Seat Reservations

[themeone]

Can anyone tell me the background to the practice of reserving seats on trains heading north and west from London?

As far as I know, it was never customary (or even possible) to reserve seats south of London despite there being some fairly long routes e.g. Kent coast, Bournemouth etc.

 

[wintonian]

SWT only stopped doing reservation at the last timetable change in December, AFAIR up until the mid/ late 90's they charged £1 for up to 4 seat reservations.

 

[MCR247]

I'm pretty sure SWT stopped before December..

 

[d1015fan]

stopped at the may timetable change if I recall and its made life easier when getting on a 159 at exeter.

 

[wintonian]

I'm pretty sure SWT stopped before December..

stopped at the may timetable change if I recall and its made life easier when getting on a 159 at exeter.

Ok, though it dosn't seem that long ago.

 

[route101]

The services to the south of London are more commuter and frequent , i did notice seat reservation panels on the Class 395s yesterday.

 

[Pumbaa]

I do like the new XC reserve as you go service. Although I feel sorry for the TM; they have to keep running along and sticking reservations printed on Avantix stock in the back of seats!

 

[WestCoast]

I do like the new XC reserve as you go service. Although I feel sorry for the TM; they have to keep running along and sticking reservations printed on Avantix stock in the back of seats!

Does this facilitate the booking of seats after the train has left its intial destination?

 

[Pumbaa]

Yes - you can book a seat up to 20 mins before you board it, wherever it is on its journey.

 

[d1015fan]

a nightmare I can imagine, but this is the first I have heard of it and not seen a TM at the running around doing it, i assume its designed for the 22x stock where they can do it easily and on the HST's it would be possible but I believe they don't have a computer system installed on the HST's to do it

 

[WestCoast]

Yes - you can book a seat up to 20 mins before you board it, wherever it is on its journey.

Seems like a great feature, especially with the times from the origin station often being very long on CrossCountry. One concern, what if there are no seats available to reserve, as is often the case on the Voyagers?
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a nightmare I can imagine, but this is the first I have heard of it and not seen a TM at the running around doing it, i assume its designed for the 22x stock where they can do it easily and on the HST's it would be possible but I believe they don't have a computer system installed on the HST's to

Yes, is it not possible for them to do it electronically? The HSTs on crosscountry do have an electronic reservation system though don't they?

 

[Failed Unit]

How does the XC system deal with walk on fares. If I had sat in a seat that was unreserved from Edinburgh and someone got on at Bristol telling me it was reserved I would not be impressed. In fact if the train was full I probably wouldn't move! Surely you can't kick people out of seats mid journey because the system books seats mid journey?

 

[d1015fan]

Seems like a great feature, especially with the times from the origin station often being very long on CrossCountry. One concern, what if there are no seats available to reserve, as is often the case on the Voyagers?
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Yes, is it not possible for them to do it electronically? The HSTs on crosscountry do have an electronic reservation system though don't they?

they have the display screens but use the good old cards. I was told the reason was there was no computer system on the HSTs.

It seems to be a similar system to the TGV where you can do the same

 

[WestCoast]

How does the XC system deal with walk on fares. If I had sat in a seat that was unreserved from Edinburgh and someone got on at Bristol telling me it was reserved I would not be impressed. In fact if the train was full I probably wouldn't move! Surely you can't kick people out of seats mid journey because the system books seats mid journey?

I was thinking this as well, you really wouldn't be happy if you're "this seat is not reserved" display changed to RESERVED at a point in the journey.

 

[Lee_Again]

It seems to be a similar system to the TGV where you can do the same

Let's remember that ALL seats on a TGV are reserved. So no problem with selling seats mid-journey.

I will ALWAYS move from a reserved seat if it's indicated as such. Infact, I don't think I'd sit in the first place.

However, there would be NO way I'd move from an unreserved seat that has been sold on route. Unfair to ask TM's to do this.

 

[d1015fan]

Let's remember that ALL seats on a TGV are reserved. So no problem with selling seats mid-journey.

I will ALWAYS move from a reserved seat if it's indicated as such. Infact, I don't think I'd sit in the first place.

However, there would be NO way I'd move from an unreserved seat that has been sold on route. Unfair to ask TM's to do this.

very true

 

[Pumbaa]

The HST electronic system never worked; the firm installing it went bust. The actual computer is missing, with the rest of the gadgets still there.

I can't remember off the top of my head which XC route its currently being trialled on, prior to being rolled out across their network. Anyone can ring/website, ask for a reservation, TM finds spare seats and reserves them for them from their joining point. Sticks the reservation on normal ticket stock, and puts it in the back of the seat.

I'm fairly sure the current trial route is Bournemouth - Birmginham.

 

[d1015fan]

The HST electronic system never worked; the firm installing it went bust. The actual computer is missing, with the rest of the gadgets still there.

I can't remember off the top of my head which XC route its currently being trialled on, prior to being rolled out across their network. Anyone can ring/website, ask for a reservation, TM finds spare seats and reserves them for them from their joining point. Sticks the reservation on normal ticket stock, and puts it in the back of the seat.

I'm fairly sure the current trial route is Bournemouth - Birmginham.

probably why i ain't seen them doing it down this way then

 

[WestCoast]

I can't remember off the top of my head which XC route its currently being trialled on, prior to being rolled out across their network. Anyone can ring/website, ask for a reservation, TM finds spare seats and reserves them for them from their joining point. Sticks the reservation on normal ticket stock, and puts it in the back of the seat.

Good idea in theory, but I doubt it will work network wide. You can't reserve a seat when there isn't any spare..
Plus it's more hassle for the TM, ejecting people from seats won't go down well.

 

[wintonian]

Good idea in theory, but I doubt it will work network wide. You can't reserve a seat when there isn't any spare..
Plus it's more hassle for the TM, ejecting people from seats won't go down well.

So you’re in a seat that isn't reserved and then suddenly without your knowledge it becomes reserved and out of principle you refuse to move, can you then be fined 50(?) under railway bylaw for occupying someone else’s reserved seat? :?

 

[Failed Unit]

Good idea in theory, but I doubt it will work network wide. You can't reserve a seat when there isn't any spare..
Plus it's more hassle for the TM, ejecting people from seats won't go down well.

Definately can see it working as the booking want instant answers and if the TM must check for vacant seats the are going to get that. Useful if you are travelling from Bristol - Birmingham to see how empty the train is . You could also get the situation where you try to book from Bristol - Plymouth the train is full on arrival at Birmingham where everyone get off but no reservation so you decide not to travel.

Nice idea but I just cant see it working until reservations are mandatory. While we have walk on tickets that isn't going to happen.