Questions Regarding East Coast Reservations

[ChrisEJ1993]

Hello all.

I booked tickets to go the National Railway Museum in York for my birthday, and I have a couple of questions about the trains I have booked for.

The trains I am booked on are:

1. The 0830 off Kings Cross into York.
2. The 1656 off York into Kings Cross.

What I want to know is:

1. What will my trains be? A class 91 set or a HST? Not that it really makes much difference, I'm just wondering.

2. Do I have an airline seat (One without a table) And am I next to a window? And am I forward facing? On the outward journey, I have seat 55A in coach F, and on the return journey I have seat 7A in coach F again.

3. Finally, am I near the buffet car? (if there is one) Because obviously, this is extremely important :P.

Ta in advance for your help.

 

[yorkie]

EC give details of traction on their website http://eastcoast.co.uk/travel-information/

If you are travelling on a day with alterations, check that day, otherwise the standard TT will suffice.

E = Class 91
HST = HST!

I'm not sure about a seating plan, someone recently enquired in another thread, I don't think there is an up-to-date one available online.

Yes you are very near the buffet car. There should be one, I've never known an EC route set to operate without one going back as long as I can remember.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

EC give details of traction on their website http://eastcoast.co.uk/travel-information/

If you are travelling on a day with alterations, check that day, otherwise the standard TT will suffice.

E = Class 91
HST = HST!

One of each, sounds pretty fair to me!

I'm not sure about a seating plan, someone recently enquired in another thread, I don't think there is an up-to-date one available online.

Thats a shame - I guess I'll just find out on the day :P - I just don't like tables much, because I feel awkward staring a complete stranger straight in the face for a few hours hehe :P

Yes you are very near the buffet car. There should be one, I've never known an EC route set to operate without one going back as long as I can remember.

Ahh good - Any food you recomend? :P

Ta for your answers, very helpful indeed!

 

[John @ home]

I just don't like tables much, because I feel awkward staring a complete stranger straight in the face for a few hours

East Coast are not one of the TOCs which attempt to insist that Advance ticket holders sit in their reserved seats. If you're travelling on a Class 91, then the half-coach containing the buffet car is always unreserved and has few tables.

Any food you recomend?

I think it's generally of high quality. The Cafe Bar menu is here. If you buy vouchers before you travel, you can save up to 20% of the price. Details are here.

 

[ChrisTheRef]

The sausage with herb mash and onion gravy is a must. Not much more than a large Mcdonalds meal, you get much more and it's SO much nicer!

 

[yorkie]

c
Ahh good - Any food you recomend? :P

If you hadn't booked a train so early you could have joined us for our meal in York that day! (not sure where we're going yet).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The sausage with herb mash and onion gravy is a must. Not much more than a large Mcdonalds meal, you get much more and it's SO much nicer!

Sounds like that's only available in the restaurant? The train Chris is getting is a very busy commuter service that is most shacks and only originates from Newcastle. It does not have a restaurant service. It will be pretty wedged, and I suggest the OP takes up his seat, or at least removes the reservation label.

The 0830 does have a restaurant but that'll be for breakfast. I have no idea how busy that train will be as I've never got an early train from KGX to YRK before!

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

If you hadn't booked a train so early you could have joined us for our meal in York that day! (not sure where we're going yet).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Sounds like that's only available in the restaurant? The train Chris is getting is a very busy commuter service that is most shacks and only originates from Newcastle. It does not have a restaurant service. It will be pretty wedged, and I suggest the OP takes up his seat, or at least removes the reservation label.

The 0830 does have a restaurant but that'll be for breakfast.

I thought the prices went up the later I booked - And they did actually - Was £29.10 when I first looked, and £41.15 when I booked!

 

[yorkie]

I thought the prices went up the later I booked - And they did actually - Was £29.10 when I first looked, and £41.15 when I booked!

I'm surprised they offer any AP fares on that train. It's guaranteed to be busy without! You can guarantee it will be late departing York, with a huge mob determined to get into Coach B through one door. This is known as "one door syndrome" and is quite common, especially at York. But don't think that the front of the train will escape being busy - that's where people usually get on at Newcastle! Let us know how many minutes late out of York it is due to the crowd. I'll take a guess at 5.

