Fort William to Mallaig train with ScotRail

Trains from Fort William to Mallaig

Due to the mountainous scenery and rugged coastline, train travelling in the Highlands of Scotland is never going to be high-speed, but tourists and travellers heading for the Hebridean islands can take direct trains from the main transport hub at Fort William to the ferry port at Mallaig. There are direct services between the two towns on the scenic West Highland Line seven days a week, taking around one hour and twenty minutes. Departure times include morning, afternoon and late evening options, so passengers can usually find a train to coincide with their planned ferry departure.

Which train companies travelling from Fort William to Mallaig?

Scotland's national rail franchise operator ScotRail provides all the direct trains from Fort William to Mallaig. Indirect connections are not a practical consideration on the West Highland Line, due to the infrequency of departures.

How long is the train from Fort William to Mallaig?

The fastest ScotRail connection on the 45-mile route west to Mallaig from Fort William is the midday service, taking one hour and 21 minutes. Other connections on this line take three or four minutes longer to reach the ferry port.

How many trains are there from Fort William to Mallaig?

The ScotRail West Highland Line timetable offers four daily direct trains to Mallaig from Fort William from Monday-Saturday, with three on Sundays. The schedule provides a morning service, a departure around midday, a late afternoon connection and a final train to Mallaig just after 10:00 p.m. On Sundays, there is no morning departure and the schedule begins around midday.

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Fort William to Mallaig?

Departure train station: Fort William Station is located in the center of town, in the shadow of Ben Nevis, with public transport links available around the region from the adjacent bus stands. The station has a parking lot, cafe-bar, news vendor, gift store, free WiFi, taxi stand and men's and women's shower facilities for passengers.

Arrival train station: Mallaig Station is situated on the northern side of the town center, a short walk from the ferry harbor and bus terminus. Facilities at the station include a small parking lot and taxi stand, a seafood restaurant and snack bar, with a food supermarket immediately opposite the main entrance.

Trains from Fort William to Mallaig: Journey Details

The journey between these two Scottish cities is a relatively quick and simple one, as trains from Fort William to Mallaig are direct, with an average journey time of just under one and a half hours. Scotrail is the sole provider of the service which departs at roughly four-hour intervals throughout the day, with the first Mallaig bound train departing Fort William at about 8.30 a.m, and the last at about 11.15 p.m, reaching its final destination a little after 11.30pm. This short trip is also considered one of the most scenic.

Return journeys for trains from Mallaig to Fort William are also available.

Taking the Train from Fort William

Fort William rail station lies not far from Ben Nevis, on Station Square. The centrally located station is fairly easy to find, and there are plenty of facilities to ease the journey of travellers arriving by car, including a 24-hour car park. The station is well served by taxis, which can conveniently be booked in advance online. For passengers wishing to arrive by other methods, there is a nearby cycle hire scheme which offers discounts to rail ticket holders. It is also possible to reach the station on foot.

Getting into Mallaig by Train

Mallaig is a beautiful, historic village located on Scotland's north-west coast. Dating back to the 1800s, it boasts many scenic walks and beautiful waterside views. Managed by Scotrail, Mallaig's railway station is conveniently located on the village's Main Street. As Mallaig is small and easy to navigate on foot, walking to the station is ideal, alternatively, there are bicycle stands for passengers arriving by bike. There are facilities for taxis to pick up and drop off customers, but there are no car parking facilities available at the station for any passengers planning longer stays.