London Midland Reviews
Latest Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“Pathetic Customer Service”
Written on: 16/05/2013 by MadDanEccles
Opted to get a London Midland train from Tamworth to Leighton Buzzard (quicker than driving and a bargain at £15.70 I thought) ... anyway - train stops at Nuneaton ... and waits ... and after 10 minutes an announcement to the effect of: "This train is being terminated here, your next onward service is on one hour". So a train load of people decamp onto the platform, a number of Virgin Trains go past without so much as slowing down and after an hour a London Midland train turns up and takes... (read more)
★★★★☆
“Good train service whenever I've been in London Midland!!”
Written on: 10/05/2013 by Davido199
I dont know why everybody is saying such bad things about London Midland, I travel often between Kidsgrove and Crewe, Stone and occasionally Euston. Yes they could improve on services on this route like offering a trolley service but so?? Nice class 350 trains and quiet, clean services to me! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“They lost me my job”
Written on: 02/05/2013
I used to travel from Rugby to Birmingham daily. catching the first train at 0533hrs. My boss thought i was talking the mick as at least 2 times a week it was either late or never turned up.No apologies or anything said. Scruffy staff. Scruffy trains. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Worst Rail Company Ever?”
Written on: 26/04/2013 by b2010w (2 reviews written)
In the past month i have used Crosscountry, Virgin and London Midland and i have to say that by far the worst is London Midland. The way they treat people, the poor customer service to the ridiculously poor levels of communication. I'm lucky that only one day a week i have to get the berkswell to birmingham new street train, but its such a choir. I forgot my train ticket one day and the delightful Millie (you know who you are, normally sits Victoria end) told me i was lucky not to be... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Same old same old”
Written on: 20/04/2013 by RobertLeKnobe (1 review written)
I am a regular commuter and have to use London Midland. I travel on the main London Euston/Birmingham New Street lines every day. The station I have to use only has LM trains going through so I absolutely have no choice in the matter. I have been using trains for many years and used to work for British Rail. So I'm not new to train travel. I managed to obtain a new job last year and have been using LM since then. I have to say that i'm absolutely sick to the back teeth of this company... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Chronically shambolic service”
Written on: 19/04/2013
I never leave these sorts of reviews, but on this occasion I feel compelled to. I commute from Leighton Buzzard to Euston every day. The service seems to be delayed more often than not. Right now the train has just resumed its journey (only 15 minutes delayed today). When the train is moving, it is juddery beyond belief. Despite the glaring faults, no efforts are made to improve the situation, and it may have even got worse in the past year. Members of their staff are now beginning to side... (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“misleading cheap fares”
Written on: 18/04/2013
i didn't even get as far as to travel on a london midland train. i used the online network rail guide to find the cheapest fare from london to liverpool and was quoted £27. on clicking the buy now button i was rerouted to the london midland booking site where the quoted fee was nowhere to be found and the cheapest fare i could get was £109. so virgin got my business in the end, they were a bit more expensive but the booking process was much more straightforward. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Brought a ticket to sit of the floor”
Written on: 14/04/2013 by Samanthajayne87
I booked with London Midland for the first time for a trip to Londom having used virgin and chiltern in the past, because it was cheapest and had the best travel times. On the outward journey from Birmingham new street to London Euston. The train was on time which surprised me after following London midland on twitter in the days before our trip and reading about a lot of delays and cancellations. I was surprised to find no tables on the train, no plug sockets and no wi-fi which are all... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Rubbish service!”
Written on: 10/04/2013
Travelled to Hull yesterday and had my route carefully planned out with all connections and times. Good old London Midland - my first train of the route provided by you was delayed by 15 minutes! Arrived THREE HOURS LATE at my destination! You never FAIL TO FAIL! Strangely enough, I came home using various other train companies - all superb, clean, efficient and ON TIME!!!!! Thanks for nothing. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“If you enjoy being late whilst paying for it, try LM”
Written on: 02/04/2013 by 20something
I've been using London Midland since I started university in 2008. Just a number of times I've been screwed over by London Midland: Train just stops on way to Liverpool for 30 mins with a signalling fault provided as an explanation. Train arrives at station, I press button, but doors do not open and train leaves. Hard to believe this happened I know. Very untidy/ full of litter coaches- I'm not queen bee of cleanliness but paying for these over priced tickets should mean at least the... (read more)
See next 10 reviews
Showing 1 - 10 of 50 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“NEVER AGAIN!”
