CrossCountry Trains Reviews 

All was alright except for the sheer torture the seat inflicted upon me during my 3 hour journey.

Useless. Train heavily delayed and they're refusing to pay refund, claim it wasn't over an hr late "only 59 mins".

There are never enough seats - with only four or five carriages - the corridors are stuffy, toilets dirty, and service extremely unreliable. Sometimes the train from Reading to Bournemouth is so cramped I can't even get on. Hoping they do not get their franchise renewed.

Booked 2 months in advance. They cancelled the first train the day before. Was told to get the next one. They had canceled the one after too, so it was over full, to the point of overcrowding and unsafe and still couldn't get on. Tried to access first class carriage which was the only space with any room to stand (I'm severely disabled too) and the conductor was an absolute bastard quite frankly. Refused to let me on until I threatened to sue and contact the press.

Reason for their cancellations in the date... Apparently they often cancel weekend trains to save costs if there's not enough pre-booked tickets.

Should have their licence revoked. You are contracted to provide a minimum number of train services.

It's 2 months later and I'm still angry at how badly they treated all of us. Absolute disgrace. I'll take a coach next time.

Put me off taking trains for life, I'll drive. Stood back to back despite having a reserved seat, roasting, toilet door massive gap in it see people (and the smell?!) no ticket inspections at all people just spilling into first class and train was late by 45 minutes which your delay repay scheme has rejected twice saying it was on time. 12 of us on the way to Manchester beg to differ and fully well know it arrived very late. Con artists.

Poor quality train, over priced and not fit for purpose. Extremely warm outside temperatures with non-existent air con inside. Seats are grubby, toilets disgusting... and people wonder why there's too many cars on the road? Common Cross Country you can do better than this.

Over crowded, no space, no catering, no leg room. Avoid this trainline

This train service is quite possibly the worst I have ever experienced, you have to pay a rediculous amount of money and good luck finding a seat, even if you have booked one, you won't get it. The train is ALWAYS over crowded and there is never any luggage space. It's honestly insulting what they get away with charging with what you get on this service.

First class York to Birmingham, a mini can of coke and a flapjack!!! Whole first class carriage filled with people standing as the train is massively over capacity. Shambolic.

Worst experience ever. First time on a cross country train and will never do it again. First train cancelled, second had hours of delays. Train was horrible.

There was a 1:st class menu with some lighter meals, like thai curry or chicken. On an almost 9 hours journey between Edinburgh and Plymouth that sounded like a minimum, but we thought that "we'll manage". After departure Edinburgh we could get a cup of coffee and a small biscuit, but we were told that there would be more food loaded in Newcastle. After Newcastle they served us a new cup of coffee, and said that it will come food after Birmingham. But after Birmingham, no... They said that it will come after Bristol - I assume that you'll get the picture by now. So I make this post now, using my own internet operator because the promised wifi-internet didn't work either...

Awful, cramped, grotty ,old train Running later and later with every stop. Hideous journey - the driver did a great job trying to keep everyone well informed and constantly apologising and updating us, I felt so sorry for him! Too many tickets sold, not enough carriages. Toilets absolutely grim. Scruffy ripped seats. Was like going back in time. Avoid if you possibly can! ABSOLUTELY APPALLING COMPANY.

I just travelled from Derbyshire to Cardiff . The state of the train was appalling. Stinking carpets seats I terrible condition no WiFi no charging and no catering

Never again

What they done to the 1st class food?
The lemon chicken and rice only to discover it is a product that sits on the shelf and doesn’t need refrigerating and the chicken comes from Czech Republic.

A yoghurt that apparently does not need refrigerating it was like wallpaper paste extremely sour. I was also offered a snack box which was also horrendous. You only have a choice 1x biscuit,1x bag crisps.
Is this what you get now for your £386 ticket to plymouth.

So after an horrendous journey in july which resulted in not getting my booked seat, delayed trains, swapping trains due to delayed train and route then swapped, no toilet roll in loo.. Then today an e-mail saying my delayed train request (60 plus mins delayed) is delayed . Previously GWR sent claim through when travelling with them. Not expecting anything from cross country but seriously- unbelievable experience

Cross Country Trains~Shockingly bad customer service for lost property. My suitcase went missing.No proper system for identifying it I spent hours waiting to get through on the phone to speak to a person but gave up in the end. However their website is full of ads, for profit making contacts. Draw your own conclusion.

No information. Repeated missed connections. Too overcrowded to read. No wi-fi (despite "free wi-fi" signs everywhere) to replace reading. An hours long hell prison that made me embarrassed to be British.

If I could have picked no stars I would have. I travelled with XC trains on 1st July 2026, from Sheffield to bodmin on a Penzance train. At new St. Birmingham the air conditioning unit broke in coach D. We all sat and became very unwell during this 4.5 hr portion of journey. I sat and put in a complaint on the XC email form. Up until yesterday 27th July I had no reply by email. I rang twice, getting through the second time after waiting over 45 mins. The woman took my details and went into my complaint. She told me theres no refund or compensation for sitting in a coach with no air conditioning because no1. I could have got off and waited for the next XC service behind which was well over an hour and a half away. Then claim delay repay. The woman's overall excuse for the air conditioning system failure was nothing in the UK is built for 30 plus in heat wave. She said its nothing to do with a lack of maintenance. Therefore, they are not responsible she commented. She said I should have got off if it was uncomfortable!!!! I couldnt afford an extra 1.3 hours on my journey because I was waiting for a lift at Bodmin. I find this company and the scripted customer service people absolutely shocking with an appalling attitude. That situation could have been fatal for an old person for example or someone with severe health issues.

I have taken 3 journeys on Cross Country trains during the last three months all under cramped, overcrowded journeys of long distances. Sheffield to York [Edinburgh]cramped, overcrowded, no seats available and unable to get thru to booked seats, drunk noisy yobs all the way. Sheffield to Leeds no seats vacant and unable to get to booked seat. Manchester to Southampton - outward journey given filthy, stained most uncomfortable seat directly across from luggage rack and carriage and toilet access. Return journey was the worst experience of all, double booking, over crowding, standing and baggage blocking walkway, blocked toilets, etc. etc. and 45 min late arrival at Manchester, so missing connecting train. Ratings: (1) Comfort Zero. (2) Health & Safety Zero.
(3) Facilities Zero (4) On time Zero.
AND a rating of (5) ***** for the train staff having to stay calm, polite and as helpful as possible under such circumstances.
Future lengthy journeys will be taken by alternative transport to train travel.

Totally overcrowded and people jammed in the isles and lobbys. no concern for safety !. just interested in taking the money regardless of not having enough seats or coaches. shouldnt be allowed to operate like it .