SHOCKING "first class" train service on GWR - buyer beware! | Great Western Railway
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ส.ค. 2024
- #traintravel #firstclass #greatwesternrailway
On this trip I take GWR Railways (Great Western Railways) first class from Penzance to Reading. I would never usually take a first class train unless it was exceptionally cheap or I find a lucky deal. In this case I hit both my criteria. Join me on a 5 hour run from Penzance to Reading on GWR's flagship Penzance to London Paddington Service.
For the price I paid I don't have a list of complaints, if I had paid the full price - I would have been FUMING! 5 hours with no promised food service and the seat reminded me of a Ryan Air special. Take a cushion is my advice!
I understand entirely the main reason people choose to travel first class is 1) if their company is paying or 2) You are looking for a quieter cabin with better facilities, space and a bit of peace and quiet .. a bit of a treat. My advice if you were considering the 2nd option for your own leisure travel would be to stick with standard and spend your money on a better treat at your destination.
Please consider subscribing to my channel for weekly trip reviews, either transport options, hotels, or full trips - I never know where I will be going next myself .. and that's part of the fun. Lucy x
Thanks so much for tuning in. I've taken on some of your feedback asking for more talking and less reading so I have given voice overs a go in this video - man it takes blinking ages!! If you still prefer quiet videos with reading only you can turn the volume down and I have set subtitles in time with the words. Improvements to be made but always taking on board your suggestions. Thanks as always for your support, massively appreciated.
That's considered as 'first class'?! Hard seats (that also looked quite narrow? No loo roll, no proper food. Thats shocking, and even at the sale price is a lot of money. I also struggle to understand how they can have a trolley that's alcohol only, there are so many people that don't drink alcohol, myself included, so surely GWR should be more inclusive in 2024 and offer soft drinks too! Also feel they should have better wifi by now! Really enjoy your voiceover and appreciate the extra time it takes you 💜
They were quite narrow actually! Yeah the alcohol thing annoyed me but most people were taking full advantage so I’m probs in the minority. I was starving at the end of the journey are the crappy Burger King at reading station tasted like heaven 😅
GWR is one of the most expensive companies on the UK rail network. We live in Swindon (well worth a visit, lots of railway history as the GWR railway works were here) and so many people have said they don’t get value for money. Our daughter is at uni in Sheffield, and comes home via train, changing at Bristol to use the GWR service. When she went back after Christmas, we had to drive her to Bristol as heavy rain had caused flooding so trains were cancelled between Reading and Bristol.
I would have been really disappointed with what you received too. I would have been annoyed at being moved from seat to seat, and there is no excuse for the toilet being out of toilet roll or there being no food, as the service starts at Penzance. If it were me, I would complain.
I never got a reply to my email. I guess they filed it as “not important” I’m so polite I just kept on moving but on reflection I should have probably been a bit more grumpy about it!
I liked the voiceover! Though I like you speaking direct to camera too. I think it comes down to however you’re most comfortable or what the situation dictates.
Even at the reduced rate I would be complaining about that service (complete lack of!). Regardless of how reasonable the cost compared to normal, you basically didn’t get anything you were advertised to for their “premium” experience.
The river views were gorgeous at least
Yeah, imagine paying £213 and being told you have to pay if you want another glass of wine 😅, thank you, when I started the channel it was going to be completely silent with subs but as I’ve built my confidence I’ve spoken more and more, the voiceover process is lonnnnnng though!
I can believe it. You sound at ease though, which is half the battle x
Shocking service there on many parts.
Hard seats in first class. They honestly look like the standard seats but with a pillow glued to the top.
Absolutely not being "A Karen" for asking for a non alcoholic drink. I like to drink myself but if someone doesn't drink then no company shouldn't be excluding them from their drinks trolley (airlines manage it 🤷)
At least you only paid £47 for it so you won't make an expensive mistake next time.
I paid £33 for 2 standard seats Penzance back to Chippenham but had a rail card for us both.
I just thought it was all a mess to be honest! The being asked to move over and over drove me the most mad. I think maybe as I'd paid so little it was fair game - who knows!
You can connect to your, own WiFi on your mobile to use your data plan list turn on hotspot feature and create a password. Then connect to it on your laptop
Thank you. Appreciate that.
I would have thought that GWR would have brought food on board at Plymouth.
I think they were supposed to. There had been a storm the day before and you know how weather is the perfect excuse for reduced service 🤣
Great video. Always wanted to travel to Penzance but never have the chance to visit the area. So sorry you didnt have a great experience with GWR 1st class. Also GWR is a mixed bag in terns of first class, after seeing so many negative reviews. Went on GWR 1st class not long ago, was a bit disappointing with the seats but hospitality for me was on point and had few of snacks although it price was expensive thought for packaged snacks but enjoyed the service at the time!
On the weekend, i heard its even worse, they will provide you a small snackbox which there hardly anything inside. But your voiceover is amazing, better than mine one i did. Keep up the good work and ive subscribed to you 😊
Thank you. That's very kind indeed. Yes I travelled on another provider in first on a weekend and there wasn't even any drinks 😂 I guess that's why it was so cheap!
