Northern Reviews 

Rumour has it that Northern Rail has never once run a train in time. That's a little unfair, but it'd only happened about 3 times in the five years I've been commuting with them. They cancel trains at the drop of a hat and never offer replacement services

By far in away the worst transport company in the uk by a mile. They operate so poorly never in time waiting for drivers and conductors half the time ridiculous

Northern Railway
Travelling from Thornaby to Sunderland this evening .
Conductor really 1st class Customer Care, massively kind Hearted!
He made a really kind gesture and organised a poster for my grandson with all the stations on between himself and the Station Manager at Sunderland. Thank you so much x my grandson will be ecstatic.

This is absolute shite.

I never post reviews at all. This may be my second or third review of anything I have ever posted. I am disgusted.

I am 16 years old. I'm on an apprenticeship and because the government doesnt have any incentives for apprentices I pay for my own travel, even if i was elidgle for bursary before switching from my T-Level to my apprenticeship.

I used my 16-17 railcard and bought a season pass. I wanted to schedule it for when my previous one ran out but didn't know how so i accidentally bought it that day. (07.04.2026). When i realised I bought it for that day i immediately refunded it, I didnt scan it or anything.

Then I get the refund. £21.50. I payed £34. So i go on the chat on their website. It was an admin fee? So i call the complaints phone. they transfer me to season pass people. This woman I couldn't understand said it was a £10 admin fee! Plus because it was activated on the 7th its classed as used even if i didnt use it. So it took money off me from the 7th and 8th (today.)

I AM A 16 YEAR OLD APPRENTICE WHO WORKS HER ASS OFF CONSTANTLY! Why the hell am i losing £12.50 over that!? Honestly, and I COUDLNT EVEN FILE A STUPID COMPLAINT.

Literally so done.

Not even worth 1 star! Cancelled the train again. If they’re not late, then they are cancelled.
Also went to change a £6.20 return booking and they wanted to charge a £20 admin fee! Absolute joke of a company and shouldn’t be allowed to have a train operator’s licence.

Absolutely shite company. Cancel trains especially at weekends. Just crap. Why are all of the employees not sacked and so they can employ anyone who wants to provide a train service. Has to be the worst in the world never mind the Uk

Scammers of the highest order. Awful service for the price. Gave me a fine when I had a ticket and refused my appeal.

I hate this rail way. Always late and unreliable.

Booked our tickets 🎟 to Liverpool for our weekend stay. Got on the train with our luggage 🧳 🧳 two suitcases 1 holdall and girlfriends overnight bags 🎒. There were loads of people waiting on the station 🚉 at Preston Lancashire we was hoping they was not all for the same train but unfortunately they were.Everyone rushed on like very hungry lions couldn't believe how fast the seats filled up so the ONLY TWO seats remaining were the two side seats right next to the doors, so we had no choice but to take them. But the issue was it got very very over crowded indeed so much so it was litterally like sardines in a tin or peas 🫛 in a pod, it was really awful 😖 😱 won't travel with northern ever again 😕 only if im desperate !!! I asked approached the driver when we got off about the fact it was overcrowded he basically said the carriages can get as full as they want even if it means people squeezing on to get in, its down to the drivers disgresion and if he thinks 🤔 the train 🚆 is ok then its ok grrrrrrr will be reporting this to the BBC TV and itv and I have video footage of the overcrowdedness so let's see what happens...!!!!

really good very nice people

Disgraceful system to make a claim. They have your ticket and even tell you how much you will be compensated because of delay. But you have to go through a great deal of hassle to submit claim, obviously to deter would be claimants. People who ate not savvy with the computers have no chance. Yet another example of disgusting behaviour by these faceless companies

ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED and SADDENED to hear that Northern Railway is SHOOTING pigeons in their stations, and then leaving them to die a slow and painful death. How is this company lawfully allowed to do this? I would give this company 0 stars.
Hopefully the government can do a more competent job of handling pigeons peacefully when this horrific company goes into public control.

The new trains as well, they were meant to be better than the old 150/153 pacers, and yet they have somehow bought worse trains! They were built in 1998 for god's sake!

I do NOT recommend this company, it's just a shame it's basically the only way to get around the north. If you can, use TransPennine Express, they will at least get you to your destination comfortably and without shooting any pigeons.

Three journeys within the last week, all delayed or canceled. Northern Rail you are not fit for purpose

Absolutely disgusting.if trains aren't delayed or cancelled they are overbooked and crammed.never enough space for disability or special needs.staff are rude and unhelpful. maybe some compassion and unconscious bias training would be helpful.

Shit shit and shit !
Delays delays delays
So called 3rd world countries trains provide a better service than this crap.
Everyone I have been to the station the flippin train is delayed , not once has it arrived on time I feel sorry for the passengers but the rail company does not give a crap.
Poor infrastructure, poor service and that is just the beginning, what has changed over the years , the timetables have but the service hasn’t and on top of that you’ve got to pay more !
Well done to the great British private sell off !

Not worth a shilling! Cancelled journeys with no explanation and if the route is working, well, you’ll be late! Without a shadow of a doubt! Always no information blah blah blah. No shame whatsoever! You disgust me!

Booked two trains to attend my brother's funeral, two weeks in advance, one was cancelled, and refunded, it let me book another twice the price, and a return, arrived at station ten minutes early, showing train departed, (later cancelled), got to the funeral, (literally followed the hearse in), with the help of my granddaughter,(£30 loss of wages).
Asked for both trains to be refunded, obviously the one back, actually ran, even though arrival time was an hour late, I recently suffered a heart attack and major stroke, hence I had my daughter with me.
Tried for a refund on both trains,
ANSWER WAS NEED A DEATH CERTIFICATE, I have no intention of giving further grief to my sister in law, BRING BACK BRITISH RAIL, not used the trains since they were privatised, now I can see what regular users see on a daily basis, I'm 66, now over £150 out of pocket, FIND SOME OTHER WAY, IS MY ADVICE

Carriage clean. Staff friendly and helpful.trains on time .I would enjoy the experience.

Like most train services, they are utterly incompetent. Just for an example I boarded the 16:51 train to Leyland from Preston on Monday 9th march, everything stated that the train was on time, however upon boarding the train I noticed that it didn't move after it's designed start time, no communication at all until 5 minutes later where the announcer informed us that there was a stranded train. This is just one example out of many, I get the train everyday for work and through 2 years I have never had a single week where all of the trains were on time. I'm either the unluckiest train rider in history or the staff throughout the train services are completely incompetent, if I made such mistakes at my job this frequently I'd be sacked, at least then I wouldn't have the displeasure of dealing with these trains.