Embodiments of the present invention provide a random access method and apparatus and system. Where, the method includes: selecting randomly, by UE, a physical random access channel (PRACH) resource for transmitting a preamble from multiple PRACH resources pre-configured by an eNB for the UE; and transmitting the preamble by the UE on a selected PRACH resource, so that the eNB transmits a random access response to UE to which a correctly demodulated preamble corresponds according to preambles transmitted by UEs. With the method and apparatus of the embodiments of the present invention, coverage performance of an uplink channel and a downlink channel may be improved.