I have to admit, writing this op is just a great way to let of steam and have a rant about the terrible state of South West Trains. I can hardly bring myself to pay for my train ticket nowadays when I know what type of journey I can expect.
I use SW Trains to get into work everyday (early morning and evening), and travel from Guildford to Waterloo. My gripe lies not with the staff at SW Trains, I think they make the best of what they have and are usually polite and happy to help, but with the state of the trains which are absolutely disgusting.
Everyday there is the usual battle with fellow passengers to get a seat on the train. As Guildford is at the end of the line most seat are taken from passengers earlier in the journey. So usually one is forced to either stand in the corridor for the 40 minute journey or at worst sit in one of the smokers compartments.
I am not a smoker and I tend to just walk through the compartment, but it seems to me there are loads of smoking cars. WHY!!!! They are usually only half full of smokers and everyone else on the train is cramped together like sardines! I just think this reflects the wimpish, unimaginative mangement at SW Trains. I noticed on Great Western Trains they have a no smoking policy in all carriages (might only apply to certain journeys I don't know) and a quiet carriage where mobile phones have to be turned off, so people can work or sleep in peace. SW Trains seem to just have no vision or forward thinking.
The toilets have to be the most disgusting thing I have ever set eyes on (no need for a description here), I just pity any parent that has to take a child in to use them.
None of the cars have any form of air conditioning, so in summer you can expect to lose about two stone in weight and walk around like someone who has run a marathon in a suit.
I have never even tried to reach the buffet car, I just can not walk through all the people who have to stand for the journey, so I will have to spare you a description of the cuisine, but if it is a reflection of the rest of the train then I pity anyone forced to endure it.
I have also had the pleasure of sitting on one of SW Trains new cars. I am only 6.2 tall and yet I just can't sit on half the seats because there is no leg room. People are getting larger not smaller in today's society!
The trains do run reasonably close to time, but at least once a week there is some type of delay. In fairness the frequency of trains is quiet good to Guildford, but that is a reflection of how close it is to London.
I could never recommend SW trains to anyone (especially early morning/evening when at there busiest), it is cramped, smelly, uncomfortable, and dated. I pay £68 a week for my ticket and I feel like I am being robbed. I know there is sense in taking the train rather than driving to work, but SW Trains need to serious raise their game before trying to encourage anyone to use their service, it's as if the only thing which has changed to the network and service is the number of people forced to use it and nothing is being done to ease their discomfort.
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I haven't been on a train for ages for the reasons you mention - I think they charge far too much for what you get and where you want to go to. It is much cheaper (and quicker as I live in a rural area) for me to travel around the country by car. Put the price down a bit and I might consider it! Good op.
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Advantages: Acceptable when the service is running properly, new trains soon, new information system soon, frequency Disadvantages: Delays, dated trains, peak hours, patronising, see stories section
Modena 14.02.2002 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of South West Trains
Advantages: you get to your to where you want quickly if you havent got a car and you can save petrol Disadvantages: you dont know how relable they are
Cathy_Young 04.07.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of South West Trains
Sep 28th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