Written on: 02/04/2013 by JoBarker (1 review written)
Travelled with this excuse for a public transport company from Tamworth to Euston on Saturday. Had to stand for the whole journey and was taken poorly, but couldn't move at all due to severe overcrowding. It was disgusting treatment of people. It was like some third world country service. Never again! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“discusting”
Written on: 02/04/2013
took my sons frm birmingham to cosford had to change twice n the same cumin bak n had to wait 30 min to leave g. i really hope 1 day they go bust (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Terrible”
Written on: 25/03/2013
I have the misfortune of travelling with this poor excuse of a TOC every day to travel to Uni, with constant lack of staff and cancelled trains, this is always an uphill battle. They operate all local services around the West Midlands, so you're pretty much stuck with them. Excuses of lack of train drivers are always put down to illnesses, but today over 15 trains have been cancelled, this is bordering on ridiculous, not good enough for the main TOC around the Midlands, roll on 2015 when... (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“the problem is that virgin is to expensive one the day”
Written on: 23/03/2013
No wi-fi nor even cover for some providers No food!!!!! at least one toilet is always out of use. No plugs. Just on 1st class, which is a joke as nor even beverages are served. Most of the time the trains are crowded even on the floor as the double of the capacity is taken. The seats are small. A fat person cannot seat next to anyone. No space to put luggage, just over your head if light and small enough to fit. Always arrive to your destination later than supposed to. Cold as air-con is to... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“As Useful as a Chocolate Fireguard”
Written on: 19/03/2013
I'm a daily commuter from Watford Junction to Euston. I can't believe this company still has the franchise. The service seems to be getting worse and worse even though they invested in new rolling stock a year or so ago. Please, please, please remove their franchise. They are so unreliable I've started using the London Overground service as it rarely has issues. A train service this late / unreliable is not a service. Use them at your own risk. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“This service is just so poor”
Written on: 15/02/2013
the service on London Midland between Birmingham and Redditch is now so unreliable it is laughable. Three trains cancelled in succession on Saturday not to mention the mess at rush hour every day at the moment.... it is shocking! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“What a joke...”
Written on: 01/02/2013
This is just a bunch of incompetent, useless and rude people who have no sense of how to run a train company or provide information to the customers. As a daily commuter, I still can't believe the number of times they’ve ruined my day… I’m now looking for moving, as I can’t afford to waste so much time because of their incompetence. Thanks also to the government who should have removed the license long time ago! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Absolutely awful”
Written on: 30/01/2013
A shambles of an operator. Bullying staff, terrible trains, terrible at keeping schedules, terrible at informing customers, un-reliable, expensive. They need to have the license revoked. Write to your MP. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“What a complete rip-off”
Written on: 03/01/2013 by Anotherrippedoffpassenger (1 review written)
My son travels from Worcester to Hereford everyday, it was £11.60 before Christmas but has now gone up to £12.10, he has a 16-25 railcard which is supposed to reduce the fare by 30% (i.e. £8.00). However, it transpires London-Midland have a minimum price now of, (yes you have guessed it) £12.00 since Jan 1 2013. So with the railcard he saves 10p ! When I questioned them regarding this they could not give me a straight answer as to why they have suddenly arrived (no pun intended) at... (read more)
Crysannia's Response to Anotherrippedoffpassenger's Review
Written on: 12/01/2013
This isn't new, it has been this way since i was at Uni 5 years ago. Sorry. It is across the whole rail network and it only lapses in July and August.
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“London Midland Trains What a Joke”
Written on: 24/12/2012 by ASC1418
London Midland to Euston. I have been travelling from Harrow & Wealdstone to Euston and back for over two years. I have yet to experience a train that arrives or leaves on time. Or a seat for that matter. Some days it would be easier to walk the 14 miles to work. What a joke. Whoever gave this shower this franchise should hang their head in shame. London Overground albeit slower is always on time and runs like clockwork. Please explain what happended to my 0624 train this morning. Did it... (read more)
See next 10 reviews
Showing 11 - 20 of 50 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“not so great expectations...”
Written on: 20/12/2012
If you are looking for a bad service, experience of rude staff andsit on a dirty train- or stand on a dirty train, as often they shorten carriages even on busy services, govong the ulitimate sardine effect: then london midland is the train operator for you! They are unorganised, always delayed, the trains really are filthy, so not a great for those with a dust allergy. If the dirty carriages don't put you off, the fact the rude behaviour of staff will provide you with an adequate excuse to... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Appalling train service! Appalling customer service!”
