written by on 09/10/2014
i travel weekly from Macclesfield to Oxford on Cross Country because I have no choice. The trains are filthy. Seats that were "available" when I have occupied them have mysteriously Been booked en route and I have frequently had to move from what was an available seat, sometimes twice on the same journey! This is a very discourteous way to treat paying customers and I have often had to find another vacant seat in a different coach altogether - not great when carrying luggage! I know of no other rail service that feels it necessary to do this. The trolley service is expensive, the coffee undrinkable. There are never enough coaches and I have had to stand on several occasions, as a 67 year old this is difficult and unacceptable. I book my outward journey but, because of unavoidable commitments, I am not able to be sure of my return journey times. This means I have to hope for an available seat and this is where the service becomes unsatisfactory. The latest move by Cross Country is to deem it unnecessary to include a "quiet" coach possibly because there are so few coaches on the train. I just wish there was an alternative route for me (via a Virgin train?). As it is I'm doomed to endure this company for at least another two years.