It's funny, because if I get on a busy southbound late afternoon/early evening train that originates at NCL, you find that near the buffet it's wedged, Coach B is quiet with a table being obtainable, but when you get to York there's a huge crowd and the quiet coach is, shall we say, going to be declassified by default, but I'm getting off then so it doesn't matter. Occasionally though you have to persuade the huge crowd to actually let you actually get off - this only tends to be a problem when the races are on (the races attracts inconsiderate people who dress smartly but act like tits).

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

I'm surprised they offer any AP fares on that train. It's guaranteed to be busy without! You can guarantee it will be late departing York, with a huge mob determined to get into Coach B through one door. This is known as "one door syndrome" and is quite common, especially at York. But don't think that the front of the train will escape being busy - that's where people usually get on at Newcastle! Let us know how many minutes late out of York it is due to the crowd. I'll take a guess at 5.

It's funny, because if I get on a busy southbound late afternoon/early evening train that originates at NCL, you find that near the buffet it's wedged, Coach B is quiet with a table being obtainable, but when you get to York there's a huge crowd and the quiet coach is, shall we say, going to be declassified by default, but I'm getting off then so it doesn't matter. Occasionally though you have to persuade the huge crowd to actually let you actually get off - this only tends to be a problem when the races are on (the races attracts inconsiderate people who dress smartly but act like tits).

Is coach F back middle or front, and is it a quiet bit? :P

 

[yorkie]

Bang in the middle of the train (4 coaches behind you, 4 in front). It is not the quiet coach and it won't be quiet on the 1656, although the type of people who get that service probably won't be making a racket. (Evening trains from KGX on a Saturday night may not be quite so well loaded but would be 'noisier'!)

If I'm on a NE Rover then and if Nick W's train from Donny is after yours gets to Donny, I may join you. If not, I may see you at York.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Bang in the middle of the train (4 coaches behind you, 4 in front). It is not the quiet coach and it won't be quiet on the 1656, although the type of people who get that service probably won't be making a racket. (Evening trains from KGX on a Saturday night may not be quite so well loaded but would be 'noisier'!)

If I'm on a NE Rover then and if Nick W's train from Donny is after yours gets to Donny, I may join you. If not, I may see you at York.

I am going on the 15th, does that make any difference to busyness? :P

 

[mickey]

East Coast are not one of the TOCs which attempt to insist that Advance ticket holders sit in their reserved seats.

Which ones are? I only ask because I travel a lot and have never been pulled up for it or heard others being told off and I'm curious as to why...

 

[yorkie]

I am going on the 15th, does that make any difference to busyness? :P

Fridays are worst! The 15th is a Thursday so it won't be too bad. I may get that service to meet Nick W at Donkeycaster and get the 1730 back. It's only 20 mins to Donny. Shame it'll be a boring MTU though

 

[John @ home]

East Coast are not one of the TOCs which attempt to insist that Advance ticket holders sit in their reserved seats.

Which ones are?

I don't know but instances have been reported in Barry Doe's column in RAIL.

I'm curious as to why

The conditions of Advance tickets were changed in 2008 to require these passengers to sit in their reserved seats.

When and where the ticket can be used
Where applicable, you must travel in the Class and reserved seat(s) shown on the ticket(s).
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/advance_conditions.html

Oddly, TravelWatch NorthWest, "an independent organisation representing all users of public transport in the North West", appears not to be aware of the change and recently called for it!

2.8 Obligation to use Reserved Seat
Holders of Advance Tickets are currently obliged to travel on the train to which their booking applies but not to sit in the particular reserved seat allocated. Consideration could be given to making use of the reserved seat obligatory thus reducing the number of seats marked reserved which are actually unoccupied as the ticket holder is seated elsewhere. In this event it would be necessary to offer a choice of seat as standard when booking including window, aisle, facing forward/backward, table, airline, or non-bulkhead, if available, to avoid passenger dissatisfaction. A change to the National Rail Conditions of Carriage may be required.
http://users.cooptel.net/ianwatson/nwptuf/SeatResDiscuss_310.pdf