Colchester Town railway station serves the town centre of Colchester in Essex, England. It is located on the Colchester to Clacton line and is one of only a small number of drive in/reverse out stations on the British network. It was formerly known as St Botolph's. The station is better situated for access to the town centre than the main station, known locally (but unofficially) as Colchester North. The High Street and main shopping streets are within easy walking distance. The station is manned with a ticket office and the platform is open (without ticket gates).
At present (2009) there is only one platform but there is space for a second which would make possible a more intensive service on the Sunshine Coast line. To the east of the station Colne Junction is the western extremity of a triangle which gives access towards Colchester and Hythe stations. The curve to the north from Colne Junction to East Gates Junction is a sharp one with a continuous check rail, which necessitates slow passage.
The car park adjacent to the station was one of the sites considered for Colchester's new bus station. The town's county court will now be built on the car park site instead.
