Air Station Museum and Montrose Museum are limited outside summer – check before you travel.
Questions about Montrose station
Is Montrose station step-free?
Yes. National Rail lists step-free access to both platforms, with a lift to each side of the footbridge.
Can I park at Montrose station?
Yes. National Rail lists 50 free spaces, open 24 hours and covered by CCTV (checked September 2026).
Are there toilets at the station?
Yes, in the booking hall, including a unisex accessible toilet – but only while the ticket office is open.
Is there anywhere to eat at the station?
No. National Rail lists no refreshments or wi-fi at Montrose, so head into town.
How far is House of Dun?
About 4 miles west of Montrose by road, according to the National Trust for Scotland; a taxi is the simplest way there without a car.
Do all LNER Aberdeen trains stop at Montrose?
Yes. All LNER Aberdeen trains call here; the fastest from King's Cross takes about 6 hours 20 minutes 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/Montrose_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montrose,_Angus
- scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserve/montrose-basin/
- rafmontrose.org.uk/
- angusalive.scot/museums-galleries/visit-a-museum-gallery/montrose-museum/
- nts.org.uk/visit/places/house-of-dun
- nts.org.uk/visit/places/house-of-dun/planning-your-visit
- thetrainline.com/stations/montrose
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/mts/
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
- portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB46226
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_British,_Arbroath_and_Montrose_Railway
Travelling to Montrose?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.