The Railway Touring Company Reviews 102

The Cumbrian Mountain Express 23/08/2025. Catering vg indeed, quality food and prompt friendly service. This was a forced route change from the Cumbrian coast route which is no longer available due to tunnel probs. Downside was the seat comfort, these need urgent reupholster due to their age, defo not comfy for almost 12 hrs, Some of the public areas esp the door vestibules need cleaning,v dusty Recommended but take a cushion maybe.

Bought this for a special birthday and anniversary. The Royal Dutchy. We paid for First Class for my son and daughter-in-law. The steam train broke down at Plymouth so diesel powered engine had to be used. Whilst this was disappointing it demonstrated the issues and problems with using steam trains on a standard rail line and the time constraints. Whilst they enjoyed the scenery, they said first class cabin was clean. What I was very disappointed with was the food. They sent me some pictures and the breakfast bap looked like it had nothing in it and I was very disappointed with the afternoon tea. This was prepacked crackers, cheese a small pork pie and a scone type thing. This was not the afternoon tea I expected them to be served ie, petite sandwiches and fancy cakes. Staff were not attentive but made a fuss of the elder persons on the train. Son and daughter in law are 40. This trip cost £588 and I do feel we could have given them something more memorable for their special occasion at this cost.

Save your hard earned money and spend it elsewhere, constantly postponed or cancelled trains with no responsibility taken by this company . The worst it's ever been.

From start to finish we were all extremely disappointed, the greeting was not very nice, we were premier class which cost us £325 per person, we were a party of four whom had booked for a special occasion, for that money we could have gone to the Ritz in London for champagne afternoon tea and Dinner!, the seats were very uncomfortable and the toilets were dirty and there was water dripping on your head.
Then they bought out the breakfast with Buck’s Fizz, well that was a laugh, the glasses were tiny, they put about half an inch of cheap cava in the glass and then some very ordinary orange juice, it tasted very cheap! The full English breakfast looked like a school dinner, nothing special at all, we were offered tea or coffee but the coffee just tasted like a cheap instant.
After which we were not offered anything else to drink until 40 mins before we eventually reached Weymouth which was over an hour later than we should have arrived.
On the way back was a joke, the steam train was broken and we all had to get off at Staines or Clapham Junction which meant we all had to get a cab home from Staines
Such a disappointing and wasted day, I think we should be offered our money back!

Me and my girlfriend experienced on Saturday March 29th was probably the worse trip encounter we've ever come across and I'm blown away trying to understand what we've actually paid for.
I feel misinformed and completely mis-sold the whole ambiance, I'm Sorry to say.

Firstly, the pricing charged for a rundown dirty unpleasant none standard holding coach is mind blowing we came away extremely tired, disappointed, dirty, unsatisfied, I'll, frustrated, very none value for money.
I'm actually glad we didn't pay for first class coaches because from what I could see apart from members of staff being dressed more professionally and flower deco on tables it didn't look any better (those should be classed as standard seating and first class above that)

We packed light food and drinks (thank God we had a little something as would have starved) as was completely unaware that only cash was accepted as payment from the food and beverage area. The staff were calling up and down coaches asking any bacon rolls, sandwiches, soup or drinks available... For me especially for the ticket pricing standard or not some of these items should be offered on a complimentary basis... If you've not got food, drink or cash ready what are you supposed to do.?
Secondly , I had to cope the whole trip there and back with food poisoning.
Multiple trips to the toilet coach bound or platform in horrific unhygienic conditions Preston bound could only offer portaloos.
Felt mislead with the coupling of the trains I was expecting a vintage train through the whole journey not a 1966 loco then replaced with steam towards the end of the trip, this really needs to be made clear otherwise I would have been happy with just a couple of hours trip via a proper steam train locomotive.
Not a 15-hour round trip seeing multiple beat-up platform views spending a rushed 90min runaround stop in Carlisle to then head back another 8 hours in a rundown beat up uncomfortably carriage back to Euston.
We almost paid extra expenses to discontinue the journey and join a fast train from Preston to Euston but unfortunately for us we missed the train so had to persevere wasting our time, unfortunately.

