National Rail Reviews 

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⭐️ If I could give minus 5 stars, I would.

The UK train system is without doubt the most unreliable I’ve ever experienced. They take your money well in advance, sell you so-called “cheap” tickets, and then cancel trains on the day of travel. My recent journey from Leeds to Leicester was completely ruined because one connection (Leeds to Sheffield) was cancelled, which voided the whole ticket.

Yes, they offered a refund — but that’s not the point. By the time I scrambled to book a coach at the last minute, I had to pay much more than the original fare. On top of that, staff even suggested I “stay an extra day or two” for free travel later — completely ignoring the fact that I had work commitments, and extra hotel costs would be on me.

This is not a one-off. Over the last few years I’ve had multiple journeys ruined like this. Meanwhile, trains across Europe (Belgium, France, Germany) run on time, are cleaner, cheaper, and far better managed.

The system here is broken. Train companies should be penalised for selling tickets they cannot honour, and forced to pay at least double compensation for cancellations. Until then, they’ll keep taking passengers’ money and delivering nothing.

And yet the government expects the public to “ditch cars” and rely on this shambles? Totally unrealistic.

Avoid the UK train network if you can. Unreliable, overpriced, and worst of all — no accountability.

Worst staff ever.. on gate they say ticket is valid, on train they say ticket is invalid and yiu need to buy a new ticket .. fraud

Too expensive, trains are cancelled. Buying a ticket for the first class, but there is no Internet and no plugs working we couldn't charge our phones and laptops. Rubbish service

Almost always issues on these trains. You’d expect a more organised and efficient service in a first world country, but I guess that’s quickly changing the past few years. Absolute joke. And the staff go on strike for pay rises? Do your job first and arrive on time you bunch of clowns. You don’t deserve the salaries you’re on in the first place. Writing this as my train is late and no updates on the delays.

We were a group of 5 travelling to London. We booked our tickets several weeks in advance at St Anne’s station,Lancashire in person. We asked to be seated together and were given coach and seat numbers. On boarding the train we realised only 2 out of 5 of us were seated together. The other 3 had people next to them. One being a window seat. Very disappointed. The train itself and the journey all though 14 minutes late was very good.

The National Rail website has exposed me to malware; random pop-ups from a site called Clicktripz. At this moment I do not know whether there is worse now hidden on my computer. I have emailed them but will no longer use the National Rail site until I am convinced it is safe.

I asked why the track was closed between Stoke and Stafford during most of August. Tracks closed at Stockport but this does not affect Crewe - Stoke-Stafford train.
Response 1- There are replacements buses (not responded to my question)
Response 2 - Contact train operator ( track closed)
Response 3 - Explained why closure is in place between Stoke and Stafford.

Why does it take 3 attempts?

I had a very bad journey home from Tottenham Court Road to Henley on Thames. I took the Elizabeth Line to Maidenhead after a very long wait for a Reading train. The train was extremely overcrowded and hot and smelly. It stopped on and off throughout a very long journey. When it finally arrived in Maidenhead there were no other trains. Everything was cancelled due to signal failure, probably due to the heat. It was chaos there were no staff to guide or advise. After another long wait we were told to get to the taxi rank. There was an amazing representative trying to allocate everyone to taxis. He did a phenomenal job looking after a lot of hot and disgruntled passengers. A taxi finally agreed to take 7 of us to Twyford. We got there at at 8.30 and there no trains to Henley until after 9.15pm. I was so exhausted and hungry that we clubbed to get another taxi to Henley. It took me more than 3 hours to get home.
I appreciate the issues with heat are difficult to handle but there seem to be very few staff to look after customers.
The man at Maidenhead should be highly commended for keeping his cool and looking after everyone.

I’ve been struggling with shittyitous for years, but going in this trains toilets gave whole lease for life. Today was the day it became a blessing, this group of youths started p!nk “raise your glass” I had never felt such inner joy from these meaningful lyrics it opens my eyes to a new way to see the world. I took extra care into this visit to the toiletry and proceeded to overhear some lovely Christmas, lots of laughs and cheered from the young group, it really was the embodiment of livin’ laughin’, and lovin’. Unfortunately it was getting kind of deep as some old fashioned heartbreak songs started to make thing swing the other way and as we reached closer and closer to my stop I decided that my time was up and had to awkwardly leave from the minuscule loo. They gave me a questionable look as I scuttled on past them but deep down I knew we were bros now 🫡

If I could rate this rubbish service zero star I would. National railway has to be THE worst service on earth. Even a third world country would accommodate their customers better. Trains are always cancelled, delayed and the staffs are always rude and smug. They are the most unreliable, overpriced crap service EVER. The East Midlands railways is NEVER EVER A SMOOTH JOURNEY. There is always a problem! So so overpriced for such, SUCH bad service. If I could sue this company I would, if I could swear on these reviews I would.

TERRIBLE UPSETTING RESPONSE TO A RAIL TRANSPORT SERVICE TO PAYING CUSTOMERS, CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN STRANDED FROM KINGS LYNN TOWARDS CAMBRIDGE SINCE 2PM AND I FINISHED WORK AT 5.30PM AND TOLD NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE SINCE, STAFF RELUCTANTLY OFFERING NO SUPPORT, NO TAXIS NO BUSES AT THE STATION, I'M ANGRY AND COULD JUST SEE ANGRY CUSTOMERS ANNOYED WITH POOR SERVICE, THE MANAGERS AND BOSSES LIVE A LIFESTYLE OF HIGH SALARIES FROM HIGH TRAIN FARES AND THE CUSTOMERS SUFFER FROM THEIR INCOMPETENCE OF FAILING TO GET CUSTOMERS TO THEIR DESTINATION WITHIN REASONABLE TIMES,

IF YOU CAN'T PROVIDE A SERVICE, DON'T OR IF IT'S SUBSTANDARD, MAKE IT FREE OR CHEAPER FOR ME

ANGRY DISAPPOINTED 😞 CUSTOMER

App doesn’t work , it’s pointless. Cannot show live trains from St Pancras to Ashford . Not the first time I’ve had trouble this app.

Most expensive in Europe. Worst reliability in Europe, rubbish

The worst company ever I m not sure how they can sleep at night knowing they ruining everyone days . Everything cancelled , delayed there was not a day with no delays

Went to get the last train. The train had been cancelled so they said get the bus. The bus decided it would leave early.

I spoke to Liam in charge and he lied and said he was stood at the bus when it left on time even though I spoke to the bus driver across the street and he said the bus left early.

Told me nothing they will do so left me stranded in Manchester or get a very expensive taxi back.

I'd give zero stars again several times later we have had sons rail card rejected, I've called few times, I've reloaded documents and still rejected , now complaints gone in and ombudsman I have contacted , we are disabled you have distressed me so much exellerated my illnesses to the full.

Just absolutely rubbish, nuff said

Finsbury park to hornsey… cannot find the requested journey!

And then I’m redirected to the home page to enter new start point and destination.

What a disgrace of a website

National Rail does not recognise most of the underground stations in London. When planning a journey the website sends you around London just to get to one stop.
Please can your IT workers get training in knowing and inputting the name of underground lines at least in London.
National Rail website is a disgrace to UK. It is worst than TFL...

Always always a continually terrible service, I hate uk trains so much. I always miss connections and am always late. An absolute disgrace, who ever is at the top making the big bucks should be ashamed