Epping Ongar Railway Reviews Summary

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "The staff are excellent, so friendly and happy."
• "Staff are fantastic."
• "The volunteers who work there were kind and openhearted and treated everyone so nicely!"
• "The staff are helpful and very friendly, everything ran on time and the ambience was lovely."
• "Staff could not have been more fun and knowledgeable."
• "All the staff were lovely, friendly, knowledgeable and helpful with boarding and alighting."
• "The volunteers and staff are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the railway's heritage."

Cons:

• "Last night we went on the 3.20 experience, it was the most awful, unorganised Christmas event I have ever been too."
• "The lack of communication was poor and I feel so upset about this that I won't be returning."
• "Staff were nice but service was pretty shabby."
• "Staff rude in shop."
• "No one helped us find our carriage or seats. People were huddled in the toilets with screaming cold wet children."
• "Regrettably a very very disappointing experience. The promotional material showed scenes that we did not see on the journey."
• "Staff were nice but service was pretty shabby. Incorrect information given by station staff."

Facilities and Amenities

Pros:

• "A great local heritage railway."
• "Many themed events during the year."
• "This is a true treasure for both history enthusiasts and train lovers."
• "The stations and the rolling stock are well preserved with constant ongoing restoration."
• "Railway is very friendly & well run with a great cafe and railway bookshop at North Weald Station."
• "There are gift shops at Ongar and North Weald stations."
• "Epping, North Weild and Ongar stations have toilets."

Cons:

• "The only thing that trains rides could be longer."
• "The only criticism is that the cafe does basic just edible food mostly in packets and they ran out of hot saviories at lunchtime."
• "The cafe does basic just edible food mostly in packets and they ran out of hot saviories at lunchtime."
• "However the food kiosk at North Weald was hopeless, they ran out of hot dogs."
• "Fish and chips. Fish portions are small."
• "The event was very busy and the steam train was incredible to see but rather disappointing that we were then sat in a dreary, old commuter carriage from the 80s."
• "Carriages are old 1980s carriages. Nothing really vintage or special about them."

Experience and Entertainment

Pros:

• "Brilliant day out! The staff are excellent, so friendly and happy."
• "Fantastic day out, at the steam gala with young children."
• "Went to the EORVS / CAMRA Beer Fest. Brilliant day out."
• "Wow what an experience. An unbeatable day out for families."
• "The special theme days are planned so well they are worth every penny."
• "The Light Fantastic trip was magical."
• "A magical Christmas experience for all of us."

Cons:

• "Nothing spectacular about the views along the journey. A few rows of houses and some farmland and fields."
• "£20 per person. For an hour train ride with barely anything to see."
• "It was fun, but rather lacked organisation. There was a food stall but it wasn't signposted."
• "It just didn't seem worth the price we paid."
• "Unfortunately there were a couple of very disruptive children in our carriage who spent the whole time screaming & fighting which spoilt the whole journey for everyone."
• "The 60mins ride was boring for me and my kids as there was barely as lighting all along the track it went down."
• "Everyone was complaining. With the money they take maybe buy some proper displays."

Accessibility and Parking

Pros:

• "Central Line to Epping and then the EOR runs an old routemaster that shuttles between North Weald and Epping."
• "Vintage bus picks you up right in front of Epping station drops you in front of the North Weild station."
• "Easy to get to via public transport which is a plus."
• "Caught the Heritage Bus Service from Epping Tube Station to North Weald Station."
• "Has on-site parking, plus you can park on the approach road."
• "The nearest parking is in the town by the library."
• "I would recommend finding parking on a route supported by one of the heritage busses the line operates and riding the bus into Ongar Station."

Cons:

• "The only thing I would like people to be aware of is parking."
• "For complete clarity - there is very little parking in North Weald (none at the actual station) so you would have to find somewhere."
• "Parking not available outside station as private so park further in town."
• "Word of warning very little parking at Ongar Stn so advise parking in the carpark by the library in the town centre."
• "Parking is at a premium and local residents have recently employed a private company to impose fines on those who park close by without a residents permit."
• "The parking problem at Ongar is acute."
• "One thing to call out... parking... if visiting find somewhere to park or work out your travel there as parking on site is very limited."

Value for Money

Pros:

• "Your ticket is valid to travel in any compartment, any seat."
• "Those paper tickets are valid for unlimited travel during the entire day."
• "Tickets and lunch roughly £25 a head, job done!"
• "Pure bliss! What a wonderful experience."
• "Fantastic experience! Extraordinary value for money."
• "A fantastic experience with lights around in a train journey."
• "Great day out, professionally run by volunteers."

Cons:

• "All-day ticket rather pricey at £30."
• "As two adults we loved it but I do feel children may start to get bored especially on the return journey as it duplicates the outbound journey, maybe take something to entertain them."
• "It's too expensive for what it is, I'm not impressed at all."
• "Can't help but feel a little ripped off."
• "The customer service and lack of communication is a real let down."
• "Currently you pay for single trips at £5 adult and £2.50 a child, ie. round trip is £10 / £5."
• "I paid £30 per person to travel 2 stops for 10 minutes (each direction) while getting to eat fish & chips that cost around £5 - £9."