Is there a requirement to provide unreserved seats?

[thenorthern]

While I was on the Manchester to Bournmouth train today sitting in my reserved seat I noticed there were a large amount of people standing as nearly all the seats were reserved even in the 10 min reservation Coach C there was no Coach B as it was a 4 car train.

Anyway given that the train serves as one of only two connections between Manchester and Birmingham as well as a semi-local service to Macclesfield and Stoke-on-Trent I was wondering if the is anything saying that rail companies are obliged to provide some unreserved seating.

I am aware that a ticket does not entitle a passenger to a seat although it would seem a bit strange to still allow passengers to board even though the train is full and there is no chance of them being allowed a seat.

 

[telstarbox]

Personally I'd rather board and stand (or sit in the doorway) than wait for 30 minutes for the next train.

 

[extendedpaul]

Too many people seem to feel obliged to stand in carriages with plenty of empty but reserved seats sometimes right next to a seat which clearly hasn't been claimed. Probably even more so this time of year when there are more occasional travellers.

Do conductors ever make announcements along the lines of "please feel free to occupy any seat not currently in use by a passenger even if reserved, although you may be asked to move later in your journey " ?

 

[thenorthern]

Do conductors ever make announcements along the lines of "please feel free to occupy any seat not currently in use by a passenger even if reserved, although you may be asked to move later in your journey " ?

I haven't heard any no.

 

[neonison]

Do conductors ever make announcements along the lines of "please feel free to occupy any seat not currently in use by a passenger even if reserved, although you may be asked to move later in your journey " ?

I have heard words to this effect occasionally on both Virgin West Coast and XC but it by no means seems universal or even common.

I have occasionally come unstuck occupying a reserved seat at Piccadilly and found the reservation holder appear at Stockport but coach U or F is usually my target.

 

[Elecman]

Do conductors ever make announcements along the lines of "please feel free to occupy any seat not currently in use by a passenger even if reserved, although you may be asked to move later in your journey " ?

I have heard the opposite announcement on TPE and VWC this week asking passengers with reservations to actually sit in thier reserved seats and not other unreserved seats.

 

[al78]

If more people can get on the train, it isn't full.

You could make more efficient use of the carriage space by having people lie down on the floor and then stack more horizontal people up to the ceiling. No need to worry about increasing capacity then, you increase the capacity of each train by an order of magnitude .

 

[Robertj21a]

If more people can get on the train, it isn't full.

You could make more efficient use of the carriage space by having people lie down on the floor and then stack more horizontal people up to the ceiling. No need to worry about increasing capacity then, you increase the capacity of each train by an order of magnitude .

Can we choose, or reserve, who we'd like to lie under ?

 

[najaB]

I was wondering if the is anything saying that rail companies are obliged to provide some unreserved seating.

Nothing that I'm aware of, it would be interesting if there is.

 

[All Line Rover]

Arriva Trains Wales doesn't, so apparently not.

 

[westv]

Hull Trains coach E is unreserved (well it is on the train I get).

 

[trainophile]

Arriva Trains Wales doesn't, so apparently not.

We were collectively told (not asked, told) today by the refreshments trolley guy to move to the window seat, as lots of people would be getting on at Crewe and it would be standing room only.

They didn't, and it wasn't. Besides, if I prefer an aisle seat I will jolly well occupy one, and willingly stand up to let someone access the window seat. As it happened a couple did decide to move across to the two vacant window seats at my table, so everyone was happy.

 

[83G/84D]

Some lone travellers prefer to sit in a seat with no-one next to them so end up standing rather than occupy a seat next to a stranger.

Alternatively of course some lone travellers put a bag on the adjacent seat to try and discourage anyone else from occupying it so they don't get anyone sat next to them.

 

[crehld]

I have heard the opposite announcement on TPE and VWC this week asking passengers with reservations to actually sit in thier reserved seats and not other unreserved seats.

Yeah Virgin regularly make this announcement, and often also add that anyone without a reservation should make their way to the unreserved coach and find a seat there int he first instance.

But this whole situation is why I really like the system used by SNCF in France on their TGV services. Compulsory reservations. You can get a reservation up to the point of departure. No reservation tickets on the seats (or above seat electronic displays). Everyone sits in the seat allocated to them.

