West Midlands Railway Reviews 

The most awful train line company there ever was. The Birmingham New Steet to London Euston train was delayed in Northampton (after the one before it was cancelled) because they were waiting for a "crew member" to arrive. I'm guessing that's the driver.
We weren't even told about it until we'd already been standing on the platform for 15min. Only at that point were we told that we would have to wait for another 10 to 20min!!!
Absolutely pathetic. This is why I avoid trains!!!

It was Friday 13th, and I'd had a good day in the city. I got National Express back to Birmingham and all there was left to risk was the local line (you know who you are) to Shifnal.

And first you cancelled it at the last minute.

Then Delay/Repay couldn't find my ticket to refund it.

Next (after a long caustic chat with a poor guy on customer relations), I was assured someone from West Midlands Railway would call me on the Monday or the Tuesday to really seriously discuss this complete failure in service.

And of course I never heard a thing.

And that's why I was on National Express instead of a train in the first place. Because after fifty years of rail travel, I've just about had it. After half a century, Britain's railways have proven to me virtually beyond doubt that they simply can't work their services. That they can't run their trains on time or even at all. That there was absolutely no chance of starting a journey at point A and being delivered to point B roughly about the time I wanted to be.

Think about that last sentence. West Midlands Railways (and most of the rest of them) simply cannot deliver the simplest of results based on the most straightforward of contracts like, you know, buying a ticket from Birmingham to London...

What is the point of my even getting up in the morning if I can have no reasonable prospect of getting to my desired location? I therefore become unable to make the smallest contribution to this mess of a nation we proudly call home, and I truly ask myself why I should even bother if it treats me like walking freight or a lacklustre leaf on the line?

And to any left-wing lunatics out there who think a return to a nationalised British Rail-style operation would miraculously signal a return to timeliness and efficiency - get real! I remember the actual British Rail, and it was a flipping (not the word I wanted to use) disaster area. There is no magic solution and, I would now say, no hope.

I will go on avoiding the railways wherever possible, I expect never to receive a refund and I am quite sure West Midland Railways' incompetent managers are too stupid to put their egos aside and learn how to, gosh, pick up a phone.

And kiddies, if you can't even pick up a phone, what makes you think you're in any way capable of managing a rail franchise?

The train service to London is an absolute disgrace!! Cancelled trains left, right and centre, with no warning resulting in expensive uber journeys back home. They are often jam packed with no seats. Worst train service.

Cancelled trains , Stafford to London putting an hour on our journey & the back lash of this meaning over crowding on other trains which was bordering on a health and safety hazard
The same the following day hundreds of people trying to board the trains from London to Crewe . People were bursting by the doors and the train staff were telling them to still move down the aisles to fit more people on .

Shocking service. Due to crew shortage they cancelled two trains this morning 07h27 and 07h51 from Ledbury to Worcester Shrub Hill. How are students to get to college. My son communtes from Monmouth to Worcester for college. To have both of these trains cancelled at short notice and no rail replacement bus is shocking. Worst service ever. Students rely on this service to get to class. If he does get a latter train and get to college late what guarantee do I have that he will get home tonight. Public transport is promoted, let's go green, use public transport but not when it is this unreliable. I know my son is not the only student this is affecting. There were problems last week with crew shortages. West Midlands need to step up their game.

Had a week full of cancelled trains. Spent a load in uber fees to get home. Wmt refund a paltry amount that doesn't cover a thing.

And to top it off the brand new trains have all the toilets out of order.

Shambles.

They are cheap to get to London and back, but they're cheap for a reason. They're unreliable and cancel trains without telling you why especially late at night. If you're traveling out of london, maybe try and travel in the late afternoon not in the evening (allow for at least 3 trains before the last one ideally). And check throughout the day for service updates. Then if your train is cancelled at least you can make a contingency plan.

Also their delay claims mobile site did not work for me. Couldn't upload my ticket. Had to use the desktop site.

Left Leamington Spa on the 13.40 today 12/09/24, train pulled into Coventry a couple of minutes early, but was still sat there 15 minutes after it's scheduled departure time, so I got up opened the doors and asked on the platform was was happening, and the reply I got from 1 of about 4 staff members was that there was no gaurd, so after about another 5 minutes or so the train finally departed, and there was no announcement of an apology to all the passengers kept waiting, it's really poor you know what time you start work so there should be no excuse, but to have no apology is downright rude

Trains are constantly cancelled meaning I'm now having to actually factor this in to my travel time just incase. I'm working full time and the constant adding to my day is leaving me feeling burnt out- to top it off I'm paying for a monthly rail ticket. I've never known a service to be so unreliable

Had to pay for a ticket for one stop, a 14 min train journey because my ticket wasn’t valid on their train. understandable yes, but it cost £3.95 and that’s WITH a railcard ! I paid less for a return with Transport for Wales

Train broke down, delayed as usual. Least the drivers got a big pay rise makes me feel so much better sat at Bournville

Absolutely fed up with all the trains getting cancelled or delayed last minute, causing disruptions to peoples days out & work life's.
It's always on the weekend aswell funnily enough

Shambles of a company,

Utterly useless. Wouldn't trust the workshy, overpaid, over unionized company to run a Brio railway set.

Ridiculous service been travelling from Wolverhampton to dudley port last 6 months 13:48 from Wolverhampton to dudley port 90 percent of tym train is delayed by atleast 7 minutes for a 10 minute journey reason
I wonder how much pissed off are passangers who travel longer journeys with West Midlands trains

There won't be any difference and no changes , the services will be the same as always delayed cancelled, the worst transport in the UK , every single day I go through this ... So giving a review makes no change .. poor service

First train out of Birmingham new street yesterday morning to Shrewsbury 8.25, it was stood on the platform running for a considerable time beforehand, however the driver didn’t choose to open the doors till 8.25, meaning a definite delay.
Eventually left 17 minutes late, no announcement at all, and no attempt was made to make up time.
Given that this was the first train then clearly that disrupts the schedule for the rest of the day!

Went from Reading to Kidderminster - return on West Midlands trains via Brum
New Street was a nightmare. 3 out of 4 trains cancelled cos of lack of drivers.

This is a journey I normally drive, but thought I’d let the train take the strain for once. What a disaster - is this any incentive to get off the roads.

John S

Sick and tired of endless cancellations, not even the strikes due to treating their staff like rubbish and exploiting them. Avoid and only take if essential

Unreliable and can’t be relied on if you have anything important to attend. Regular cancellation of services on the Birmingham/Worcester services, often with totally contradictory live information.

Too many automatic announcements on the train, they seem to be at least every 10-15 seconds. Tannoy announcements are far too loud. Constant cancellations/late trains.

A few rude staff members on the trains.

Just all around terrible.