@throughlucyslens wow, so sorry about that. But try the GWR Pullman's dining experience. Although its an extra costs. Its definitely worth spending a penny. They have it on services towards Plymouth or Swansea from London
These trains are noted for lack of comfort, hard seats and rattles, things not working etc. It's just not good enough and as you say expensive at over £.200 if you don't pre book and are lucky enough to get a good advance fare. On the plus side those of us who travelled on BR before privatisation remember filthy trains and stations, poor timetables and still, for the time expensive tickets and some exceptionally rude staff. I think one of the problems is we Brits don't complain effectively and in many cases just moan to ourselves and accept bad service. I hope things do improve because public transport seems to be the way most folk will have to travel nett zero!
Totally agree we are terrible at complaining: I've happily said "yes fine thanks" when I meal has been terrible. Same with the train. I do remember British Rail trains and the soggy sarnies 🤣 I think we look through rose tinted specs but I think we've just always had pretty poor transport systems - probably back to what you said, we just put up with it.
10.15 - when you said #I'm not a Karen# have you gone to Karen's Diner - worth filming!
😂 I haven't actually. I'm
Not sure I'd cope! 😅
Wow that was a far worse ride than my ordinary ticket to N.Wales for our Kels wedding 😲😘💚
Yeah they don't worry about making sure you get what you pay for for sure!
Lovely vid! Well done Lucy. I enjoyed??? it!! I've read the reviews too. Not a good look for GWR and they have replied to NONE 😞
Shows how little they are concerned about passengers. Seats really hard/uncomfortable/ back breaking is the universal cry and GWR
does nothing.
I always think it really looks bad when they don’t reply to reviews. Saying “sorry we messed up, how can we improve” sadly I feel like they know they can do what they like so back ache seats it is! Thanks for your comment ❤️
@@throughlucyslens I checked National Express coaches ( as an alternative to GWR ) reviews.
Their reviews are very much better... 4/5...
What I noticed was that National Express replied to every one of the reviews but what was really interesting as that they wrote longer replies to the complaining reviewers using their first names, tried to explain what had gone wrong, what they would do to fix it plus apologies plus contact addresses to take it further or to give further information.🙂
I was most impressed. I discovered two company cultures:
GWR = zero concern for the people that pay their salaries and dividends
National Express = what seemed to be intense interest in the welfare and views of their customers.
Thank you so much for replying to my reply. I repeat I really 🙂 your video.
@@daydays12 You know I haven't been on a National Express Coach for about 25 years. I was a regular user when I was at University as it was the cheapest way for me to travel from Hull to Birmingham - with the dreaded stop for hours in Sheffield! They even had a little trolley service with tea and coffee - I stopped using them when I heard things had gone down hill and it may not be as safe for a female alone - but you know what? I am going to give it another go!
DfT are the ones who forced this new seat standard on every company I believe. It seems like only Greater Anglia and Lumo managed to bypass those new regulations...
Before they updated the trains, the first class seats were so much nicer and much more comfortable. Though, at that time, the complimentary coffee was unpleasant (the buffet car - yes there used to be one - sold much nicer coffee) and the complimentary food was either a packet of biscuits or slice of cake. The plugs are in a much better place in first class - for second class it is down under the seat. I think that the loo you went in was an 'accessible' loo. They are normally narrow rectangles, with wet floors. I'm surprised that there was not extra food after Plymouth as, whenever I travel, they seem to update the trolley service or change the staff between there and Exeter. The best thing about the trip are the incredible vlews, especially where the train travels right next to the sea and, if you remember to look out at the right time, you also catch a glimpse of the White Horse, later in your journey.
Yes it is a beautiful journey. The Saltash bridge was a highlight for me.
GWR is not responsible for the 'nature'., they just exploit it. They are responsible for back breaking seats, lack of food and toilet paper, and all the rest of the horrors on their trains and for their exorbitant prices.
I travelled to Penzance on sleeper last wk in sleeper cabin. I booked shower at Penzance lounge but no hot water available. 1st class is ok but nothing special.
Absolutely, i've been on the sleeper too and sadly on my trip there was a string of problems (first one a massive storm - you know train companies pull out all the excuses in inclement weather) It was a brilliant experience though and one I will never forget!
U was lucky to get a drink , I'm travelling first class from South wales to penzance , 5hrs 40 mins and there's not even a drink supplied , wakey wakey gwr , I have asked about trolley service but it's been over 6 weeks since I asked and not been told if there is or isn't service , when u check train info it doesn't show trolley service ggrrr wakey wakey gwr !!!
Wow! That’s absolutely shocking! I’m so sorry, you must have felt awful when you arrived in Penzance! That’s a long time to be stuck in an air conditioned tube without a drink. Let us know if you hear back!
@throughlucyslens travelling Tuesday, I'm going prepared as been over 6 weeks I contacted gwr , terrible service if no trolley service because yes a long journey , I will hit lounge at cardiff b4 journey and load up😂
I don't think any rail fares are worth the price tbh. Where I am in Kent, it costs £40+ to get a train to London on Southeastern. I used to have a travel card when I was more adventurous, which used to give me 33% off, but I don't bother now, and don't use trains.
I agree they are so expensive and why? It's nearly £10 to get a return from the suburb of Birmingham where I live to the city centre - a 22 minute journey. Ludicrous.
Do you remember the seat number😊
I don't actually! I mean there were several 🤣
Hard seats and no sandwiches for hours. Just like 2nd class.
Yep! Literally .. next time I'll just do that I think!
Atrocious package...
Agree.