Reserved seat usage?

[truckman060473]

If travelling from Swansea to Cardiff, can you occupy a reserved seat marked Bridgend - London, so long as you vacate the seat at Bridgend? I often wonder whether a train manager / RPI could ask you to move, even before the reserved journey has begun?

 

[ainsworth74]

As far as I am aware as long as you are willing to vacate the seat on request at the start of the reserved leg then, there is no issue with sitting in a reserved seat because if there is then I've fallen foul of that rule many many times.

 

[klewer]

A reserved seat is only reserved between the two points stated on the reservation ticket - you're free to sit there if you're outside of those two points.

 

[Greenback]

If travelling from Swansea to Cardiff, can you occupy a reserved seat marked Bridgend - London, so long as you vacate the seat at Bridgend? I often wonder whether a train manager / RPI could ask you to move, even before the reserved journey has begun?

Yes, of course yu can. Otherwise,, on some trains, no one would be able to sit down from Carmarthen to Ferryside!

 

[Robinson]

I should hope you should be allowed to do that! Even during the reserved portion, you should only have to vacate the seat if the person holding the reservation turns up!

 

[mumrar]

I should hope you should be allowed to do that! Even during the reserved portion, you should only have to vacate the seat if the person holding the reservation turns up!

Or if a particularly fastideous guard asks you to. People are frightened to ask people to vacate their reserved seats, fearing hostile reactions which do occur quite often. I've had a passenger ask me for help with a bloke sat there saying "it's first come, first served, and I was here before you". I read him the riot act, well technically it was the byelaws, and informed him in other words to Foxtrot Oscar.

 

[truckman060473]

It's handy to know coz it does warn of a fine for unauthorised occupation of the seat and despite the fact you may not have reached the station the reserved portion starts you are still sitting in the seat with that ticket behind you!

 

[Greenback]

You cannot be in unauthorised occupation when the reserved section of the journey has not yet begun! Anyway, in practice, it is unauthorised only if you refuse to give up the seat to the person with the reservation!

I think, quite rightly, the fine is higher for removing the reservation label than it is for sitting in the seat and refusing to move!

 

[142094]

I think, quite rightly, the fine is higher for removing the reservation label than it is for sitting in the seat and refusing to move!

I've done that a few times to add it to my collection but never been fined. However I only do it when I'll be the last person to sit in the seat of course

 

[Greenback]

Of course! I don;t think that would get anyone into trouble! It's only when it's removed to enable someone to sit there who shouldn't, I imagine!

 

[142094]

I wonder how many people are fined each year for doing so? Bet it is less than 10.

 

[me123]

I wonder how many people are fined each year for doing so? Bet it is less than 10.

I wouldn't imagine that an guard would fine a person unless they had been specifically asked to move. I don't think there are that many jobsworths out there! And most normal people would vacate a seat when asked anyway.

 

[lm321412]

I think it would be quite hard to prove that somebody has removed the reservation card to be honest, but I agree that its good the fine for that is more than sitting in the actual seat...

I have taken a few reservation cards in the past, for my collection but its always at the end of a journey/if they are ones from my own reservation.

 

[bnm]

I wouldn't imagine that an guard would fine a person unless they had been specifically asked to move.

I wouldn't imagine any guard could fine a person. Fines can only be issued by a court.

 

[Welshman]

As far as I am aware as long as you are willing to vacate the seat on request at the start of the reserved leg then, there is no issue with sitting in a reserved seat because if there is then I've fallen foul of that rule many many times.

I've found the problem is that sometimes people see the reserved tickets on entering the carriage, but don't read the details, so they stand in the vestibule, blocking the way for others to get through!

 

[merlodlliw]

The 1720 ex CDF to HDD is an example of reserved seat madness, of thee carriages I have seen 70% and more with reserved, half of which seem to be
Newport to where ever, I will always occupy one of these seats as half the train gets off at Newport, & a good half never seem to turn up to occupy at Newport
having caught an earlier train to the North, sometimes no seat reservations have been placed at CDF, bit of fun then, I wont move .
I agree those not in the know stay in the vestibule.

 

[Greenback]

I wouldn't imagine any guard could fine a person. Fines can only be issued by a court.

The message is there to try and help ensure people 'play fair'. I doubt it has actually gone to court often.

The 1720 ex CDF to HDD is an example of reserved seat madness, of thee carriages I have seen 70% and more with reserved, half of which seem to be
Newport to where ever, I will always occupy one of these seats as half the train gets off at Newport, & a good half never seem to turn up to occupy at Newport
having caught an earlier train to the North, sometimes no seat reservations have been placed at CDF, bit of fun then, I wont move .
I agree those not in the know stay in the vestibule.

Many of the Marches line trains are heavily reserved in my experience. any of the seats are never taken. This contributes to people often sitting ina reserved seat, assuming the person will not show up, and then being unhappy at having to move when they do! It's just bad luck really when that happens!

 

[Zoe]

Many of the Marches line trains are heavily reserved in my experience. any of the seats are never taken. This contributes to people often sitting ina reserved seat, assuming the person will not show up, and then being unhappy at having to move when they do! It's just bad luck really when that happens!

One reason for this is that due to the cost of walk-on fares more people are booking in advance and when you book in advance you get a seat reservation. If you then decide not to travel, you can't refund the ticket so the seat will stay reserved.