Great Western Railway

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Great Western Railway is a train operator. They run train services across Wales, the South and South West England.

gwr.com

Great Western Railway job reviews

Showing 27 reviews

  • Best thing

    No stress no targets

    Worst thing

    Shift work

    9.8

    Great Western Railway Train driver, October 2023

  • Best thing

    Working in dispatch (SDA) I got a real grounding on working in a safety-critical railway role which set me up well for successfully applying for a Train Manager role. I had a great team in my station, everyone would help eachother out and go the extra mile when favours were needed. The union is strong and will back you strongly if there were ever any issues with management, but most of the time management were reasonable and would back down somewhat if we felt they were being too unreasonable.
    The company invest a lot of money into training their staff and providing a decent looking uniform.

    Worst thing

    Early shifts by far. Also in your first 6 months you only get statutory sick pay. Control don't have an appreciation of how things are on the front line.

    9.8

    Great Western Railway Employee, April 2023

  • Best thing

    Good pay
    Good support from local management
    Benefits

    Worst thing

    Top management don't understand what it's like on the ground.
    Shift work ranging from 4am starts 1 week, to 1am finishes the next.
    Don't find out if you have annual leave accepted until 5 days before.
    Isolating job

    7.3

    Great Western Railway Train manager, November 2022

  • Best thing

    I enjoy the work,meeting people, and it being different each day

    Worst thing

    Uncertain Job security. Undervalued. Get tired. Can become unhealthy through shift work, mentally and physically

    7.1

    Great Western Railway Train manager, September 2022

  • Best thing

    Time off, paid breaks, free travel, good pension

    Worst thing

    Long hours, start very early and finish late, old trains are hard to work on and dealing with upset passengers for issues out of your control

    9.8

    Great Western Railway Conductor, September 2022

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  • Best thing

    Pay and conditions

    Worst thing

    Shift work and family also annual leave is allocated

    9.1

    Great Western Railway Train driver, July 2022

  • Best thing

    Salty and shifts

    Worst thing

    Trains always broken and not really fit for purpose

    9.8

    Great Western Railway Host, April 2022

  • Best thing

    Wonderful, friendly and helpful colleagues. Enjoyment helping customers.

    Worst thing

    Spending majority of work time on feet. Not allowed to sit down whilst working on station.

    9.4

    Great Western Railway Employee, March 2022

  • Best thing

    Work stays at work

    Worst thing

    Very repetitive.

    8.9

    Great Western Railway Employee, February 2022

  • Best thing

    Every day is different.

    Worst thing

    Hours are unsociable.

    9.8

    Great Western Railway Conductor, September 2021

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  • Best thing

    Holidays. Pay. Discounts/benefits. Free rail travel. 6 months of rotas so you can plan your life.

    Worst thing

    Occasional lone working.

    9.9

    Great Western Railway Employee, September 2021

  • Best thing

    Pay

    Worst thing

    Management. Treated like idiots. Management are hugely disconnected from reality.

    3.2

    Great Western Railway Train driver, June 2021

  • Best thing

    No one looking over your shoulder. Salary.

    Worst thing

    Shift work

    9.1

    Great Western Railway Train driver, June 2021

  • Best thing

    Good company to work for and company benefits

    Worst thing

    Rude unpleasant passengers. Fare evaders.

    9.0

    Great Western Railway Conductor, May 2021

  • Best thing

    Being left to get on with it

    Worst thing

    The shifts and how they effect my life

    9.2

    Great Western Railway Driver, April 2021

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  • Best thing

    Good money, plenty of time off

    Worst thing

    The shifts

    9.7

    Great Western Railway Train driver, April 2021

  • Best thing

    The camaraderie of my team, the travel perks, and the continual training

    Worst thing

    Sometimes when things go wrong the abuse from customers can be horrible

    9.4

    Great Western Railway Customer service advisor, March 2021

  • Best thing

    The shifts and time off and pay

    Worst thing

    The late finishes

    10

    Great Western Railway Lead host, January 2021

  • Best thing

    Mostly left to get on with it with no supervision. Good pay and benefits. I enjoy the work.

    Worst thing

    Shifts. Early starts and late finishes. Working weekends and public holidays.

    9.7

    Great Western Railway Train driver, December 2020

  • Best thing

    Free travel. 35 hour week

    Worst thing

    Unsocial hours

    9.2

    Great Western Railway Train driver, November 2020

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  • Best thing

    My office moves

    Worst thing

    Night shifts

    9.9

    Great Western Railway Train driver, November 2020

  • Best thing

    People, places I go

    Worst thing

    Shifts, responsibility, other people

    8.4

    Great Western Railway Driver, October 2020

  • Best thing

    Working with the public.

    Worst thing

    The unsocial hours

    10

    Great Western Railway Train guard, October 2020

  • Best thing

    Great team, good shifts, lots of time off, good money, no stress.

    Worst thing

    Nights shifts, big company bullshit.

    9.9

    Great Western Railway Technician, August 2020

  • Best thing

    The people and no two days are the same

    Worst thing

    Senior management

    9.4

    Great Western Railway Customer host, July 2020

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  • Best thing

    People I work with, number of hours.

    Worst thing

    Difficult customers, working bank holidays

    9.9

    Great Western Railway Gateline, June 2020

  • Best thing

    Overtime is 13.50 an hour, relaxed atmosphere.

    Worst thing

    3pm-11pm shifts. Busy days when it’s call after call.

    9.9

    Great Western Railway Customer experience advisor, January 2020