How much does a LEGO train cost?
There are a huge variety of LEGO trains available these days, and knowing how much building a Lego train might cost can be hard to work out for newcomers to the LEGO train hobby.
Many of the trains we run at LEGO and model railway exhibitions as a club are custom built, and accurate costs can be hard to work out as different parts and colours are priced differently depending on demand and rarity. However, the guide below is designed to give you a rough idea of how much a LEGO train model might cost you to build
The cost only includes parts including LEGO bricks for the model itself, plus any printing, vinyls or stickers, and power systems used. Costs don’t include the time to design these models, sort the parts, or actually build it, which can be hundreds of hours for a locomotive.
How much does a LEGO city train set cost?
LEGO City train sets are a great place to start for newcomers to the LEGO train hobby – they typically contain everything you need to get started, including a loop of track, LEGO train motor, battery box, and Powered Up controller.
The above Express Passenger Train set from 2022 is a good example of a LEGO City starter train set – retailing at £139.99, it contains everything someone new to the LEGO train hobby would need to get started, from the track to train, power and control system, and a (very small!) station platform.
LEGO also released two push-along train sets in 2026 – Vintage Steam Train and Harbour Freight Train (thanks to Brickset for the images) – which can be motorised with additional components. Worth noting these LEGO train sets only include around 50cm of straight track, and not a loop.
How much does a custom LEGO train cost?
Unpowered trains will be cheaper – motors and power systems are often a significant portion of the cost for custom LEGO train models.
This Terrier locomotive from Block Junction would cost roughly £50 – £60 for parts, including custom wheels from Breckland Bricks. Adding motorisation could add £30 – £40 with a Circuit Cube, which are available from Techbrick in the UK.
The LNER A4 model available on Block Junction is around parts and would typically cost £150- £250 including wheels, rods and power system. The power system is fully LEGO-based, using the Powered Up system.
This 9 car Azuma model by member Lewis is around 16000 parts and would likely cost around £1800 – £2100 to in parts, and requires 4 train motors to power it. It uses standard Lego train motors with power supplied by Overlander batteries.
Jamie’s (aka Goosander Halt) BR class 153 contains around 1180 parts, and includes a Powered Up hub and LEGO train motor. He estimates the cost to be £150 – £170 to build.
Nicola’s (aka @nixxbrixx) LEGO Scotail 158 is around 1800 pieces for a 2 car unit, and cost around £430 in parts including custom lighting and decals.
How colour variation can effect pricing of LEGO train models
A 5 car Azuma in LNER livery is around 9000 pieces would costs between £1000 and £1300 in parts. As a contrast the Lumo 5 car 803 – essentially the same model as the Azuma in blue – would cost around £600 in parts, whereas the dark blue Hull Trains livery built by Shane cost around £1200 to build. The major difference in cost here being the colour of parts required.
The cost of Lego wagons and rolling stock
It’s not just locomotives that can eat your LEGO budget – coaches can be particularly costly depending on which scale you build at, with costs of custom designed LEGO railway coaches ranging from £100 – £200 or more per coach depending on scale and colour.
At the smaller end of the scale, a simple open wagon such as this Block Junction model are around 200 parts and would cost around £30 – £50 per wagon depending on colour chosen.
This rail crane model from member Joe (aka JG Locomotive Works) uses around 650 pieces, and costs around £85 – £100 to build, including the Circuit Cube kit to motorise its mechanism.
Harry’s (@greateasternlegorailway) BR Mk3 TSO coaches come in at between £140 – £160 for 1430 parts, and the kadee couplings (from BMR) and bearing wheelsets add around £10 to each coach.
Where to buy custom LEGO train models
Maybe link to other new post listing LEGO train providers
- Block Junction – sells instructions only for mostly British Prototype locomotives and rolling stock
- Rebrickable – designers from around the world releasing instructions for their own models. Our experience is many models are only built digitally, so may not be as sturdy as traditional LEGO sets, and instructions can be hard to follow
- Brick Model Railroader – selling instructions and kits of US prototype locomotives and rolling stock
- JG Locomotive Works – club member Joe, who sells instructions via Rebrickable for British protoype wagons and locos
- Brick Train Depot – US based company offering custom model instructions and decals
For commercial clients, a number of businesses worldwide offer custom LEGO model building including large scale train models, including Bricks McGee. LEGO Certified Professionals worldwide offer a service supported by the LEGO company directly, and they can often specialise in large – even life-sized – models!
Where you can buy more train track
Once you have locomotives and wagons, your next problem is running out of track! Common places to buy additional LEGO railway track – and compatible tracks – are:
- Bricklink – a marketplace for LEGO parts – a great place to find genuine LEGO track elements
- Trixbrix – a supplier of compatible train track with a range of radii and points available
- Brick Tracks – a US producer of compatible train tracks
- TechBrick – a UK supplier of Trixbrix and other track options
- FX Bricks – a Canadian company selling 9V compatible tracks
- Aliexpress and Temu – your mileage may vary as to what arrives, but both platforms sell cheaper track alternatives
So, how much does a LEGO train cost? The answer is – as much as you want it to!