I feel this could have been managed much better perhaps more stop offs, longer breaks or less stops more time to enjoy final destination... Or just shorter steam train encounter experience.
Definitely the tired coaches are in immediate need of refurbishment I'm sure for £115 per ticket more can be done!
I contacted their team was expecting a common courtesy refund or at least being given the opportunity to attend another one of their experience perhaps lt, would of been different…
Unfortunately was just given a little to lame Boris apology, didn’t seem bothered.
Don’t waste your time or money.

The tour through the French and Italian Rivera was brilliant the bright sunshine just amplified the whole holiday. The hotel inGenoa was magnificent a couple of minutes from the station. The food was often highest quality as was the attentions of the hotel staff. The guide Psola was excellent giving local knowledge and experience. The visit to the Cinque Terre was a bit too long and if it had it have rained would have stretched everything. So two of the 5 villages would have been enough. The tour manager was excellent and patient.

Bought as birthday present
Trip well organised. Service aboard train was good.
Unfortunately coach was Mark 2 with sealed windows. I was looking forward to see steam going past window and hearing the locomotive.
Coach G very close to locomotive but there was no atmosphere you normally get from open windows of Mark1. You had no idea of how hard the engine was working and whistles. This is an integral part of the experience.
It might as well have been a type 47 at both ends all trip. Very disappointed

Went on the Edinburgh Xmas market steam trip yesterday from York with friends. A very long day but enjoyed it immensely. We opted for the premier dining and everything was perfect. Lovely food and friendly efficient staff. Nothing to fault. There are plenty of stops along the way to pick up other passengers and water stops for the engine. It was lovely taking the trip so close to Xmas. Highly recommended

We took the Christmas White Rose trip from Stevenage to York. November 16th 2024
We thoroughly enjoyed the journey, views and had great company.
However, if you are expecting a first class service and meals and attention to detail you will be disappointed, especially when you are paying £395 per person. Croissant poor standard, eggs were hard and no effort to change anything. It was not silver service. When I asked for a different roll I was told " take his" it was almost like fawlty towers. As we were on the train for over 4 hours we would have expected water to be included, yet we had to pay extra. To be fair apart from some of the grumpy waiters there was a waitress who tried her best. This should not have been the exception.

Beautifully decorated train, amazing staff, great food and company. We were kept informed the whole time. Lots of surprises. Just the best birthday ever. Thank you

First class travel on the Stratford Flyer on Saturday, September 7th should have been a wonderful celebration of two Golden Wedding anniversaries. However, from the first chipped and cracked cup and luke warm contents to the plastic wrapped food choices this outing became a nightmare. The buffet car, where we may have found alternative choices was closed, although this was advertised as available in the brochure on the table. The buffet car choices offered in the brochure did sound more like an afternoon tea.
The staff were attentive and pleasant but the experience they were delivering was a woeful excuse for the hoped for memorable Golden wedding outing.
The experience did not seem to warrant the ticket price, as we did not feel we had “First Class” catering. I cannot help wondering how much plastic waste was generated in the train that day from all the plastic wrapped food.
I do not think that the four of us will ever want to travel with this company again.
Mrs Cheryl Osborne

I cannot express how appreciative myself husband and mother felt in terms of the care, quality and friendliness of the staff. The journey was amazing, the scenery was breathtaking, the food was exquisite and the service first class. The genuine integrity and pride of the staff in performing a job that they loved, shone through throughout the journey and made us feel very special

Booked The Premier dining on a trip from Manchester, via Cumbria to Carlise and back over the Ribblehead viaduct via Settle. The journey is beautiful unlike our seating and carriage. We paid in excess of £600 and was very disappointed with the upholstery and general cleanliness of the carriage. It takes more than a white tablecloth and headrest cloth to make a carriage fit for premier dining. Breakfast was very good, unlike the roast beef dinner on return, which was extremely poor for what this trip cost. Do yourself a favour and book with another company who use carriages fit for premier dining, I have been on several of these kinds of trips and the carriage and seats on this one are far inferior to my other trips. The reply i have received states, that their is a slight difference in the carriages that are used, that is rubbish. The interior of the carriage we travelled in bares no resemblance to the picture of the beautifully upholstered carriage on the website. Premier should be a much better experience than what we received. The customer services for the company are not good, not just concerning my complaint, there are lots of other reviews stating the same. As I suggested to the customer service agent, show pictures of both types of carriage, then customers can see the difference.

