written by Lolai47 on 24/09/2023
Two trains tonight ravenglass cumbria to whitehaven cancelled .. 1932 bus replacement waited from 1920 till 2020 no bus no train , dark wet remote village with no bus or train back to whitehaven till AM so expensive taxi home ..
written by Bennett276 on 19/09/2023
Just awful. It's very hard to tell the difference between their service when they are on strike, and their 'normal' service. I've looked online, and it says that they are on time for 61% of the timetabled 'service'. It is my experience that IF a train is not cancelled, it will be on time about every other journey, i.e., about 50% of the time. Deplorable service, a mess. And just to illustrate my point; The next three trains to Preston are 16:39 cancelled, 17:08 delayed by 30 min, so the 17:39 is therefore cancelled. This means that the one train that is heading that way will be more packed than a big box of packed things. This was the same yesterday, and I'm going to take a-wild-stab-in-the-dark and say that it will be the same tomorrow.
written by 130Hoover on 04/06/2023
I got up very early to make it to the station to catch the early train to Whitby. My train ticket told me to get on platform 2 to Whitby, which is what I did. There were no announcements or signs anywhere suggesting what coach to be on. No sooner do I get on the train, but at the first stop I suddenly hear an announcement that my train is going to Saltburn. I immediately went to ask a member of staff if I was on the right train, who said "oh, you had to be on the first 2 coaches to go to Whitby. The next train is in a little over 2 hours, just get off here". All I can say is it would have been nice to know that there was a specific coach (ie. Either written on my ticket, written on a screen, or made known in an announcement), prior to the front 2 coaches detaching and leaving the rest of the train behind and making me wait 2 hours.
written by hugorune1965 on 02/05/2023
Completely unreliable. It is not possible to rely on this train company to commute to work. Trains are hardly ever on time and often get cancelled with no warning. I had to use my car to drive to work today because the train was cancelled and the next one is an hour later, and I can't get a refund for the return journey. Terrible service.
written by Sarahir314 on 23/03/2023
Got a train to Newcastle the other week and the tickets lady was an absolute pain, put the term jobsworth to shame honesty she was beyond that. I had just had my railcard expire and bought a new one in front of her, she said my ticket was invalid so i gave her my details, just been charged £119!!! Absolute joke and honestly they need to rethink who they hire as i was cooperative, friendly and she was just awkward for the sake of being awkward, terrible customer service. Last had a tattoo on the back of her head no idea what her name was but hope she gets a grip
written by BrianA1973 on 20/03/2023
On the 26th of February of this year ear my partner and myself will meant to catch I reply some bus service at 21:49 from Layton Blackpool going to Preston so then we can catch the the replacement bus service from Preston going to Manchester Piccadilly as we have a flight to catch from Manchester airport at 7:50am on the 27th of February at 9:49 it showed that the service was still on time, however it's still not arrived I don't phoned up northern to find out out that is been taken off service, I explained to them that we had to get to Manchester could we have the flights and I told we had them make her own way they basically did not care, I was looking after have a friend coming from Manchester to Blackpool to come and pick us up and take us to the airport because I wasn't prepared to pay over £150 for a taxi, I paid my friend £100, I complain to northern, no mind I've also paid for tickets as well well I was offered £26 compensation, as I didn't have receipt or proof but I paid to get to Manchester, no when you're hardly stressed out and all you thinking about you getting to your destination so you don't miss your flight you're not thinking about getting receipts, because northern don't care about things like that northern don't care about the customer my voice to anybody now make sure you get receipts if this ever happens to you because northern will not pay out they would let you lose money, because it's not their problem
written by 4Guzman on 28/02/2023
Purchased tickets online, i asked politely in a calm manner about how i can go and get a refund, as the were online tickets. Asked 2 colleagues…1st colleague had such a cheeky smurk on his cheek, as he was speaking with me the 2nd colleague was surprised, didn't get my refund. Due for liquidation.
written by DeniseWebster on 15/01/2023
In December I got a train from Weeton to Leeds, to then travel to London for work. I was busy on a call when I got off the train in Leeds, I forgot to take my case off and it set straight back off on its journey to York again. The Northern Rail Manager was amazing, reassuring me. He said he would do his best to see if the Harrogate station staff would find it, take it off and send it back to Leeds. He told me to go get a coffee and that he would ring me. He did, and then met me an hour later with my case. They did exactly that, he even helped me move my train back on LNER. I felt extremely fortunate and incredibly grateful.
written by Hess462 on 17/12/2022
Awful service. Trains are usually cancelled or delayed. I have now given up using rail as a mode of transport as totally unreliable. I will use alternative. Quicker & easier to use the bus these days. Northern should be stripped of contract & bring in a company who can provide the service.
written by Annelowes16 on 08/06/2022
I was made to wait in Wakefield Westgate station for 2 hours because l had left my ticket on the train I'm a vunerable disabled pensioner with amnesia and several health issues l have difficulty walking the jobswoth staff on the electronic gates wouldent let me leave the station to get to kirkgate station to catch a train to featherstone putting me in danger of a stalker who had been harassing me it was 19.05 on 8th of June 2022 causing me to miss 2 trains and having to walk down a long lonely road where the stalker might be waiting he's followed me twice .I forgot my ticket all they said was make sure you remember your ticket in future how do you make an amnesiac with a few seconds memory remember anything you are unhelpful and useless you don't care about the safety of vunerable people or you would have let me catch my train
written by Sawyer112 on 08/12/2021
Joke of a service as usual. 1 star because I can't rate with 0. Equally inefficient at having on time services and at providing delay compensations. If you want to be somewhere on time, don't use Northern.
