Cross Country Trains

Unquestionably cross country is the worst train operator in the UK. Unfortunately I have to use it regularly.

Most trains are cancelled. When it's not cancelled it arrives with 4 less coaches so there's literally no space to get in. Of course this causes insane delays. The coaches are disgusting and it's not even that cheap. Customer service is awful, their policies are set up so that when they (inevitably) cause delays and mess up, they do as little as possible to fix it or compensate.

Cross Country trains had late delays from Coventry to Leamington spa at 4:26 for 3 consecutive days in a row on 1, 2 and 3 November and deliberately lied to the public. On 1 November, the excuse was Storm Cairan. The West Midlands was NOT affected by the storm as only the south coast was mostly affected. The excuse on Thursday was a disturbance on the train. I chatted to some passengers on the delayed train who had travelled for 2hrs or more and they confirmed that no such disturbance occurred. Friday's excuse was that there was a collision on the line. When I finally reached home, I spent some time researching accidents on that line and none were reported. On each announcement for those days, the excuses changed and were inconsistent, so Cross Country were obviously lying about the causes of the delays. In addition, passengers were forced into overcrowded unhygienic cramped conditions, reinforced by the atrocious design of Cross Country trains as opposed to normal trains, i.e. Avanti, Chilterns etc. On Cross Country trains, passengers are forced to stand on aisles and outside smelly toilets, constantly assaulted by automatic doors. It is obvious that these awful trains were designed to be uncomfortable. When I applied for a refund, Cross Country added insult to injury by offering only a fraction of the cost of my ticket in compensation.

I would strongly urge passengers to `always' claim compensation from Cross Country trains until they are finally sued or put out of business.

Cross Country trains are a total and utter disgrace and treat passengers with contempt.

Cross Country should be ashamed to try to call the service they offer as First Class. IF you get any service, it is in a paper cup with sachets of long life milk and maybe, if you are very lucky, you get a sliver of cake or a miniature can of fizzy drink. The staff are inattentive, scruffy and talk loudly at the rear of the carriage about their personnel life. The toilets are stained, dirty and smell so much.

Gone is the excuse of limited service due to Covid. I would suggest that they take a ride on Avanti West Coast. China dishes, freshly prepared food, lots of drinks throughout the journey, clean carriages, bliss. That is what I pay for, not the appalling service or carriages that Cross Country provide. If I was able, i would chose a different company, unfortunately given the route I regularly travel, i have little choice.

Yeaserday I went to Birmingham NEC on Cross Country Trains, I got to Derby station 9.00am for the 9.10 train only to frin it's been cancelled and the next train 9.30ish also cancelled so had to wait for the 10.31 train sat around for over an hour only to find that it's been delayed by 20 minutes. When it eventually arived there were so many people we were cramed on the train like a tin of sardines with through ways packed with suit cases wheel chair, if there was an accident or fire on the train it woud have been devastating. I lost nearly 2 hours of my time at the Motor cycle Show. I hope I will never have to use CCT ever again!

Severally overcrowded at all times of the day. Never a seat let alone social distancing, you feel like your packed in like sardines. I’ve travelled due to work commitments through the entire pandemic and never felt they were adhering to social distancing guidelines imposed by the government let alone taken COVID seriously. No measures were put in place. The carriages are unclean and uncomfortable. I dread my weekly commute with this train provider.

Overall unsanitary, unreliable, overcrowded constantly and terrible.

I only wish they would improve their services even slightly, it would be most appreciated

Contacted passenger assistance with a late request for passenger assistance on a Southampton bound trainand was dealt with by an extremely pleasant young lady who dealt really well with our problem. Thank you

Seems to be the same they are happy to take the money but don’t provide the spaces! Yet again breach of heath and safety

I travelled yesterday on the 11.30 from Birmingham New Street to Doncaster.I can only way I found everything fine.The train was on time and the staff were helpful and very courteous.I will definitely use them again.

My only slight complaint there was a strange odour in the carriage!

We paid extra to travel First Class on Cross-Country from Exeter to Leeds. The only drinks available were luke-warm tea or coffee. Not enough food was loaded so there were no sandwiches by the time the cart got to us, so we had an awful cold pasta salad. That was the only food available from the surly server. What an awful train company!

I travelled from Alnmouth to Birmingham on the 12.12 on Wednesday 6th March. The 'catering' trolley had no food and the person pushing it was very unpleasant.

The train ran on time, but that should be a given.

I had other travel options and would not have chosen rail if I had known there would be only alcoholic drinks and tea and coffee available for a four hour+ journey.