A couple’s nightmare train journey highlights serious overcrowding issues
He and his wife were coming back from a holiday in Liverpool when they boarded a train that was, in his words, like a “cattle truck.” They thought traveling off-peak would help them avoid the crowds since he’s been recovering from some serious health issues.
At first, everything was great on the train from Liverpool to Crewe. It was clean, comfy, and quiet. But then they switched to the Transport for Wales train, and it was a whole different story. It was packed, and they ended up getting separated in the rush for seats. His wife found a spot, but he had to stand near the toilet for most of the ride.
To make things worse, there was no food service, the toilets were out of order, and they couldn’t even hear any announcements because the Tannoy system was broken. A rail employee finally came through to let them know they’d have to switch trains again, which just added to the chaos.
After a long delay, they missed their bus connection and had to shell out £12 for a taxi home. Transport for Wales eventually offered them £30 in travel vouchers, but Robert felt that wasn’t enough, especially since they wouldn’t be able to use them anytime soon.
He even went to the Rail Ombudsman for help, but they sided with Transport for Wales, saying passengers don’t have a guaranteed seat. The whole situation left him feeling pretty frustrated.
Transport for Wales did apologize and mentioned they’re working on adding more capacity to their trains. But for Robert and his wife, it was a journey they won’t forget anytime soon.
