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Home > Travel > Holiday Essentials > Train > British Rail

User Reviews

for British Rail

Rating Summary based on 29 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		4
  • 4 Stars
    		5
  • 3 Stars
    		6
  • 2 Stars
    		8
  • 1 Star
    		6

Detailed rating

  • Frequency of trains
  • On-board facilities
  • Speed of trains
  • Ticketing System
  • Value for Money
  		• 2.9
  		• 2.6
  		• 3.0
  		• 2.9
  		• 2.0

Review attribute filters

Previous page Next page Page 1 of 3 | 1 to 10 out of 29 Review(s)
  • 51 of 51 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of CareBear

    CareBear

    1 Star Not By Rail 18/01/2002
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages will get you from A to B - eventually

    Disadvantages Disadvantages need I comment?

    By way of opening, yes, I am aware that BR does not exist anymore. This however, is an opinion about the whole rail network and it seemed fitting to put it here, after all, as you will see, BR had its merits. Many of us rely on rail travel every day and there can be few people who have never been on a train. Whether we use the railways for daily commuting or the occasional trip away we should be able to rely on the fact that there will be trains, that they will turn up on time and get to their destination with the minimum of delay. That’s what should happen. In reality we are faced with ... more
  • 27 of 27 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of TheNeil

    TheNeil

    2 Stars The case of the missing driver 07/08/2001
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages Sometimes faster

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Oh, far too many to detail

    Before anyone says anything, I know that this is the British Rail category and that good old BR don't technically exist anymore but at this point you don't know what I'm going to write about (and hey, neither do I) so tough. But what am I actually going to address during today's outpouring of drivel? Actually I'll be documenting my experiences as a rail traveller and addressing the pros and cons of chucking away your car keys and heading for the train station instead. What qualifies me to do this? Hmmm. I'm not a rail employee, never have been, never will be (IQ in double figures), but I am a ... more
  • 13 of 13 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of EarthGirl

    EarthGirl

    5 Stars Young Persons Travel Card - The smart choice 27/04/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Quick easy savings

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Must be renewed every year

    I've had a young persons rail card now for 5 years and i wouldn't be without it. altogether the savings it has made me on rail travel have totalled at least £300. The young persons rail card gives you a 1/3 discount on standard train fairs any where in the UK and a discount on one day London travel cards. They are available to anyone aged 18-26 years old (and also mature students who have proof of student status from their academic institution). They are available from any British rail ticket office and cost £18 for one year at the end of which it must be renewed. If you have never had a young ... more
  • 10 of 10 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of daseaford

    daseaford

    2 Stars Wrong train at Sheffield. 27/05/2001
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages I like trains.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Not enough clear information.

    During a recent train journey we had to change trains at Sheffield. This didn’t seem a big problem. I think that at this point I should stress that although I love travelling on trains I don’t use them very often. As we got off the first train the PA system announced that the train we wanted was at platform 3a. We crossed the footbridge, found platform 3, checked on the display monitor that the train was going to Worksop and got on the train. Whilst we sat on the train there was an announcement on the train that departure would be delayed due to staffing problems. After a short ... more
  • 35 of 35 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of 1st2thebar

    Level 7 1st2thebar

    Member since 11/05/2005

    Reviews written: 462

    3 Stars Potty training 20/04/2010
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Stations are well equipped with amenities

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Not enough room in this slot, said the plumber to the midwife

    High speed rail networks exist due to umpteen individuals who access this mode of transport on a daily basis. These are the regular users who systematically like clockwork; frequent the rail network for up to 2 hours a day. It is a lifestyle choice. Engineered to the London city clock watchers, rail travel correspond to working times of every citizen who embraces the ‘rat race’ with a grit and determination that is only rewarded with obscene rail fees; leaving them with a beetroot face glow as they stride forth onwards to that promotion, by which time the fees would of escalated. It was the ... more
  • 15 of 15 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of lee.p.best

    lee.p.best

    4 Stars A BRief History 28/10/2002
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages See Opinion

    Disadvantages Disadvantages See Opinion

    Before I start, I must say that I may be biased in commenting on BR but I have tried to lay my opinion out as factual as possible. LB British Rail doesn't exist any more as a company. Since privatisation in 1995 BR has been split into the infrastructure company (Railtrack (!)) and a number of Train Running Companies (TOCs). Most of the TOCs are owened by bus companies (e.g. First Great Eastern - First Group & W.A.G.N - National Express). Some companies have done well (such as Anglia) and some have done badly (such as W.A.G.N). Now lets go back to the bad old days of B.R... B.R was a nightmare ... more
  • 10 of 11 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Okocha

    Okocha

    2 Stars Letting the nation down 21/03/2001
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages It is there, good selection of routes

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Dirty, poor food, always late/cancelled, safety aspects, some fellow passengers

    I don't drive, so am forced to use British Rail on a regular basis, whether it be a 20 minute journey to work or a 6 hour trip to see my family in Southport. As I am hoping to pass my driving test shortly, I pray that my usage of the train system will be minimised greatly... ROUTES/PRICE British Rail has a very good selection of routes and , with a number of connections, you can get to most of your required destinations. A lot of different rail companies run these routes, but this is more of an opinion about the general state of the rail system in this country, not each individual franchise ... more
  • 8 of 8 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of dmckillop

    dmckillop

    2 Stars 10 pounds per hour and no seat 16/01/2001
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages ummmmmmm

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Overcrowded, Delays...

    I just read the other opinion on BR and realised I'm paying about £10 / hour for train travel and I don't even get a seat most days! Why is it that people get on the train when it's empty, sit down and put their bag and coat on the seat next to the window. They'll do anything to stop you sitting next to them. Others setup their laptops on the tables and spread their paperwork all around. It's like some kind of competition, they want you to think I'm not asking him/her to move it would be far too much hassle, so you move on and they get 2 whole seats to themselves. I've even been on a crowded ... more
  • 9 of 9 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of GraWar

    GraWar

    5 Stars Rail Privatisation....Good or bad 02/05/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages more investement, new trains, doesnt require as much Government money

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Railtrack making a mess of things at the moment

    I have to say that my views have had to have been reviewed recently in the wake of the spate of derailments etc... that we have experienced on Britains railways. However I still remain optimistic about the state of the railways in this country and will continue to travel on them for a good while yet as i believe they are the best form of public transport. I use the trains a lot to travel between Burton and Yorkshire and I can still safely say that despite all of the problems I am still a believer that rail privatisation was the correct thing to do. For starters it generated a lot of money for ... more
  • 3 of 4 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of maatcat

    maatcat

    4 Stars SAFETY AND BRITISH RAIL 08/12/2000
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages SAFETY

    Disadvantages Disadvantages LACK OF COMMUNICATION

    Whilst I have a great sympathy with the British Public with reference to the delays currently being experienced on the railway network,I must point out that SAFETY IS THE MORE IMPORTANT ISSUE!!!!!!!!! The people who experienced the dreadful tragedy at Hatfield recently would surely agree that there has at least,been some good to come from this disaster inasmuch as that the national railway system has been thoroughly examined and a rather disturbing amount of problems have been found on the tracks nationally!!!!!!! As a traveller on the railway system I find the delays incredibly frustrating ... more
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