Great Central Railway - (Loughborough Central) Reviews Summary

Family and Accessibility

Pros:

• "A great day out for all the family."
• "Fantastic trip with grandchildren on the 27th and after explaining about one of them suffering with autism we couldn't have been treated kinder or with more understanding."
• "They have a lift to go down to the platform if you need it."
• "The staff couldn't have been more helpful and there's a wheelchair lift too to get you from and to the platforms."
• "Great place to take the little ones to."
• "Absolutely amazing place!!"
• "Everyone in the family had a great day on the railway. Plenty of trains and stock running with other activities on the platforms and in the yards."

Cons:

• "Not great for the wheel chair bound 😔 but great for kids😊."
• "Only negative was that the stations themselves didn't feel dog friendly, dogs weren't allowed in any of the cafes."
• "Only down side was the only drop kerb I could see was centre of a disability parking bay and due to vehicle parked was unaccessible."

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "All of the VOLUNTEERS were helpful, joyful and really made the experience."
• "The staff (well presented in Authentic uniforms) were all friendly helpful and very knowledgeable."
• "The attention to detail and the pure joy from everyone from the ticket office, the conductor and the porters made the day."
• "Staff are so friendly and it makes the visit better when you can tell they enjoy their jobs."
• "Staff were very friendly and helpful."
• "The staff who served us were very efficient."
• "The staff were super efficient, smartly turned out and very friendly."

Cons:

• "However some the staff and volunteers who work there can be quite disrespectful, and it's a shame that they tend to ruin a day out."
• "The staff are very formal and not very friendly."
• "Had a good visit apart from 2 jobs worth station staff."
• "We were then told by a rather miserable man, that the platforms were closed to visitors."

Facilities and Amenities

Pros:

• "Each station has a lovely coffee shop and you can see each station in its full glory."
• "Cleanliness is good."
• "Pre bookable meals to eat in style on the train as it goes up and down."
• "Plenty of food outlets and toilets etc and their stations have level access if needed."
• "Lots of money has been invested in all the locations, Loughborough, Rothley, Quorn & Woodhouse and Leicester North. Plenty of facilities to get food and drink."
• "Nice cafés or tea rooms at each of the four stations."
• "The station is well kept and the small cafe is cute."

Cons:

• "Would have liked a bigger gift shop as like to get wooden train set bits for my son."
• "Just watch out for the cafe hours as we missed being able to order food by 10 minutes!"
• "Seats are dirty. Windows r dirty. In short inside of train is dirty feel like they don't clean from inside and outside from decades."
• "Garden model railway but wasn't working when we went."
• "Sadly no toilet paper in either of the ladies toilets."
• "The only two things that let it down were extremely cheap crackers."
• "The railway is nice, but there is little to see or do at most of the stations."

Value and Experience

Pros:

• "Thanks for a memorable experience."
• "The Great Central Railway itself is an excellent historic asset that's well preserved and has a great train atmosphere."
• "Absolutely brilliant day out and very good value."
• "The ticket prices are reasonable and are day rovers allowing you to go up and down the line as often as you like."
• "For the price of a ticket it's reasonable, given the costs in keeping those lovely steam engines running."
• "You buy an all day ticket which allows you any number of rides."
• "All have been thoroughly enjoyable and good value."

Cons:

• "We didn't get the steam engine as it was broken and had diesel instead, but it didn't impair the experience."
• "Due to weather conditions it was the diesel engine rather than steam and that was a bit disappointing too."
• "A fab day out, not as picturesque compared to some heritage lines like NYMR."
• "You are charging £20 for a ride... expensive."
• "£25 entry fee this year for the 3 of us; with no publicity of pricing."
• "Popular dates such as Easter n Christmas eve seem to be getting expensive."
• "It was a very disappointing experience and extremely costly for us."