Brighton to Portsmouth by train: times, fares and the coast route

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Brighton and Portsmouth sit at either end of the Sussex and Hampshire coast, and one train runs the whole way between them along the shore. It is a scenic, direct trip of about an hour and a half, calling at the seaside towns in between.

Below is the line in full, the stations it serves, how long it takes and how often it runs, and the ticket to buy.

The journey in short

The line down the coast

The route hugs the coast west from Brighton, through Worthing and Chichester and round the top of the harbour into Portsmouth. The map shows the way.

Stops from Brighton to Portsmouth

The direct service calls at the main towns along the coast, in this order.

The all-stations service adds the smaller halts along the way, among them Portslade, Lancing, Goring-by-Sea and Angmering, while faster trains skip them, so check that your train calls where you need it. The return runs the same line the other way.

How long and how often

The run takes about an hour and a half, officially between one hour thirty-one and one hour thirty-six minutes, with roughly one direct train an hour through the day and fewer in the late evening and on Sundays. Allowing about an hour and a half, your arrival works out roughly like this.

These show the pattern and are not fixed departures. Engineering work can change the late and weekend trains, so for the exact departure and arrival on your day check the live board on the National Rail site or in the Southern app.

Fares

Southern sets the fares on this line, and the ticket types are the usual ones.

The adult fare moves with the date and how far ahead you book, so check the live price for your train. A railcard takes roughly a third off most fares.

Buying a ticket

Tickets are on sale in the usual places:

• online or in the app from National Rail or Southern;
• at a ticket machine at either station;
• at the ticket office at Brighton or Portsmouth Harbour.

In practice, the quickest way to the cheapest fare is:

1. pick your train and book an Advance single ahead for the lowest price;
2. choose a child ticket for the Kids for £2 fare, or add a railcard;
3. take an e-ticket to your phone or collect it from the machine;
4. buy before you board, as contactless does not reach along this line.

With the ticket in hand, the rest is a relaxed ride along the coast.

Before you set off

Is there a direct train from Brighton to Portsmouth?

Yes, Southern runs direct along the coast, in about an hour and a half.

How long does it take?

Officially one hour thirty-one to one hour thirty-six minutes on a direct train.

Which Portsmouth station should I use?

Fratton, Portsmouth and Southsea or Portsmouth Harbour, whichever suits. See our guide to Portsmouth’s train stations.

Can I stop off along the coast?

Yes, a break at Worthing or Chichester is easy to build in, since the stopping train calls at the seaside towns the whole way. The coast the other way runs to Southampton, covered in our guide to the Southampton to Portsmouth train.

Can I take a bike on the train?

Yes, bikes travel free on Southern, though space is limited and not guaranteed, so it is best to avoid the busiest trains.

Portsmouth And put this guide together from Southern and National Rail information. Last updated: November 2026. Check live times and fares before you travel.