Great Western Railway Reviews 

My journey from Reading to Plymouth (arriving at 22:18 on July 28) was very comfortable and on time. The staff were super helpful and gave outstanding service. Seat food service ran through the carriage 3 times with a great selection of hot and cold dinks and snacks. It’s great to see staff at work who are determined to provide a great customer experience. A special mention to Martin for his kind comments and last service tea and snacks.

It’s frustrating to see a company profit so heavily from our daily commutes while consistently failing to deliver a reliable service.

Appalling service. Today I have been to Bristol Temple Meads for 3 trains which have all been cancelled. They had elderly people sat on a stationary train for 40 minutes in 28 degrees heat just for it to be cancelled with little communication about what to expect. It is inhumane and disgusting. I rarely get the train anymore (which is a shame) because the last few times I have, the train has been cancelled or delayed without fail!!! Sort it out.

Trains are never on time, half of them are cancelled within the local Bristol area. I have taken a train today from London Paddington to Bristol temple meads. The first was cancelled on a major route. We were then told that if you have a later ticket you are not allowed on this service despite being a super off peak train. Only for the service to make a further two stops at bath spa causing further delays. I can only suspect that they had not bothered to send any trains out as that could be the only explanation considering what it is like on a day to day basis. The staff are lovely however are dealing with a terrible company. It so happens that these faults started to occur as soon as great western railway learned that their contract would not be renewed. Instead of having the bare minimum of tact and providing a reasonable service till they can no longer operate, they have instead taken advantage of the money we give them and have decided to run it into the ground. Terrible company, nationalisation has been proven to be the best solution and I'm quite honestly glad I will never have to take this service again under this companies name.

Worst train journeys of my life and I’m 65 years old. High prices for really uncomfortable seats-carriages so overcrowded it’s disgraceful. Awful and disgraceful services (staff nice-feel b sorry for them)

3 trains in a row with the were delayed and I am unable to apply for a refund due to unwilling to refund technical issues with their website. They will not respond to any requests for at least 30 days. They're crooks

We went from Southampton to Bristol on a Saturday and back again on the Monday. Both times the train was late. Three carriages only that were full with people standing and there was no air conditioning - which was a very hot and uncomfortable hour and three quarters. All in all the experience was not pleasant. The views from the windows were lovely.

The train from Southampton to Salisbury was on time. Good. But going from a relatively cool platform into the carriage was like walking into an oven. This is relatively new rolling stock. What is wrong with the air conditioning? It seems non-existent. Really not good enough in this day and age.

I really love Great Western Railway there workers that I Have had are very kind and 1 worker at bodmin parkway railway station let me and my dad have 3 free train journeys and that was to: Liskeard+Lostwithiel & St Germans which is very nice, and most of the time its not there fault there late, its other people, but this is mainly my own opinion that there very good

Rubbish service,no air con though boiling hot,using 3 coaches when company knows during the summer trains will be busy .I dont know how GWR or government can permit such rubbish service at the price they charge.Shame on you GWR get more coaches on your trains for cardiff to portsmouth service,less excuses just do it!

If I could give a minus score, I would.
I took a train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central on Thursday 23rd July 2026.
I caught the 16:57 train, and as expected was very busy.
The only seat available was next to the toilet.
Every time someone used the toilet and owned the door, the stench was awful. It clearly hadn’t been cleaned recently, and I mean maybe days.
The floor looked like that hadn’t been cleaned and more than the toilet.
I also spotted a cigarette butt on the floor…..I thought trains were all non-smoking ?
Luckily for me, I disembarked at Cardiff Central,and my onward journey was a far more pleasant AND cleaner experience on another train providers service.
I’d like to travel by train more often, but this was a dreadful experience, and I I donot wish to repeat.

Concsitenly terrible.

Took a train to Exeter which was cancelled, and replaced with a 2 carriage train. 100 people crammed standing for the entire leg in the entrance ways and corridors of the carriages. Poor elderly lady had to stand for 2 hours after paying through the nose for an appalling service, myself included.
Mrs has car in garage so been running her to station for 2 weeks so she can get to work. On a daily basis, the train is late by over 30 mins both ways, and 3 times it has been cancelled meaning she is very late for work.
GWR is disgustingly expensive for the low rate trash service they provide. Lightyears away from the romanticised, peaceful journeys advertised gazing longingly out the window. GWR is a rotting corpse unfit for purpose. AVOID AT ALL COSTS

Best Western Colchester stayed for two nights. Very olde worlds hotel it's of rabbit Warren with rooms all around. The room good size BUT otnly a double bed too small compared to other hotel ranges. Bathroom good size only rainfall Shower over a bath no hand held. No toilet holder. The morning Breakfast was adequate nothing special. Big disappointed BAD WiFi not working or connecting. Never tried the Portuguese menul so cannot comment but the BAR was only open from 5p, to 10.30 very disappointing.
Would I stay at this Colchester maybe not its not really suitable for patrons who have mobile issues.

Automated service announcement - bleeding awful! Whoever designed it, should be forced to listen to it on repeat for 24hrs, to truly understand how annoying it is!
Too repetitive, with the same information given within 2 seconds of the last. And the cycle is unnecessary. Needs to be stripped back. More simple. Passengers should be able to travel in peace for the price of travel.

2 weeks the trains been on time once

Delay repay doesn't work

GWR is the worst train company in the UK by far.

I would like to give a shout out to Peter, Customer Service Manager on the 13:12 GWR service from Westbury to London Paddington on Sunday 19 July for his excellent customer service in First Class and the way he dealt with what was a very full service. He really went the extra mile and that was much appreciated.

Fanastic service from Peter aboard the 12:06 from Exeter to Peterborough.
My elderly travelling companion fell when boarding the train and he could not have been more helpful in finding her a seat and making sure she was safe and comfortable. A credit to GWR.

Well, it got us there on both recent journeys - eventually and v late. But omg the seats! Hard plastic base with a pronounced ridge across the middle and little more than a tea towel for cushioning. Too upright to snooze in comfort (comfort is not a term to use with gwr). Based on 2 long return journeys, total six separate trains.
Many full paying passengers standing. Next time I'll choose a coach rather than gwr.

Not one to use public transport but ive used this service twice in 2 years 1st year was ok staff were fairly helpful as I havent a clue what im doing. 2nd year on my trip I found the staff more than helpful making my journey very enjoyable. I do see alot of negative reviews but seriously thats just people being entitled. Thank you for your service GWR