Written on: 17/12/2012
Unfortunately, my husband has to travel with London midland every day. There has not been a single week that they have run on time over the last few months! I had the misfortune of travelling on London midland today- not only were the trains late but the communication at moor st station Birmingham was incorrect & practically non-existent! When seeking a member of staff to ask what the situation was, they had all disappeared with the entrance barriers left open!! The government want people to... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Beyond A Joke”
Written on: 13/12/2012 by joannie5 (1 review written)
Enough is enough-please somebody do something about London Midland, or at least tell me why they are being allowed to continue getting away with this appalling service. I regularly travel from Rugby to several destinations that force me to use LM and literally cannot remember the last time I completed my journey without incident. I find it hard to accept that this company is being allowed to get away with this shambolic farce of a "service". Sorry to rant! and the one-star rating I gave is... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Dreadful”
Written on: 13/12/2012
I've experienced more disruption courtesy of London Midland in just 3 weeks than I did with Chiltern in 4 years. For example, this week: Tuesday, train delayed by almost an hour am. Train broke down pm and another delay of getting on for an hour. Wednesday pm train cancelled, half hour wait for the next one. Have now taken to catching the bus into Birmingham in the morning, sadly this is not an option in the evening. When they do turn up, the trains are usually rammed by the time they've... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“The sooner they lose the contract, the better”
Written on: 01/12/2012
I travel regularly from Redditch to Birmingham, then on to Solihull. The lateness and cancellation is beyond a joke. Only this week I managed to get into Birmingham but if it wasn't for Chiltern I would not have made it to Solihull. While waiting at Moor St two empty trains came past very slowly. I can only assume this is to remind passengers what they look like. They have been bleating for the last two months that they have a lack of drivers. Well one of the things you need to run a... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“the worse in the country fact”
Written on: 29/11/2012
train due at 14.59 was delayed until 15.07 then 15.11 reason being a fault on the train 15.15 still no train so i spoke to the guy in the signaling room asking for any info he tells me it will be here in 5mins but wont leave for another 10 an the reason it was late was dogs on the track not a fault on the train so the info given to me as a customer was totaly false and misleading this is not a 1 off offence as i have to use this terrible company to get to work if u ever have the chance to... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Typical english company policy, rip you off for 3rd...”
Written on: 29/11/2012
Typical english company policy, rip you off for 3rd class service, late dirty trains, London Midland really are taking the pi** Management needs to be tied to the tracks and run over by there own trains.....wait a minute....they will have a slow death waiting for there own train. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“What's going on??!”
Written on: 23/11/2012
I've been using the service from harrow & wealdstone to euston for almost two years now and recently (4-6 weeks) it's been as unreliable as it gets. Trains cancelled, delays of up to twenty minutes etc on a daily basis. Usually the reason given is shortage of train drivers. That's just not good enough. Unless most of the train drivers walked out overnight this situation should have been dealt with by the management before it got to this stage. And I do hope these reviews are taken seriously... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Very long waits!”
Written on: 07/11/2012 by LondonMidlandPassenger
Delay of over 2 hours on train from Watford to Euston due to power failure. Got into Euston after 1am. No tubes running at that time of night so police told us London Midland would pay for taxis. The whole train load of people waited in the cold for half an hour while police tried to get in touch with London Midland management to ok the cost of the taxis. Passengers were getting very irate - London Midland had had two hours while we were sitting on the train in the dark to organise taxis. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Poor service! Absolutely useless!!”
Written on: 23/10/2012 by Rupzc007
I have been using the London midland train service for Lichfield Trent Valley to Reddich and over the last part of this year, the service has gotten so bad I'm forced using the bus service. There are rarely no train platform announcments when approaching the station in the eveing when its dark so you cannot tell what stop you are on. The trains are old and small with no leg room. There is almost always a delay and canncellations have become incresing now that they are short staff! I wish... (read more)
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Showing 21 - 30 of 50 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“Standind Room Only To London!”