written by ZionPearson54 on 02/12/2021
Criminalising regular professional travellers like NHS staff by charging a £20 fine when they are unable to purchase a ticket before boarding the train. The facility to buy on the train has also been taken away. No consideration for returning train travellers who haven't used the train for c18 months due to the pandemic and unaware of recent changes.
written by AlecJ1 on 30/09/2021
I attended Whaley Bridge station this morning and used the toilets they were the CLEANEST public toilet I have used in a VERY long while a pleasant change well done Whaley Bridge !!!
written by Ronniet57 on 15/07/2021
I use this service six days a week and find the staff friendly and helpful. Cancellations have also been less frequent, although I don't know if I have been lucky and this is only on the lines I use. However during the pandemic period I have only seen a customer asked on one occasion if they had a valid reason for not wearing a mask. Although there are announcements and signs it has been rare to travel anywhere without customers, not wearing masks at all, wearing them only over the mouth or under the chin, or ignoring social distancing rules. While I appreciate that the railway staff have been important key workers and been at risk during the pandemic due to their contact with the public, there have been frequent occasions when I have not felt safe due to the behaviour of other passengers.
written by Lj9406 on 03/07/2021
Travelled with northern railway and the staff were very friendly and helpful as a passenger with additional needs and mask exemption travelling during these times makes me nervous but they put my at ease
written by wwCunningham147 on 17/01/2020
A week doesn't go by without some cancellations, so far this week alone - 5 cancellations and numerous delays. What is going on - your service Northern Rail is appalling.
written by Jewli on 17/12/2019
If I could rate it NO stars I would. A word of advice do not travel on these trains at peak times if you value your life. They literally cram poeple into the smallest number of carriages they can and I am talking about going through THREE major cities.my son suffered a horrendous panic attack because we were squashed in that much he could not breathe. Poeple were crammed against the doors and still the guard squashed another man in with a huge suitcase. Ask yourself how you would manage in case of a fire or a terrorist attack? Answer is you will die. When is something going to be done about this! The phrase after the horse has bolted springs to mind.
written by nigelh71 on 06/12/2019
They can blame the tracks and lack of investment but when the driver doesn’t turn up that is the northern train drivers/management/union fault. 20 minute wait because of no driver then the journey further delayed as a result. Thank you for your amazing service, that being to not care about your customers. Appalling doesn’t come close to the lack or service and care.
written by stutay52 on 07/11/2019
Train from Preston to Grange-Over-Sands was first shown as late and then disappeared from the screen, to be replaced by the next train 1 hour later. No announcement was made about the cancellation. We arrived at our home station over an hour later than we should have. I have repeatedly tried to get a refund. Their first response was gobbledegook and when I said so I was just told the claim was unsuccessful. I contacted their appeals and was repeated told the screen shot of the ticket was unclear. It was not possible to get past the date box because it wouldn't allow you to enter it and didn't offer an option for the date I needed. I wonder why not. I have got a form to complain to the rail ombudsman, but to be honest for £27.35 I'm not sure I can justify the time. I guess that is what they want. They clearly aren't bothered about their rating. Virgin trains paid up straight away when one of their trains was delayed. What happened to their franchise...taken away.
written by ShiksSon on 17/09/2019
If I could give less than a star I would! Have lost count of the number of times my train has been CANCELLED or more than 10 min LATE.I'd be knee deep in pounds if counting. Having to find alternative ways to get where you're going (taxi, bus, walking) is the norm. I finally decided to apply for compensation under their 'get refund for 15 min or more delay'). Took time out of my busy schedule (out of principle and frustration). Put in 2 applications, one where my train was cancelled, the other train was over 35 min late (or more I'm sure as left to get bus). I asked for voucher refund. Some weeks later... my 'compensation' vouchers arrived. £0.50 and £1.30!!! UNBELIEVABLE! NOT EVEN THE COST OF A SINGLE TICKET?!. THE TIME I SPENT FILLING COMPENSATION FORM WAS NOT WORTH THIS!! LET ALONE THE MONTHS OF FRUSTRATION, EXTRA COSTS ETC. The trains themselves are so OLD, FILTHY, RICKETY & DATED, I've seen better trains in so called 3rd world countries. So embarassing to have people visiting from Europe/elsewhere and have to board one of these. Great Britain indeed. Why this company still has a contract is beyond me. They are definitely not putting customer service or comfort first at any point.
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Nobullfromkarens's Comment
Written on: 05/03/2022
lol what recent changes to our 100+ year old railway? you’ve had to buy a ticket before you get on the train for years since they brought in the fines. But no instead of admitting your mistake, learning your lesson and paying the fine. You’ll spit your dummy out on the internet claiming victim.
Let me guess you enjoying a free ride through covid whilst the staff weren’t checking tickets and staying safe whilst doing their job and now just annoyed you got caught.