I have just been upset from two members of staff, I had requested through BOOKING link about the Western Isles tour to ask more about itinary, as wanted as a surprise for partner asked for phone call in the morning, I was contacted at 1pm, then told she could not help even though clicked on link did not know journey. I just asked if long journeys 9 or 10 hrs she said some are long but not able to answer, asked difference to 1sst class from pullman , could not answer. She passed to her colleague at 1.10pm, I said could not speak for long could she perhaps give information or call back. Was told YOU CAN CALL US. I have travelled Flyscotsman pullman class and never ever been spoken to like this by a Annabel. totally unacceptable as wanted to book this trip once I had more details. CUSTOMER SERVICE - NONE. The link clearly said price and tripto Western isles. I do not understand. Especially looking to pay nearly 5,000 I expect a lot better service than this.

The suggestion in my last review was that we had an 'enjoyable day' was a case of making the very best of a marred situation...the Cumbrian Coastline is beautiful & manners dictate one says "thank you"for a service, however below parr or expectations it must have been.

To have been 'escorted' off a train could only have occurred at a stop. An escort would not have 'led' the walk but fully escorted the trio. The whole experience was marred by back office mis administration & this is undeniable.

I am writing this review to express our deep disappointment with this company - largely for their duplicity. My wife booked a train journey with this company: The Mancunian (Manchester to Holyhead for 25th May 2024). She did this 6 months ago (Dec 23), as a Christmas gift to us both. Yesterday, with just 2.5 weeks notice, we were informed that the trip is being cancelled due to "ongoing very lengthy and complexed dispute between our operator, West Coast Railways and the Office of Rail and Road". Obviously, we completely understand that things like this can, and do happen, and they may well be outside of their control but, given that they themselves describe this as an 'ongoing very lengthy dispute" we feel we should have been alerted to this possibility much sooner and given the opportunity to book a suitable alternative. As it is, we have been offered the same trip in September - which isn't suitable for us. An alternative trip - we did ask to be transferred to the Edinburgh Flyer on 18th May but that was sold out! Now, we are left with just one option - a refund which isn't the outcome we would have preferred.
We have actually used this company before and have previously been very satisfied. However, on this occasion we feel they have been less than professional. It seems to us that, at best, they were hoping the situation would change in time but, if it didn't, they would still have our money in the hope we would transfer to the date in September or purchase an alternative trip. Sadly because we live in mid Lincolnshire, there isn't an available/suitable alternative - all the alternatives involve significant travel and overnight stays in hotels.

I write this post as a warning to anyone considering a day trip with The Railway Touring Company. Last October, my daughter and I eagerly anticipated a journey on the iconic Flying Scotsman. However, our dream trip turned into a nightmare when the train was involved in a collision just days before our scheduled departure.

As it was unclear from the week commencing 2nd October whether the Flying Scotsman would be running due to the investigation of the crash it was involved in, my daughter, who suffers from PTSD, became increasingly anxious and upset. Taking her condition into consideration, I promptly informed The Railway Touring Company that we would need to cancel our trip.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the train's operation, The Railway Touring Company adamantly refused to provide a refund, citing their inflexible terms and conditions.

Repeated appeals for compassion and understanding were met with indifference, leaving us, as pensioners, out of pocket by over £530. Even the intervention of my Member of Parliament has proved futile.

Here are the critical points to note about The Railway Touring Company's terms before you book:-

1. They reserve the right to substitute the booked
locomotive without offering refunds, potentially
dashing your hopes of fully enjoying the
experience you have paid for..
2. They may use a diesel engine instead of a steam
one, again without issuing refunds.
3. Illness does not qualify for a refund, regardless of
circumstance.
My advice to prospective travellers:

Scrutinise the terms and conditions meticulously before committing to a booking.
If the uncertainty and no-refund policy are unsettling, consider visiting the National Railway Museum in York instead—a fantastic alternative for train enthusiasts and its FREE!

Don't let the allure of steam trains blind you to the risks. Make an informed decision before booking with The Railway Touring Company.