Birmingham - Doncaster reservation annoyance

[py_megapixel]

I'm looking at tickets from Birmingham New Street to Doncaster on Saturday 8th August. Direct trains leave Birmingham at 3 minutes past each hour.

The forum's site refuses to make me seat reservations on either the 12:03 or 13:03 departures. Availability on the 11:03 and 14:03 is good (in both cases, most of coach F and some of coach C is available) so it seems implausible that these services are completely sold out, unless some sort of event is on...?

Why could this be?

 

[yorkie]

I think we'd need more information, including a search link and information about what ticket type you are selecting, as without that, it's difficult to diagnose the issue, and creates additional work for people to look into it.

However, while I am able to get a reservation on the 12:03, I am guessing you are specifically choosing a flexible ticket, in which case XC have put a block on such reservations on this service, only allowing reservations on Advance tickets.

 

[py_megapixel]

I think we'd need more information, including a search link and information about what ticket type you are selecting, as without that, it's difficult to diagnose the issue, and creates additional work for people to look into it.

However, while I am able to get a reservation on the 12:03, I am guessing you are specifically choosing a flexible ticket, in which case XC have put a block on such reservations on this service, only allowing reservations on Advance tickets.

I was specifically choosing a flexible ticket, but if I go back and let it use the default split Advance option, it still cannot make reservations - except now, since the reservations are mandatory, it will not proceed with the booking at all, and just presents an error message.

Here is a search link: https://tickets.railforums.co.uk/re...&OutboundTime=12:00&Adults=1&OpenReturn=false

(as an aside, the "copy search link" button disappears on the reservations page for some reason, which made finding this a bit awkward!)

 

[yorkie]

I was specifically choosing a flexible ticket, but if I go back and let it use the default split Advance option, it still cannot make reservations - except now, since the reservations are mandatory, it will not proceed with the booking at all, and just presents an error message.

Here is a search link: https://tickets.railforums.co.uk/re...&OutboundTime=12:00&Adults=1&OpenReturn=false

(as an aside, the "copy search link" button disappears on the reservations page for some reason, which made finding this a bit awkward!)

That's odd, as using that link, I can get to the payment screen:
Do you get that far?

I tried the XC site for comparison; it doesn't come up with any standard advances and will just issue an Off Peak single with no seat:


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Jul 2026 ==

Edit: OK there is only 1 seat left, so if it's in someone's basket you won't be able to book it:


I have now removed it from my basket.

The EMR strike could make these trains very busy, by the way.

 

[py_megapixel]

That's odd, as using that link, I can get to the payment screen:
Do you get that far?

I didn't before (it failed with the "cannot make mandatory reservations" message before that point). But I do now. Bizarrely it makes a reservation only from Derby to Doncaster, and not from Birmingham to Derby.

(I'm not going to proceed beyond this point, as I haven't decided whether I actually wish to travel on this service yet and may actually decide to travel at a different time - hence my checking all the 11:03-14:03 earlier)

 

[Kite159]

Bizarrely it makes a reservation only from Derby to Doncaster, and not from Birmingham to Derby.

Could that be down to XC trying to push people with flexible tickets between Birmingham & Derby onto the 170 operated services in an attempt to reduce overcrowding?

Or there being no seats left to reserve between Birmingham & Derby, but there are some seats left between Derby & Doncaster.

(If the service turns out to be a 4 coach voyager, and you don't have a seat reservation, best to aim for one of the few seats near the luggage rack end of coach D which are not reservable)

 

[Haywain]

unless some sort of event is on...?

I expect that West Bromwich Albion playing away at Rotherham (1730 kick off) might be a factor.

 

[yorkie]

Could that be down to XC trying to push people with flexible tickets between Birmingham & Derby onto the 170 operated services in an attempt to reduce overcrowding?

Or there being no seats left to reserve between Birmingham & Derby, but there are some seats left between Derby & Doncaster.

(If the service turns out to be a 4 coach voyager, and you don't have a seat reservation, best to aim for one of the few seats near the luggage rack end of coach D which are not reservable)

It's very common for XC to block reservations for Birmingham to Derby, Birmingham to Wolverhampton etc.