East Coast have introduced a seat reservations map (like XC)

[All Line Rover]

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/about-us/Latest-News1/new-interactive-seat-map

East Coast have introduced a new "interactive seat map." It's the same as XC, but works even better. You can even choose the direction of travel!

UPDATE: Now working!

 

[jopsuk]

Unlike XC, EC formations always face the same way under normal circumstances, with first class at the London end- and they try and sort reversed formations at the earliest sensible opportunity.

 

[Mike395]

Assume it wasnt supposed to be announced until tomorrow - EC have now pulled the article from their site. Good idea though!

 

[4SRKT]

I fell foul of their current system the other day. A colleague and I are travelling on the same train from Leeds to Peterborough and back, but he's starting at Hebden Bridge and I'm starting at Saltaire. Normally I'd book online and get the discount, but I had to ring up in order to get seats together, and they wouldn't give me the discount. I wrote to complain that we were in effect being charged a £5.20 supplement to sit together. They wrote back telling me of this new upgrade to their reservations system, but failed to offer me the £5.20 back.

 

[NightatLaira]

Nothing there when I booked my tickets there this morning

 

[ainsworth74]

Cheeky wotsits, I emailed then a month or so ago and asked if they planned on introducing a system like XC's and they told me they had no plans to do so!

Ah well I'm not going to be complaining to much because this is very good news and it's about time people could actually pick which seats they want/

 

[HugePilchard]

they try and sort reversed formations at the earliest sensible opportunity.

I've always wondered how that actually happens. The train doesn't turn around during normal service, and presumably they're stabled in the same direction as they'd normally operate, so how does one end up with a service running in reverse formation? Used to really confuse me when it happened, especially if I (in common with the other daily commuters) didn't bother listening to the announcements!

 

[Tom B]

Even better when the announcement says "first class towards the front" etc, the platform attendant is actually one of the helpful ones and checks everyone's tickets to make sure they're waiting in the right place... then the train sails in in reverse formation!!

 

[The North Briton]

I've always wondered how that actually happens. The train doesn't turn around during normal service, and presumably they're stabled in the same direction as they'd normally operate, so how does one end up with a service running in reverse formation? Used to really confuse me when it happened, especially if I (in common with the other daily commuters) didn't bother listening to the announcements!

Sometimes a set is deliberately put into reverse for technical reasons, for example a windscreen wiper not working. Also the HSTs can end up in reverse because of a change to the normal routing of an empty stock move. For example, York to Leeds via Micklefield doesn't reverse the set, but via Castleford and Methley does.

 

[All Line Rover]

I've noticed that East Coast have been messing around with their website all day today - links work one minute, the next minute they don't!

I assume it will all be finalised by tomorrow.

 

[MCR247]

Easts Coast website is always shocking! I get an error message when I go on there more often than not

 

[All Line Rover]

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/about-us/Latest-News1/new-interactive-seat-map/

The link is now working again but nothing's changed yet when you try to book tickets!

 

[Yorkswatcher]

and now down again.

 

[transportphoto]

I've just run a mock booking - it initially chooses you a seat then in the right hand panel you can click to view your seat and then change it if you wish.

Here is what the article says:

At East Coast, we want to make sure every aspect of your journey is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. So when you book a seat online, we’ll reserve a seat for you based on the requirements you choose – for example, in a Quiet Coach or a window seat
You can then view the seat we’ve selected on your behalf via our new interactive seat map. If you don’t like it, simply change seats by dragging and dropping the icon of a little man into a new seat. You can make your choice based on direction of travel, the facilities in each coach – such as baby change, proximity to the CafeBar, location of toilets and so on. You can even see the attributes of each seat by hovering over them, so you’ll know whether there’s a power socket or a table available. Just another way to help make your journey with East Coast even more enjoyable.
We look forward to welcoming you onboard soon.

And the pic:

Thanks

TP

 

[All Line Rover]

Ah good. It works well!

