Booking ahead on GWR.

[AM9]

In September, I shall be travelling from home to Paignton via Paddington on a Saturday and return using SSR Super Off -Peak tickets. For the mainline GWR parts of the journeys I intend to travel on the 12:00 PAD to Newton Abbott and return on the 10:52 or 11:53 from Newton Abbott (both ex PNZ) to Paddington, a week later.
I am looking for advice as to whether it is worth getting tickets now to get a better choice of seats, (and which ones are currently 'better'. I will appreciate any advice regulars could give me on this.

 

[Sleepy]

I would most certainly get the tickets now as you are catching services starting from Penzance on the return trip which can be busy. If you are unable to travel you can still get a refund up to the day before outward journey. The forum ticket site is good for chosing a specific seat when reserving.

 

[Dirty_Mac]

You can make a seat reservation on GWR without needing to hold a ticket

 

[AM9]

I would most certainly get the tickets now as you are catching services starting from Penzance on the return trip which can be busy. If you are unable to travel you can still get a refund up to the day before outward journey. The forum ticket site is good for chosing a specific seat when reserving.

Thanks for that, - I was thinking that the return journey might be a problem for seats. As mid-September is shoulder season, do you know the expected formation, is it 1x5-car, 9-car of 2x5-car. The latter could be quite cosy by Newton Abbott.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2026 ==

You can make a seat reservation on GWR without needing to hold a ticket

I can only see a phone contact number, is there a seat map on which reservations can be made?

 

[Dirty_Mac]

I can only see a phone contact number, is there a seat map on which reservations can be made?

It's on their website. Create an account and go to the "My Journeys" tab

 

[Sleepy]

Both of those starting from Penzance should be formed of 9 car sets

 

[AM9]

Thanks folks, will be checking seats today.

 

[yorkie]

GWR seat reservations | Great Western Railway

Make your journey comfortable with GWR seat reservations. Book online for a stress-free journey with Great Western Railway.

www.gwr.com

If you already have a ticket and want to add a reservation or change what you already have, then you can do it:

• by calling us on 03457 000 125
• by visiting a ticket office

I can no longer find seat plans from the GWR site, but if it's a 9-car (as most Penzance trains are), a seat plan can be found here:

GWR Train Seating Plan Overview | PDF | Land Transport | Sustainable Transport

The document provides a seating plan layout for a 9 coach intercity express train (IET). It shows each coach labeled A through L, with the type of class (standard or first class) and the seat numbers. The layout includes designated priority seating areas, wheelchair spaces, tables, toilets, and...

www.scribd.com

Alternatively, the forum's ticketing site has a seat selector, if you want to book a ticket and seat at the same time.

 

[RPI]

There are a few direct London to Paignton services and vice versa, these are generally 9 cars and generally pretty quiet at the Paignton end of the journey (quiet in comparison to the Penzance services), though not sure if these would fit into your plans.