Choosing your seat when booking in advance?

[sTEAM Stewart]

Hello,

Looking to travel to London from Colchester next month (NATIONAL EXPRESS EAST ANGLIA). Going to purchase the tickets in advance (Standard Class), choosing a specific time into London, returning a couple of days later, again at a specific time. When looking at the booking system, it appears that there is no option in choosing seats or a particular carriage (although seats are apparently allocated?) Does anyone know if I'm missing the obvious, or it is really the case that you can't choose where to sit in advance?

Any comments / suggestions for alternative options much appreciated.

Thanks in advance peeps!

sTEAM Stewart

 

[rail-britain]

If you know which coach and seat, then book via TeleSales or in person at a manned station
When doing so make a list of several, as your first preference may already be assigned

If you can only do so online, the go back/forward and resend the ticket confirmation
This will, in most cases, assign a different seat
However, you are usually limited to eight attempts, after which the system may refuse your enquiries

 

[MCR247]

If you are ever travelling with CrossCountry, they allow you pick your seats if you book on their website

 

[sTEAM Stewart]

If you know which coach and seat, then book via TeleSales or in person at a manned station
When doing so make a list of several, as your first preference may already be assigned

If you can only do so online, the go back/forward and resend the ticket confirmation
This will, in most cases, assign a different seat
However, you are usually limited to eight attempts, after which the system may refuse your enquiries

Excellent info Rail-Britain. I shall have a look at these options. Thank you
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If you are ever travelling with CrossCountry, they allow you pick your seats if you book on their website

MCR247 -forgot totally that you don't have to buy the tickets from Nat. Express! Ta for the tip!

 

[ainsworth74]

MCR247 -forgot totally that you don't have to buy the tickets from Nat. Express! Ta for the tip!

Only works if your booking a reservation on one of their trains however.

 

[lm321412]

Only works if your booking a reservation on one of their trains however.

& From personal experience, it doesn't seem to work most of the time especially when booking it on Voyagers & HSTs.

 

[sTEAM Stewart]

Just successfully booked two tickets from London to Colchester, all as mentioned above, using CrossCountry -(doesn't seem to be restricted to certain areas / Train Companies) -simply chose Table Seating, and was allocated two table seats!

Thanks again for all the hints & tips!

 

[route101]

London to Colchester is a short route to offer seat reservations .Supposes thats the MK 3 sets?

 

[ainsworth74]

London to Colchester is a short route to offer seat reservations .Supposes thats the MK 3 sets?

I'm not really sure duration or length has anything to do with it, London to Colchester is around 50 miles and offers seat reservations. Northallerton to Thirsk is 8 miles and takes around 8 minuets yet I can still make seat reservations.

 

[sTEAM Stewart]

London to Colchester is a short route to offer seat reservations .Supposes thats the MK 3 sets?

If you mean the "slam shut" doors, pulled by the old Intercity "bullnose" engines, then yes. Personally I find the seats much more comfy, with nice drop-down trays behind each seat. Lovely wooden effect panels, aluminium overhead luggage racks, wooden food display cabinets in the Buffet Car, the occasional discreet Logo and lettering nodding back to BR days etc. etc. etc., I could go on all day about my preference to these old faithful workhorses, however, if you're still reading this (well done!), and I guess that you get the idea by now -I am partial to the odd retro detail
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm not really sure duration or length has anything to do with it, London to Colchester is around 50 miles and offers seat reservations. Northallerton to Thirsk is 8 miles and takes around 8 minuets yet I can still make seat reservations.

Interesting and good to know that it is possible to reserve a seat elsewhere too

 

[ainsworth74]

Interesting and good to know that it is possible to reserve a seat elsewhere too

Well it is possible to reserve a seat between just about any station on the network unless the TOC doesn't offer reservations full stop (like Northern for instance)

If you mean the "slam shut" doors, pulled by the old Intercity "bullnose" engines, then yes.

Those would be the ones, this being the slam door stock and this being the locomotive.

 

[sTEAM Stewart]

Well it is possible to reserve a seat between just about any station on the network unless the TOC doesn't offer reservations full stop (like Northern for instance)





Those would be the ones, this being the slam door stock and this being the locomotive.

Yup -the interior being the one shown as the Mark 3A