I wondered why a gap had been left next to the departure station name when booking tickets, but it's to show whether the service is run by East Coast or not.

 

[gordonthemoron]

it looks good, but I'd like to see more use of colour to indicate which seats are free and which are already taken

 

[Furrball]

About time!!

It has been pretty much impossible to book 'table for two' when 2 people have been travelling for about the last 6 months. I have several long email conversations with East Coast about this!

 

[ainsworth74]

Interestingly it doesn't seem to update the details page after you've altered the seating allocation so it doesn't look like the changes made in the new selection screen actually have an effect.

 

[All Line Rover]

Interestingly it doesn't seem to update the details page after you've altered the seating allocation so it doesn't look like the changes made in the new selection screen actually have an effect.

It works for me. I change the seat on the "delivery details" screen, and when I continue to the "review order" screen the seat reservation changes to the one I selected.

 

[Furrball]

Quick one - I note that on the new diagrams the seats J11 and J13 appear to be true individual seats, ie one is pointing at the back of the other whereas previously these were seats either side of of a table - anyone know if this is the case or is it an error in the seating plan?

 

[djkenrob]

On the HST's J11 and J13 are now individual seats as are 55,57,63 and 65
in both coaches L and M meaning the new electronic maps are correct.
The last pdf's issued by East Coast are no longer 100% accurate
(unless anyone has newer versions).

 

[All Line Rover]

On the HST's J11 and J13 are now individual seats as are 55,57,63 and 65
in both coaches L and M meaning the new electronic maps are correct.
The last pdf's issued by East Coast are no longer 100% accurate
(unless anyone has newer versions).

That's no bad thing. I for one do not like sitting in front of someone because of the battle for legroom! I rarely travel at peak hours so always get a table for 2 for myself, and most of the time a table for 4. On the odd occasion when I do travel at peak hours though, I don't like having to sitt in front of someone.

My favourite for busy trains (where most seats are taken) is the airline style seating on Voyagers. You still get a big table, have immense legroom, have your "own space" and don't have to battle for legroom!

 

[Furrball]

Oh good - this could be an interesting conversation with them then as I have tickets booked for those seats, based on the old seating plan. Wonder what the chances of getting them changed are . . . .

Time for a trip to KX to see if they will amend them
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That's no bad thing. I for one do not like sitting in front of someone because of the battle for legroom! I rarely travel at peak hours so always get a table for 2 for myself, and most of the time a table for 4. On the odd occasion when I do travel at peak hours though, I don't like having to sitt in front of someone.

My favourite for busy trains (where most seats are taken) is the airline style seating on Voyagers. You still get a big table, have immense legroom, have your "own space" and don't have to battle for legroom!

It is good that there are now some individual seats - just not when you have already booked seats that were originally facing!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Regarding the changes to the seating layout and prebooked Advance tickets

Well, as expected the staff at KX could not care less, short of telling me to speak to the web team. More concerning though was that one member of staff thought you could not amend Advance tickets full stop and had to be corrected by his colleague.

They happily informed me that there was nothing that could be done, and when I discussed with them an issue that I had had previously with the website where I was assisted and the reservations changed I was simply informed that that person was doing it wrong!

I am now tempted to buy a couple of 1st Class Returns and reserve seats, not use the tickets and claim a refund just to highlight the stupidity of being unable to amend a seat . . . .

I should point out that my 'anger' extends to the fact that for the past 6 months you have been unable to book a 'Table for 2' on the East Coast site despite the seats being unavailable - an issue that they did acknowledge existed - but that ironically still exists with the new system in that you can select 2 passengers, individual table and it will come up saying that your requested seats cannot be satisfied but going to Choose your seat shows plenty available! East Coast's response on online booking issues up until now has been to book either in person or on the phone, thus removing the online reductions (so, we know it is broke but if you want it pay more for it . . . )

Ho hum