Written on: 21/10/2012 by mte1970 (1 review written)
Thought we would give the train a try from Atherstone Warwickshire to London Euston. Train arrived already packed at Atherstone. Had to stand with our two small children not being able to move because of the sheer amount of people on the train.Why do London Midland put so few carriages on. NEVER,NEVER again will I use this company. Will take the car next time to be assured of a seat for all my family. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Slave Ship of the commuting world”
Written on: 16/10/2012
Commuting from MKC to EUS for a year now during morn/eve peak. The service is overcrowded, slow & uncomfortable. I gave the 1 star for punctuality which is 'ok', however: The Desiro 350/2 with the green 3+2 seating is probably the most uncomfortable form of transport in existence. During the peaks, you have a choice of being squashed in these seats or standing. The seats are so small that you literally have to sit on top of another commuter, or hang off the edge of your seat. I've got back... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“annoying”
Written on: 23/09/2012 by swartois
I am traveling to work from Coventry to Walsall. Mostly I have problems with returning. It is long journey because I have to stop at Birmingham New Street to catch the train to Coventry. It takes one and half hour in one way. It is so annoying when I came to Walsall station and the train is cancelled; usually 3 or 4 service a day. I have to wait half an hour or sometimes one hour. I have to wake up at 4.30am to catch the train and be on time at work. Returning at 8pm is unbelievable,... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Misleading 1st Class”
Written on: 25/08/2012
I purchased 3 first class return tickets from Birmingham to London. I chose the option to upgrade to first class as it was a treat for me and my daughters, for a special occasion. The offer of an upgrade is totally misleading, 1st class accomodation is no different to standard class, there are no drinks/refreshment facilities for the entire journey, not even a trolley service. Seat reservation is not included so it is pot luck if you manage to get a table seat (only two tables vailable) to... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“First class scam”
Written on: 16/07/2012
Worst experience of my life well below average might of aswell paid standard was treated like scum and crammed in with no lugage space will never travel with London midland and advise people not to use them. Virgin are the best. Staff were rood and cartage was dirty zero impressed (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“as bad as it gets”
Written on: 06/06/2012 by griff0121
use to get to work an have 4 2 years now always delayed poor management of delay in regards to single lines trains of a poor quality some are so old they come from the archives of british rail if u have another option of travel use it londonlastresortmidland should be at the bottom of your options aviod at all cost (read more)
★★★☆☆
“Try Avoiding, Except 1st Class!”
Written on: 31/03/2012
London Midland is to be avoided where possible. Their local trains between Redditch/Longbridge and Four Oaks/Lichfield City/Lichfield Trent Valley are regular at every 10 minutes, which is useful, but can often suffer from a ranging variety of problems. 1) Overcrowding. The trains are often very full at peak times and are only 3 carriages where other (totally uncrowded) services are 6 carriages (two trains coupled together). This is a management problem because they know that the trains... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“London Midland peak service capacity”
Written on: 20/02/2012
I've just about had it with London Midland. I travel from Leighton Buzzard to London Euston and return daily during peak hours, for which I pay a hefty premium. Everyday the trains are full to way beyond capacity, so much so that the conductor cannot pass through the train for every corridor and vestibule being full of standing commuters. If I had any alternative whatsoever I would jump at it. I wrote to London Midland and my local MP to complain and received a less than satisfactory... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“A very, very unreliable service.”
Written on: 26/01/2012 by MONSTERRS
I travel to college every day using London Midland trains as it is the only option for me at my age and where I live. I pay over one hundred pounds per month for a student train pass to travel between three stops, and for this money, you'd expect the services to be frequent, reliable and on time. No, in return I get trains that run at completely erratic times throughout the day and consistently delayed or cancelled trains, even when the timetable states the train will arrive on time at a... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Is this really a train company?”
Written on: 15/07/2011
I've been using them for the last 3 years between WFJ and EUS, after they took over the franchise from Silverlink. They first reduced the number of services and seats available, then messed everything around for the few months following these changes (Yeah, let's extend the routes to somewhere else... Ooops, forgot to hire some train managers and drivers). Since then, nothing really changed, and they still behaved as completely unprofessional, rude and useless. Probably ones of the worst... (read more)
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Showing 31 - 40 of 50 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“We purchased 2 advanced return rail tickets to London...”
Written on: 10/05/2011
We purchased 2 advanced return rail tickets to London to complete a trip to Bruges by Eurostar and opted to have them posted to us. After 10 days the tickets still had not arrived and we were due to travel in 3 days time. Their response when we phoned was that it was not their problem and we would have to buy new tickets on the day. If we had known this would be their response, we would never have bought tickets from their website.
Despite many emails and calls, they are standing firm and we...
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I am not the typical complaining type, but I have had...”
Written on: 23/03/2011
I am not the typical complaining type, but I have had enough of London Midlands poor service.