 

[DaveB10780]

I have heard words to this effect occasionally on both Virgin West Coast and XC but it by no means seems universal or even common.

I have occasionally come unstuck occupying a reserved seat at Piccadilly and found the reservation holder appear at Stockport but coach U or F is usually my target.

Speaking as a regular traveller from Stockport on a busy train quite often the system just shows Reserved rather than Reserved from Stockport. I then have the stress of persuading someone to move. Sometimes Stockport does get a mention but rarely. I reckon about half of the remaining times Seat Reservations haven't been loaded which is even more stressful. The train is the first Off Peak which I would never travel on unless I had to for work. The system is just rubbish especially when the previous 2 trains are pretty empty.

 

[najaB]

But this whole situation is why I really like the system used by SNCF in France on their TGV services. Compulsory reservations. You can get a reservation up to the point of departure. No reservation tickets on the seats (or above seat electronic displays). Everyone sits in the seat allocated to them.

If only we didn't regularly have more passengers that seats.

 

[takno]

But this whole situation is why I really like the system used by SNCF in France on their TGV services. Compulsory reservations. You can get a reservation up to the point of departure. No reservation tickets on the seats (or above seat electronic displays). Everyone sits in the seat allocated to them.

I'd very much prefer to stand for a bit than be unable to make the journey, particularly since the train is very often only rammed for a couple of stops. I've been in situations on the continent where I've rocked up without a reservation and not been able to travel at all that day.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

TPE seem to reserve an unhealthy number of seats these days. Many passengers use their services for relatively short distances of 20 miles or less on a regular basis and want to catch the first available train for their journeys, not plan the exact train they want to catch weeks in advance.

I must admit I have started using Northern electrics on occasions between Lime Street and Manchester rather than pace up and down platform 5 looking through the windows where the reservation tabs are being placed on TPE units and then participate in the Le Mans scramble for unreserved seats when TPE finally open their doors 5 minutes before departure.

 

[Mugby]

I travelled on the 18.35 Virgin service from Manchester to London last Saturday. In the rear coach, the last five or six double seats were all showing 'Reserved' one said 'Reserved Cyclist' This is not very helpful when it doesn't say where they are reserved from. I took a chance and sat in the rear seat and several others without reservations did likewise. I got off at Stoke (last pick up point) and none of them had been claimed and the cyclists never appeared.

 

[fowler9]

On trains with the good old fashioned reservation cards I will check where it is reserved to/from and if it does not interfere with my journey and/or there is no one in the reserved seat whe there should be I will take it. If anyone boards and tells me I am in their reserved seat I will move (This has never actually happened though in some 30 odd years of travelling by train whilst not being accompanied by my parents). Much harder on the modern trams (Voyagers and Pendos) where it just unhelpfully says reserved for the whole journey. I wouldn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable by having to ask me to move, especially since I am a big ugly grok (Albeit with a good temperament).

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Do conductors ever make announcements along the lines of "please feel free to occupy any seat not currently in use by a passenger even if reserved, although you may be asked to move later in your journey "

Yeah, I do. I will also encourage people to make use of reserved seats out of the reserved areas. However as soon as one person chooses to stand others follow. Ill even walk through a train pointing out to people where seats are available. Some people thank me and take them but more often they will remain standing where they are. Some people choose to stand, especially given the short flows of many of our routes.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

I have heard the opposite announcement on TPE asking passengers with reservations to actually sit in thier reserved seats and not other unreserved seats.

I also do this. I will also ask those that choose not to to advise me so I can remove their reservation and make 5he seat alailable to someone else

 

[gimmea50anyday]

TPE seem to reserve an unhealthy number of seats these days.

I have to agree. Many of us feel the amount of seats being reserved by the company is excessive. 07:08 NCL-LIV is a classic partly because it connects into the first off peak train into London at York but also the commuter flow into Leeds. Many are choosing to buy in advance rather than use a season as they then get a seat leaving the season ticket holders to stand because there are no seats. Every reservable seat is booked leaving the 6 coaxh A priority and 4 tip up seats, 4 priority seats in B and 2 priority, 2 priority and a 4 bay in 1st class and the 8 tip ups in the ballroom. And THAT IS IT!!! Out of 180 seats that is poor.


