National Rail Reviews 

608
•
TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

1.7

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 75 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Many people frequently complained about constant train cancellations, severe unexpected delays, and deeply unreliable schedules that heavily disrupt their daily work commutes across the network. Train riders additionally mentioned that ticket prices are extremely expensive, while various administrative fees and strict ticketing inflexibility add significantly to the widespread public frustration. However, some customers also noted that certain staff members provided genuinely helpful and polite assistance during their difficult train journeys. A few commuters occasionally appreciated smooth departures, clear directions, or pleasant interactions with individual employees when navigating through the busy stations.

What people talk about most

Service

Consumers find service to be a mixed experience, as while some reviewers praised helpful and accommodating... See more

Staff

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of staff, as some consumers praised specific employees for their... See more

Cancellation

Customers consistently note negative experiences with cancellation, reporting that trains are constantly... See more

Location

Users describe ambiguous interactions with location, noting various trips such as travelling from Leicester... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Had to put 1 star or no review !!!!!! Euston to chester 6 1/2 hrs 4 trains later no appollogy just cancelled cancelled ,early morning awful soso ashamed of our private trains em heavy subsidised... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

There has been a train derailment in Sussex so I phoned about alternative routes I could take to London. The operative in India told me I had to use my single advance ticket on original route as she... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I can’t stress enough, how poorly run our national rail service is and how unreliable it continues to be day by day. I have travelled to many parts of the world, including many areas of Europe, East A... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Ruthless, unkind, unwilling to help and unreasonable. I bought a split my fare journey (cheap, you're probably thinking-but you are extortionate the world is thinking), and I missed the refun... See more


Company details

  1. Railway ticket agent

Information provided by various external sources

The gateway to Britain's National Rail network. A portal into UK rail travel including train company information and promotions; train times; fares enquiries; ticket purchase and train running information.


Contact info

1.7

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

608 reviews

5-star
4-star
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1-star

No history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited their customers, so reviews may not be representative

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1.7

All reviews

(608)

69 reviews in the last 12 months

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Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

To get from Preston to South coast

To get from Preston to South coast. Driving. Tank and half. Even with current petrol prices and Toll road. £170.. Train for 2 people .£500 quid...I rest my case your honour..🤔

28 March 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Abhorrent

Through factors far beyond my control I missed my 16.18 train Paddington to Bristol (£115) and managed to get the next at 16.48. I know that rules are rules, however being made to pay an additional £138 to stay on a 50% empty train or get off at the next stop was utterly disgusting. How dare you treat your customers so poorly. If any other industry behaves so abhorrently there would be grounds to legal action.

16 March 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Timetable change = poor service

Since changing the timetable at the beginning of the year the service is now poor. We've gone from being able to get a seat and work on the journey home to a station with vending machine only and overcrowded trains that are always standing room only. I hope the next timetable change gives us back a better connection and trains with more carriages.

25 February 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Used the rail replacement service…

Used the rail replacement service running between Manchester Piccadilly and Stockport expecting it to be a nightmare. I have to say it is a slick, seamless and highly organised operation which worked very well.

18 February 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

id definitely recommend anyone with a…

id definitely recommend anyone with a nervous disability or disposition to avoid the highly complicated process to book a ticket online with this system ESPECIALLY a anytime day ticket..migraine is free with the effort..company should be closed and reopened after sacking the geniuses who created its cryptic crossword system..conclusion...
pathetic

11 February 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Good Customer Service

On Saturday 7th February 2026, myself, my mum and my 8 year old nephew who is autistic and a train enthusiast, had pleasure of being served by the lovely Ameera, who works at the National Rail ticket office in King Cross St Pancras Station.
We decided to treat my nephew to a long train ride as he sadly lost his mum very recently. We had quite a unique request of a combination of specific train companies and routes…we were praying for the right person to facilitate this very unique request and God answered. Ameera was so understanding, patient, accommodating and most of all kind. Although this interaction was probably outside of her usual interactions with customers, Ameera understood the request and made my nephew feel seen and special, even though there was a long queue behind us. She also went out of her way to give my nephew some gifts; which he now treasures.
I would like to thank Ameera again for her kindness!

7 February 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My trip to London.

I have travelled a from Porttalbot to Paddington stations three times in the past year.
I have noticed s considerable improvement with your service.
The communication is better eg ●more staff are available to direct you to your coach position;
●updates with delays and their reasons why (this is most informative which leads to a better understanding) ;
●the ticket inspectors are knowledgeable:
● and the staff on the train offering refreshments are very friendly.
I find the service overall has improved making journeys more enjoyable.
Thank you.

26 January 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Incompetent Web Developers

I normally use this and works fine but recently checked a train Nottingham to Birmingham International.. it tells me about £45!! If I check the journeys individually to New Street then International there are lots of options for less than £20 total..
Trainline also giving me same prices like £18 total
How can they get their own algorithm so wrong? Who are these completely incompetent web developers?

30 January 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Disgusting behaviour by staff

a member of staff at Norwich parkway threatened to hold my partner + autistic daughter at the station even though tickets were shown to him , he took a picture of them and threatened to fine my partner because they had stepped through the barrier before showing the tickets
- it was a football day there was alot of fans getting off at the time

caused my daughter to have a meltdown, rang up to make a complaint and been ignored

Disgusting behaviour by staff members

24 January 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I was already aware that there was a…

I was already aware that there was a replacement bus service from east Grinstead to three bridges but wasn't aware there was any from Egham to steines. Especially as it wasn't reported online when I initially booked my train ticket on Sunday 18th January. Took me 4 hours to get back instead of 3.  Also on the gwr there was bins provided. Someone left their rubbish and I tried to find a bin in two carriages but there wasn't any

18 January 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

total crap

total crap, whats the point in waisting time bringing it up, nobody listens

5 January 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

National embarrassment.

Paid for train tickets, trains
Cancelled (again). Left with a 4 year old on Christmas Eve in the cold.
This service is a disgrace. National embarrassment.

24 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Cannot Renew my Senior Railcard

I have tried several times over the past weeks to renew my Senior railcard online without success. I encounter problems and receive error messages or get 404 page cannot be found. There also seems to be a lot of fake websites for National Railcard.

16 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No comment

No comment, the most expensive ticket to pay for stress , delay cancellation no stuff on Sunday
Worst company in the world
Soon will compete with 3rd world

30 November 2025
Unprompted review

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