I catch the train every day from Leighton Buzzrd to London. The services are FREQUENTLY late or cancelled altogether.
They don't seem to be able to manage their resources very well as are heavily dependant on drivers doing overtime. Since the drivers union stopped the overtime the service has gotten even worse than it was before.
I normally like to 'vote with my feet', but I can't as there is no...
(read more)
Guest's Comment
Written on: 02/06/2011
You could try Marshalls coaches, the journey is twice as long but the cost is half the train fare
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★★★★★
“Commute via London Midland every day. Very few issues...”
Written on: 26/02/2011 by jonathanpete (3 reviews written)
Commute via London Midland every day. Very few issues and see improvements made all the time. Cleanliness of trains increased. One of the best operators. (read more)
Anonymous999's Response to jonathanpete's Review
Written on: 23/07/2012
Where do you travel to and from? Not really where I go, Stafford to Birmingham N St (occasionally) and Birmingham N St to University. the only route I've heard that has got better is Moor Street lines, because of new trains. That's it!
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★☆☆☆☆
“London Midland are a joke. Their policy of not giving...”
Written on: 01/02/2011
London Midland are a joke. Their policy of not giving a damn for the customers appears to be well documented. I use a commuter service in Birmingham and the train is late every day both in the morning and in the evening but because it is not longer than 30 mins I get no compensation. Not only that but it could be argued that the reliability statistics are made up. I have often seen trains that the notice board states have left a station when it has not and in some cases has not even... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I purchased a First class rail ticket via the internet...”
Written on: 31/10/2010
I purchased a First class rail ticket via the internet to travel on London Midland from Northants to Birmingham June 8th 2010.
I was misled with the service they advertised as having higher comfort rating of travel, within a private compartment. When in fact the only difference was an antimasca illustrating first class. The seats were identical to standard and no additional leg room, laptop connection etc.
Don't bother travelling with this company, avoid at all costs.
Despite several...
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I left home at 6.40 am this morning to travel to MK...”
Written on: 25/05/2010
I left home at 6.40 am this morning to travel to MK and catch a train to Birmingham. Train arrived and departed on time at 7.49pm. Notice of platform , departure all very clear with station stops promoted on electronic notice and over speaker on train. Just out of MK announced this train only going to Northampton, thought had misheard . Then announced train will split at Northampton so all passengers to Birmingham go to front 4 carriages. Did that, had ticket checked on way and told to go to... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Travel with London Midland at your peril, total...”
Written on: 05/04/2010
Travel with London Midland at your peril, total disregard for your homeward journey usually ejected at a station far from your destination, No communication no consideration ,and as yet not even any compensation, not that I would want to be compensated with travel vouchers, I would probably have to put in another claim straight after the trip, Thomas the Tank is more professional I would like to say that they are a cowboy company , but that would be giving cowboys a bad name. BEWARE YOU... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Would think very hard about using London-Midland Train...”
Written on: 16/08/2009
Would think very hard about using London-Midland Train again and only would if no choice and would not use it on a match day. When we got on the train at Smethwich, a lot of swearing singing chants and ended up wrecking up the train. Got no help from London-Midland when rang them up when we were forced for our on safety to get off the train early and make other arrangement, even though they could of caught the person who vandalised the train. Has left my son feeling scared of going on a... (read more)
★★★☆☆
“A company that takes care of the rolling stock but not...”
Written on: 05/02/2009 by glodekka (2 reviews written)
A company that takes care of the rolling stock but not as much the passengers, who are delayed or trains cancelled without explanation. Worst is when running so late that a train terminates early, i.e. a late running train to Liverpool is curtailed at Crewe. Last is a general moan about all railway companies who offer free reservations, many seats at peak times have reservations which aren't taken up, so charge a nominal fee of £2 and stop the wasters. Regarding compensation always ask when... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I am a regular daily commuter on this line and find...”
Written on: 13/01/2009 by ellesbelles57 (1 review written)
I am a regular daily commuter on this line and find the service to be truly appalling. The morning service is delayed, most days by at least few minutes often up to 15 minutes or more - unacceptable for a commuter train. The evenings services fare little better. The compensation scheme for delayed and cancelled trains is cumbersome, involving having to fill in claim forms to be submitted which in turn a paid in rail vouchers. the old system of automatic compensation against the cost of... (read more)
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Martyn1279's Response to b2010w's Review
Written on: 30/04/2013
Totally agree. What more can I say.