Salisbury Rail Station, Salisbury

Salisbury Rail Station is the main railway gateway to the area, with regular services to London, Bristol, Southampton, Exeter, Portsmouth, and other destinations across southern England. The present station developed in stages: the main passenger buildings date from 1859, while the red-brick entrance hall and ticket office were added in 1902 to serve growing Edwardian rail traffic.

The station is a practical starting point for visitors, with ticket machines, waiting areas, toilets, refreshments, bicycle storage, taxis, local buses, and step-free access to all platforms. The Stonehenge Tour bus also departs from the station forecourt, making onward travel to nearby historic sites straightforward. Later works uncovered old underground rooms once used to store eggs and beer barrels.

The station also has a serious place in railway history. On 1 July 1906, a fast boat train from Plymouth to London derailed nearby after taking a curve at high speed, killing 28 people. The accident led to a strict speed restriction that still applies on that section of track. Local rescue efforts, including the use of mailbags as stretchers, were later acknowledged in a letter of thanks from US President Theodore Roosevelt.