Railtrail Tours Ltd Arvostelua 

This is our first time booking with Railtrail Tours and we found them extremely helpful and friendly. Phil was particularly knowledgeable of the trip and was able to answer all questions. He also linked our booking with that of our friends.

Great service, explained everything clearly and was very helpful. We have travelled with you before and to be honest can't fault you!

It was simple to book, and having travelled to Switzerland with you back in 2007, my expectations after such a wonderful holiday are high. I'm sure I can be sure of a splendid tour next February. Our guide in 2007 was the late Reay Pearman, with whom we made a lasting friendship. His recent funeral was a fitting tribute to a wonderful gentleman.

Very easy to use website, with clear information.

Needed to just check a couple of things about the connecting trips and the phone was answered promptly by a friendly and very helpful person.

Everything is done for us, from the time we get on the train at Exeter to when we arrive back, so we have no worries about anything, and the TM is there at all times at the destination to ensure that all runs smoothly.

The website is very easy to navigate. The tour descriptions give plenty of detail to facilitate decision making. The booking process is straightforward.

Everything was really smooth which is what I expected from previous experience

The actual Tour felt very rushed every day.

This was our first trip and was for my partner 60th Birthday. This cost a lot of money and would say not great value really.

Not enough time at each destination.

Day 1 we spent more time in the coach than actually doing anything. We only had 1 hour in Callendar and the shops did not open till 10.30am/11am, by which time we had left. The Whiskey Tour do not open till 12 noon, as a company you should have known this and planned this day route better. At the distillery we only sampled 1 Whiskey the brochure makes it read if more the one would have been tasted. Not impressed at all. We never seen anyone working! The trip on the lock was not on a steam train. Times were all out of sync. Upon arrival at the Loch Katrine there was no food left really for the elderly. Lots of stairs into different area and lift not working very hard for them. We arrived back at hotel 17.30pm. If this trip was reversed you could have had more time in Callendar to explore. Dinner was not till 7pm so why the rush back.

Day 2 was slightly better, but again not a lot of time in Aviemore to explore.

Day 3 you cancelled the steam train prior to our journey but what was the reason. I was told one thing but TM told us something different not impressed. We were taken to Summerlee Museum. Again here we couldn’t do everything because certain events of the museum did not open until later in the afternoon. Furious. More than this the Museum and tours are free! So what have I paid for. Allanwater Brewhouse the talk is less than 15 mins. Joke! With 3 little glasses to taste. Again not at lot of free time.

Day 4 the itinerary said free time for lunch this did not happen until well after 4pm. The were a lot of elderly people on this trip absolutely shocking! Even I was hungry. All we had time for was to collect a coffee! Again we were back at hotel by 17.30pm and evening meal was not until 7pm!

From our base we had no shops close, really close to pick up a sandwich for lunch before we set out for the day.

Our trip consisted of many elderly people who could not walk far, a diabetic person and an autistic person.

This needs to be considered on your booking application. What you expect people to walk and can actually walk are 2 different things.

What a great idea if the Hotel offered pre-made sandwiches !

Perth train station has a massive drop from train to platform. This should be in your brochure to make all guests aware. It was not announced on the train upon arrival into Perth. Again the elderly really struggled to disembark from the train. A ramp should automatically be used here to help everyone, even the younger generation of passengers.

From this I will be making a complaint.

In addition to this our journey was awful from start to finish. I have to wait for TOC to contact you for the rail prices for all my journey to then establish my true cost of my train tickets. This was not discussed at start of my booking which is not acceptable.

This holiday is not value for money.

I will establish what the cost of rail may have been as a guide for this part as compensation.

Email 30th June sent to me Really!

Railtrail has flagged your review for containing harmful or illegal content.

For the record I have stated what actually happened on holiday. I shall contact my credit card company!

Scotland's Far North, Shetland & Orkney Tour

What a disappointment!
The hotels were abysmal. I wondered why I was spending well earned money to stay in such hovels.
The "fabulous Highland Line" was a rickety old diesel, with very little space. We were squashed up on it for 4 hours with no refreshments.
The trip to Orkney was a 4 hour whistle top tour with very little time at the stops. Some tour members barely got off the coach because of the restricted time. The trip to Shetland included a 4 hour trip around the island in the morning with no stop for refreshments. This was followed by a stop in Lerwick in order to buy lunch but 90% of places were closed, presumably because it was a Sunday.
We visited the museum, which was interesting and stopped to have a closer look at the ponies, not interesting.
The local guides on both Orkney and Shetland were informative but the Railtour Manager was something else. She clearly hadn't done her homework, knew nothing of the places we were visiting, resorting to Google in order to find something to say. She was muddled in her instructions throughout but fortunately the coach driver was very good.
This was my first Railtour experience and I can assure you it will be my last.

provided information and help where needed

Interesting itinerary and easy to book on-line

We went on the Railtrail Blackforest Roamer Tour at the end of April and it was a massive disappointment for us. We had expected to travel on a steam train and experience beautiful scenes of the Black Forest. When we arrived, the steam train was out of commission and was being repaired. We had a ride on a diesel train instead. After this we missed the next train which was supposed to give us the best view of the Black Forest. Instead we travelled on a different train which gave us a limited view. Every day we travelled on one commuter train after another, arriving at destinations where, yes the scenery was beautiful but limited, there was nothing open. Many times we could not even get a cup of coffee. No consideration appeared to have been given to the fact that the shops and cafes don`t open before 12md. In addition to this, shops etc. in general weren`t open on Bank Holidays or Sundays, both of which were included in our holiday. Train stations were usually out of town. Insufficient time was allowed for us to go and see anything on foot as we cant walk a mile in 10 minutes. The potential was there but the time was focused on travelling on yet another commuter train. I would advise anyone, who is considering travelling with Railtrail to double check what they are spending their money on prior to booking. I did not expect to spend 6-8 hours a day travelling on one commuter trail after another. The visit to the rail museum and the ride on the vintage train were a good experience and the people receiving us were welcoming and informative.

I was in some doubt whether my holiday was booked or not, but the helpful person on the phone sorted everything out and made everything clear

Just booked on a 2026 tour and very pleased with the service given so far. I rang a while ago to get details and someone did say they would ring me as soon as the tour became available. I am very impressed by the fact that indeed I did receive the promised call which allowed me to book the tour well in advance. Confirmation by email was received swiftly. Thank you to all the team.

The customer service definitely is 5 stars, polite, efficient and friendly.

I needed to alter our tour destination and date due to mobility issues and they could not have been more helpful. Phil was so easy to talk to and he sorted out the change with no fuss or extra charge. I cannot thank the company enough, I was dreading the outcome and was delighted with the result. Absolutely magnificent service.

Booking experience was very positive. The people I spoke to were helpful and informative.

This was my first trip with Railtrack and I was not disappointed - I joined the Royal Deeside Explorer group on Tuesday 22nd April in Aberdeen staying at the Station Hotel which was so conveniently situated and ended the tour in Dundee staying at the Malmaison hotel - also so conveniently situated but far superior to the Station Hotel in Aberdeen. Special mention, thanks and credit goes to the tour manager, Andy Milligan. His knowledge of the Aberdeen and Dundee cities, plus the places we visited, enhanced it all - each tour was so well organised with an excellent commentary by Andy. Thanks to him especially for the individual assistance he so kindly gave me as I was going on to spend a month in Scotland and had a very heavy suitcase which I could never have managed without his help!! Thank you so much. Carole Anderson

Viewed my holiday online which was an easy process.
Booked with ease and received comfomation quickly with additional form to complete & return. All was easy to do.