# National Rail — user reviews > 478 indexed App Store user reviews of National Rail by National Rail, rated 4.60/5 from 74 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/national-rail/id519094154/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/national-rail/id519094154.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 56 · 4★ 15 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 3 ## What do users think of National Rail? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Helpful for planning journeys - 🚀 Provides live train status updates - 🚀 Useful for commuters and frequent travelers **Cons** - 🐛 Unreliable and buggy - 🔍 Difficult to use and navigate - 🔍 Lacks key functionality compared to previous version - 🔍 Cluttered and visually unappealing interface - 💰 Paid version required to remove ads **Commonly reported bugs** - App frequently crashes or freezes - Inaccurate train times and journey information - Ticket booking functionality not working properly - Compatibility issues with newer iPhone models **Most requested features** - Ability to save favorite stations and journeys - Option to view earlier/past train departures - More granular search options (e.g. search by minute, not just 15-minute intervals) - Improved live train tracking and disruption notifications ## Newest reviews (18 of 478) ### 3/5 — Stop asking for the same feedback for “before you go” several times a day!!!!!!!!!! *2026-07-10, version 10.4.0* New app is quicker and looks cleaner, but for goodness sake - stop asking for the feedback! ### 4/5 — Good improvements *2026-07-07, version 10.4.0* Following a difficult start this app has been developed and has improved as a result. It’s now my to go for rail information as it is the source for all the other apps. ### 2/5 — Downgraded from a dedicated app to a website *2026-07-02, version 10.4.0* Very disappointing - I understand from a development perspective why this was done, but the app used to be an app. Now it’s just the website being loaded which is clunkier to use. ### 1/5 — Horrendous *2026-07-01, version 10.4.0* The new interface is awful, navigation and interaction of the app is terrible in the new version. ### 1/5 — Actively putting people off *2026-06-16, version 10.4.0* I want to book a return leaving at 0800 in the morning and returning at 1800 THIS ISN’T OVERLAPPING 😱😱😱😱 ### 1/5 — Worse than bad *2026-06-14, version 10.4.0* I’ve used this app on and off for years. First time back since 2025 and have to say this app is now unusable. Why do developers often make an app worse when their job is to make it better? Not even worthy of one star. ### 1/5 — Terrible since last update *2026-06-12, version 10.4.0* Constant issues when opening, keeps crashing and saying connection issues when all other apps work fine. Used it for years absolutely fine. ### 4/5 — Too much info *2026-06-10, version 10.4.0* Downloaded app. Enter card number and get asked to pay £1 to an unknown company. Scam? ### 1/5 — Rubbish update *2026-06-01, version 10.4.0* Had to download this again after phone theft. This is awful. As a Londoner with oyster I want to know train times and options. This is set up to sell you tickets. I used to be able to see about 10 trains around the time entered in a compact table. Now you see like three only with all sorts you don’t need. I’m probably not going to use this any more and will look for alternative. ### 1/5 — bugs bugs bugs *2026-05-30, version 10.4.0* what has happened. redesign totally confusing. cant find anything. don't know where to even add the station i am looking for. saved stations vanished. takes ages. ads dominate. searches disappear or screen goes blue for no reason. totally dysfunctional. This app surely is a National Service. it should be free. but obviously only works if you pay for it awful. ### 1/5 — What is this update *2026-05-28, version 10.4.0* So hard to use, poor ui design and ads in your face ### 3/5 — Too fiddly! *2026-05-26, version 10.4.0* The previous version of the app was much easier to use ### 1/5 — Unusable *2026-05-25, version 10.4.0* The updated app is terrible and unusable, buggy with really bad UX. The old version that was designed 15 years was genuinely better, I wouldn’t update ### 3/5 — Downgrade, poor performance of app *2026-05-21* Since the last update, there are connection errors all the time, despite being in good Wi-Fi or mobile network reception. This stops you finding out about travel updates quickly when on the move. You can no longer look quickly at Live departures from a station without entering a destination, so you can not assess the best train to catch. If you set favourite journeys, the app gets stuck on that page and won’t give you the option to plan a journey or start a new live departures update search. Basic functionality is appalling. ### 1/5 — I DON’T WANT TO PLAN A JOURNEY IN THE PAST!!! *2026-05-14, version 10.4.0* I have never, ever wanted to plan a journey in the past. And yet I see this message several times a week. Just show the next trains? It’s not that hard you utter morons. ### 1/5 — Rubbish rail app *2026-05-08, version 10.4.0* What a useless railway app this is . Up till a couple of years ago it was very good , but in the last year it is useless I don’t know why anyone would want to use it . Considering its importance as the recognised national rail app it’s a disgrace. Shame on Network Rail for allowing such a poor app . Just don’t bother with it , it’s that bad ! Colin ### 1/5 — Has scam ads *2026-05-01, version 10.4.0* I downloaded this at the advice of my travel agent. I selected my journey and tried to by the ticket, but it wouldn't let me do it without a British post code, even though I had already entered my US zip code with my credit card information. So I thought maybe it would work if I signed up as a member, not realizing I had clicked on a banner ad for a "gaming" service! I foolishly gave it my credit card information & email address, but when I didn't receive the promised "welcome email" I realized that I had not signed up with National Rail at all. Two unauthorized charges in seconds. WTH??!!! ### 1/5 — You've ruined it. *2026-04-17, version 10.3.9* This used to be the go-to app for train times in the UK. No longer. It has been 'upgraded' and now is totally unusable. It takes up to 3 minutes to get a time now so I have to go to trainline instead. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Ruined by updates *2026-08-13* Been using the app for 12 years and it's always been great, easy to use and reliable. With the latest update it's now more difficult to use, can't seem to search for services more than an hour or so passed which was handy for work! The interface is much less user friendly than before. And you now cannot see "passing points / stations" like you were previously able to. Again, which was very useful for my work! ### 1/5 — Bad *2026-07-24, version 10.4.0* Never loads when u need it to ### 1/5 — Difficult to travel via *2026-07-17* I tried to plan a journey from Kemble to York via Paddington so I could be joined by a friend in London. I clicked on buy tickets and was sent to GWR but all they gave me was a ticket from Kemble to Paddington. I changed the TOC to LNER and all they gave me was Kings Cross to York. I changed my journey in the LNER planner and they gave me tickets via Cheltenham Spa. I requested via Paddington and it stated no tickets available. I used RTT tickets instead which gave me more options and split tickets. If they can do it why can’t National Rail? I won’t bother with National Rail again. ### 1/5 — How to ruin an app *2026-07-17* I’ve had this app for years and it’s always been great. With the latest update you’ve managed to completely ruin it. Takes ages to open and run any searches. More interested in selling tickets and runnings ads than providing the useful train running info it’s provided for many, many years. Thanks!! Update: well done on managing to make it even worse by adding adverts that pop up when you’re searching for trains. I didn’t think it was possible to make the app worse but you managed it. ### 1/5 — A survey at every search *2026-07-15, version 10.4.0* Why have your developers implemented a questionnaire that will pop up EVERY time that I run a search? ### 1/5 — Very poor *2026-07-14, version 10.4.0* It takes an age to load and when it does is glitchy. The layout seems to change at random. Have missed trains because it’s so bad. Also when you ‘select’ a train you can’t unselect but have to start from the beginning. So poor. ### 1/5 — Please go back to old version *2026-07-13, version 10.4.0* Old national rail app was great. It was revised a year ish back and now sucks ### 1/5 — Painful *2026-07-13, version 10.4.0* The app is really painful to use if you are in a rush. While I’m travelling I’ll find a route and if I close the app while I’m walking and reopen it again, I have to search all over again. Would be great if it worked better offline, and didn’t need to refresh so often in the background. ### 1/5 — Useless *2026-07-05, version 10.4.0* The old app was great and actually worked. This one is terrible, doesn’t load properly, says no trains are running when trying to plan a journey when they are! Bring back the physical paper timetable book as it was better than this! Apparently no trains between York and Scarborough anymore according to this app - no direct services exist! ### 1/5 — Useless *2026-07-04, version 10.4.0* This should be a definitive source of information for train arrivals. However, when you want to check whether a train has arrived, it tries to sell you ticket to go back. This is yet another example of a broken railway system. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Good *2026-07-04, version 10.4.0* Very good app ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-04-15, version 10.3.9* Easy to use, very clear. I use it a lot ### 5/5 — Great app *2025-09-13, version 10.3.8* Very good app, quick and provide the information I need, I always use this app and it never fails 👍🏻👍🏻 ### 5/5 — Excellent information *2025-07-30, version 10.3.8* Good allround ### 5/5 — Blank Screen *2025-07-13* Since the last update I only get a blank screen when opening the app that I have used for years. It wants to connect but never does. Have to reinstall but get the same problem. Shame I use to use this app once a week at least. ### 5/5 — Latest update has ruined the app *2025-01-25* The old app worked perfectly - easy to use, everything you needed and quick. The update means it regularly takes 5 mins to load by which time you’ve given up. No idea who tested the update before it was released but they didn’t test it very well. If I could give it zero stars I would **Developer response:** Hi, we're sorry to hear you don't like our new app. Customer feedback is really important to us, and we are listening, so please email customer.relations@nationalrail.co.uk with anything else you'd like us to consider as we continue to develop and roll out our new app. We promise to have regular updates and hope to roll out a solution our customers will be happy with soon. Thanks for your feedback - NRE Team ### 5/5 — App is now wrecked *2025-01-21* Perfect example of updating an App and wrecking it. The old app worked perfectly. This current app is frequently unresponsive and the screen layout is too large. I much preferred the older condensed style. However the style doesn’t matter much because it is so frequently unusable. **Developer response:** Hi, we're sorry to hear you don't like our new app. Customer feedback is really important to us so please email customer.relations@nationalrail.co.uk with anything else you'd like us to consider as we continue to develop and roll out our new app. Thanks for your feedback - NRE Team ### 5/5 — Improved a lot *2024-10-01* The app used to have quite a basic UI, was very slow and buggy. However with the new recent update I can definitely see a lot of effort was put into improving the overall experience jn the app. It’s so much better than it used to be. You can track train times from every station, see underground line statuses. Lots of useful real time info such as notifications for delays, notifications and reminders for trains and very accurate live travel info. ### 5/5 — Fantastic App *2017-08-22* I live in Australia but holiday extensively in the UK, and this app has been invaluable. Once you understand the UK ticketing and pricing system (anytime/off-peak/advanced) train travel in the UK can be quite cheap. On my last trip I was going to purchase a 30 day BritRail Pass but instead used this app to purchase cheap advanced fares (where available) and saved heaps compared to buying a 30 day rail pass (£563) and tickets purchased through the app (£269), plus it was over a 39 day period (London/York/Middlesbrough/Newcastle/Edinburgh/Stirling/Glasgow/Carlisle/Skipton via Settle/Manchester/Liverpool/Shrewsbury/Swansea via Builth Rd/Cardiff/Bristol/Oxford/London, with a few side day trips as well, not bad for £269 - happy days 😁 ### 5/5 — Good *2016-11-12* Finally the app, new life !! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-01.*