[

I must admit I have started using Northern electrics on occasions between Lime Street and Manchester rather than pace up and down platform 5 looking through the windows where the reservation tabs are being placed on TPE units and then participate in the Le Mans scramble for unreserved seats when TPE finally open their doors 5 minutes before departure.

When often all we get is a 10 minute turn round some of us want the train to go into service clean and litter free with working toilets and fully labelled so you get your reserved seat. Yes 5 minutes is a pain, it makes it more difficult for me to assist with boarding etc when time is limited but Im sure you would prefer that to a scruffy looking rubbish strewn train.

 

[D6975]

Speaking as a regular traveller from Stockport on a busy train quite often the system just shows Reserved rather than Reserved from Stockport. I then have the stress of persuading someone to move. Sometimes Stockport does get a mention but rarely. I reckon about half of the remaining times Seat Reservations haven't been loaded which is even more stressful. The train is the first Off Peak which I would never travel on unless I had to for work. The system is just rubbish especially when the previous 2 trains are pretty empty.

Typical of XC turn rounds, we get the same at Bristol, the terminators that then return North at xx00 often depart with either the inbound reservations or no reservations displayed. It's often after Parkway that they eventually appear.

 

[bramling]

Yeah Virgin regularly make this announcement, and often also add that anyone without a reservation should make their way to the unreserved coach and find a seat there int he first instance.

But this whole situation is why I really like the system used by SNCF in France on their TGV services. Compulsory reservations. You can get a reservation up to the point of departure. No reservation tickets on the seats (or above seat electronic displays). Everyone sits in the seat allocated to them.

No thanks.

I couldn't stand the idea of being forced to sit in a particular location, for multiple reasons.

 

[bramling]

I travelled on the 18.35 Virgin service from Manchester to London last Saturday. In the rear coach, the last five or six double seats were all showing 'Reserved' one said 'Reserved Cyclist' This is not very helpful when it doesn't say where they are reserved from. I took a chance and sat in the rear seat and several others without reservations did likewise. I got off at Stoke (last pick up point) and none of them had been claimed and the cyclists never appeared.

Does anyone know what the "Reserved cyclist" actually means? I've seen it displayed many times, and have never seen anyone turn up.

 

[nottinghamcity]

I am surprised that the obvious hasn't been stated in this thread. It is poor customer service to over-reserve a train, particularly commuter trains, one ones where seating is unacceptably short. I'm not surprised that XCs' 4 car voyagers are the subject of the OP.

 

[Jonfun]

Typical of XC turn rounds, we get the same at Bristol, the terminators that then return North at xx00 often depart with either the inbound reservations or no reservations displayed. It's often after Parkway that they eventually appear.

Bristol's actually one of the best for downloading reservations. If you're under the trainshed (not all trains are) it can block the signal but with a 50 minute turnaround there's plenty of time to coax it into dialling in and getting the reservations, or labelling the train manually (the new ticket machines can't do this, though).

Bournemouth can be a nightmare for reservations because the train has next to no reception for most of the journey south of Southampton, meaning if the trip isn't put in early, towards the end of the inbound journey then there'll be naff all reception under the trainshed, naff all reception in the middle sidings, and the train won't be able to phone home until after leaving Bournemouth.

 

[2HAP]

Alternatively of course some lone travellers put a bag on the adjacent seat to try and discourage anyone else from occupying it so they don't get anyone sat next to them.

That's one practice I hate. However, I'm not averse to parking on top of said bags with a fair bit of descent rate. Seats are for people, not bags.

 

[googolplex]

If the train is quiet I'll quite often put my bag on the seat next to me. It's not to discourage people from sitting next to me, but more so that I can get stuff from it more easily than if it's in the overhead rack (I'm tall, so having it by my feet can be a bit uncomfortable, and if it's on my lap I can't use my tablet very easily. If the train starts to get busy though, I'll move the bag; and will obviously move it if somebody asks.

On the reservations front, I think the tiny screens on trains can be a pain, as they don't show how far the seat is reserved for. The question is, are they more reliable than the paper tickets (where they're not out due to lack of time or printer problems, etc.)?