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Paper slip seat reservations, do they still exist?

T

thenorthern

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Earlier today I was having a discussion with someone about paper slip seat reservations, which in 2000 I think were the only type of seat reservations but since the introduction of the Voyagers and Pendolinos which of course have reservation screens, we have seen a slow decline of paper slip reservations.

Do any services still use paper slip reservations? I can't think of any stock that is used for services with reservations and does not have screens.

The last stock I can think of which had reservations but no screens was the Mark 3 HST stock before refurbishment.
 
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pokemonsuper9

pokemonsuper9

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Oh yes they do.
185s do with Transpennine, and 180s do with Grand Central.
The one time I travelled with Grand Central my reservation slip had future reservations on it so I obviously couldn't keep it as a keepsake, might try for a TPE reservation ticket I can keep next time I head over to Sheffield, obviously a gamble on if someone books that seat later in the journey.

and I think ScotRail's Inter7City do too (Mark 3 coaches) edit: confirmed by post #2 above
 
Avenger20

Avenger20

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All Scotrail reservations are made using printed slips, none of our stock up here has electronic reservation systems.
 
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cats_five

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I hate the screens on some trains. It takes so long for the information to scroll. Back in the day I was travelling LNER from Leeds to Kirkcaldy & back quite often, and it was so easy & quick to walk down the train looking for an unreserved (to York) seat.
 
8

81A

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I think the seated carriage of the Night Riviera doesn't have screens and does reservations (and allows walk ups?). I don't know how (or if?) reservations are displayed, but could be paper labels?

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aaronspence

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Down side of the paper slips, HST was 10 minutes late into Queen Street, 6 minutes before its departure and they cancelled all seat reservations as there was no time to distribute them.
 
VT 390

VT 390

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81A said:
I think the seated carriage of the Night Riviera doesn't have screens and does reservations (and allows walk ups?). I don't know how (or if?) reservations are displayed, but could be paper labels?

​

Click to expand...
They do not offer specific seat reservations on the Night Riviera, though I have been issued counted place reservations even for flexible tickets.
 
8

81A

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VT 390 said:
They do not offer specific seat reservations on the Night Riviera, though I have been issued counted place reservations even for flexible tickets.
Click to expand...
Interesting, I wonder if it would be possible to end up standing all night? Or is it (counted place) reservations compulsory to ensure everyone has a seat?
 
VT 390

VT 390

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81A said:
Interesting, I wonder if it would be possible to end up standing all night? Or is it (counted place) reservations compulsory to ensure everyone has a seat?
Click to expand...
They are not actually compulsory reservations (even though it is advertised as such), you can just turn up with a valid flexible ticket without a reservation. Based on my experience using the seats its never been close to every seat being occupied.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

An interesting reservation method is on the Caledonian Sleeper seats, while not a paper slip on the seats they do use physical reserved signs on the headrests which I have always thought is odd considering this is the one service which is actually compulsory reservations so everyone must have a reservation (which is always checked) before boarding so it seems pointless displaying reserved on the seat as everyone will have an allocated seat. This must be the only recent new build stock which offers specific seat reservations not to have a display screen.
DSC_0197 (2).JPG
 
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PZ 08895

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This is what was on my seat on a Class 158 last Saturday. Note class of travel!
 

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LittleRedTrain

LittleRedTrain

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As a visually-impaired rail user, I'm glad to see them phased out. Given all the focus on making passenger information accessible (e.g. minimum font sizes on PIS, contrasting grab handles), I'm surprised they've been allowed for so long.

The text is tiny and I found it impossible to see whether the reservations on the slip actually covers the bit of journey you're making.
A screen at eye level (and the coloured LEDs in 80x) make it so much easier to determine whether the seat is actually available.
 
sabanda

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I've seen paper reservation slips used on Voyagers as recently as 2 months ago when the reservations system has failed - though usually (always?) only in first class.
 
Russel

Russel

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sabanda said:
I've seen paper reservation slips used on Voyagers as recently as 2 months ago when the reservations system has failed - though usually (always?) only in first class.
Click to expand...

It happens from time to time.
 
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