I believe so. But, as you said, it is a franchise condition rather than a pure commercial decision and is likely to result in less revenue overall. I don't have a problem with this, but others might.
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Issues & potential conflicts regarding CrossCountry's short-notice reservation system
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ValleyLines142
Established Member
So if the seat is reserved from Bristol to Cardiff no-one at all should use it between Manchester and Bristol because it may be reserved for part of the journey? That seems like a very efficient use of space and a very customer-friendly operation. If they're going to operate their present system, they need to shew exactly which sections of the route a seat is reserved for.
Huh? Where does it say that?
'It' doesn't quite say that, but isn't that what DanTrainMan185 is implying?
edwin_m
Veteran Member
Not nececessarily. It seems straightforward enough to me, the choices in order of preference are as follows:
1. Unreserved seat.
2. Seat reserved from a station at or after the one you leave the train.
3. Seat reserved from an earlier station but unoccupied - probably a no-show but a small chance of the person claiming it later (which may not be strictly permitted but could result in an argument).
4. Seat reserved from a station you will be passing through on this train - sit in it for the time being and look out for other seats becoming free in the meantime.
5. Seat that "may be reserved" - ditto
The main difficulty is identifying quickly the status of each seat from the rather small scrolling displays (Pendolinos are even worse). The traffic light system as proposed for 80x units should help here.
The label mentioned needs to have where the seats are reserved too and from on it to be of any use.
On the paper reservation labels on ECML trains for example, it is very easy to glance at a label and tell immediately whether it is reserved for part of your journey. The hi-Tec fancy electronic systems struggle with this ease of use.
Precisely (both paragraphs)!
Was there anything printed on the other side showing where it was reserved to/from before the pedants fall out?
D365
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That's what the 'traffic light' system on the Class 80x trains is intended to mitigate
edwin_m
Veteran Member
That's what the 'traffic light' system on the Class 80x trains is intended to mitigate
I believe the traffic lights will also have a display so someone looking at an amber light can tell where the seat is reserved from.
D365
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It's in addition to the display obviously.
Doctor Fegg
Established Member
It doesn't exactly make for a stress-free travelling experience if you have to assess each seat on a five-point scale, does it?
CentralTrainer
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We could just do away with seats entirely and have everyone standing instead
We could just do away with seats entirely and have everyone standing instead
Why not go further. Have everyone lying down and stacked vertically. Every cubic inch of space used from floor to ceiling.
Might make ticket checks a bit difficult.
ValleyLines142
Established Member
No. It was double-sided.
For some reason the photo has rotated. The label says: 'This seat has been reserved for all or part of the journey. If you require assistance please speak to the Train Manager. You can reserve seats and by tickets on the day of travel using out free Train Tickets app'.
I think CrossCountry are well ahead and other TOCs should follow. I wonder how many stupid people get on XC services in the north and sit in seats anyway. Bet there's a few as many people seem to be very ignorant.
jamesontheroad
Established Member
On Tuesday morning I bought an Advance fare for travel on XC from Peterborough to Leicester roughly one hour before departure from Peterborough...
What I didn't expect to read on my ticket was a seat reservation, because at the time of purchase the train had already left its originating station at Stansted Airport.
While I appreciate there are two kinds of people (those who believe seat reservations are sacrosanct, and those who don't
) - might it be a good idea not to offer seat reservations when there's no way of indicating them on board?And has anyone else here benefited from XC's very last minute Advance fares?
(...because I had split my tickets NRW-PBO/PBO-LEI and accidentally bought PBO-LEI for next week :roll
What I didn't expect to read on my ticket was a seat reservation, because at the time of purchase the train had already left its originating station at Stansted Airport.
While I appreciate there are two kinds of people (those who believe seat reservations are sacrosanct, and those who don't
) - might it be a good idea not to offer seat reservations when there's no way of indicating them on board?And has anyone else here benefited from XC's very last minute Advance fares?
BestWestern
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'Stress-free travelling experience' isn't available on the CrossCountry network! That tends to be more widely available at proper intercity TOCs, who run proper Intercity trains...
Even TPE is more stress-free than XC if you're a turn-up-and-go traveller.'Stress-free travelling experience' isn't available on the CrossCountry network! That tends to be more widely available at proper intercity TOCs, who run proper Intercity trains...
When I got the 11.16 XC service from Derby to Newcastle this morning, I sat in a seat which was displayed as reserved from Sheffield. I had my eye on the double seats opposite which were reserved from Reading to Sheffield. On arrival at SHF, the seats were vacated so I moved over and sat in one of them, needless to say, a minute later, both seats were claimed.
Presumably then, the display changes when the train comes to a stand in the platform? But you don't know what's likely to be displayed unless you stand there and watch it (which isn't always practical) Paper labels usually show the points of reservation for the whole route but electronic displays don't seem to have such a capability. So a reservation can pop up with no notice, not even ten minutes?
Presumably then, the display changes when the train comes to a stand in the platform? But you don't know what's likely to be displayed unless you stand there and watch it (which isn't always practical) Paper labels usually show the points of reservation for the whole route but electronic displays don't seem to have such a capability. So a reservation can pop up with no notice, not even ten minutes?
edwin_m
Veteran Member
Probably a case of too much information to fit on the displays, and the risk of someone seeing "Reserved from Sheffield" without noticing the rest of the text "Reserved from wherever to Sheffield" which has just scrolled by.
Ideally the displays for any multiple reservations like this should flip over to show the new ones before the train gets to the changeover station. Not sure what they actually do on XC.
If you want a stress-free travelling experience you would not travel on XC on the Oxford/Bristol - York/Manchester sections !
By using the method explained by edwin-m the stress can be reduced considerably. It is very very rare I do not get a seat using that method, even if many people are standing or sitting on the floor.
Deafdoggie
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Strictly, when the doors are released, rather than just train stopped.
twistedwheelnu
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Hi,
Does anyone know about the new XC "10 minute reservations" policy?
Essentially, XC have introduced a new system whereby, if you are on an XC train, and by some stroke of luck you've managed to get a seat, someone getting on the train after you can 'reserve' the seat from under you and force you to move. Doesn't matter if you are an elderly person, you are travelling with kids, or you are a member of a group sat together.
This seems like an extremely unfair and unnecessary policy. Surely it can only lead to conflict? It's certainly making me reconsider ever travelling with XC.
Does anyone know what 'issue' XC are trying to 'solve' with this?
Thanks!
Does anyone know about the new XC "10 minute reservations" policy?
Essentially, XC have introduced a new system whereby, if you are on an XC train, and by some stroke of luck you've managed to get a seat, someone getting on the train after you can 'reserve' the seat from under you and force you to move. Doesn't matter if you are an elderly person, you are travelling with kids, or you are a member of a group sat together.
This seems like an extremely unfair and unnecessary policy. Surely it can only lead to conflict? It's certainly making me reconsider ever travelling with XC.
Does anyone know what 'issue' XC are trying to 'solve' with this?
Thanks!
221129
Established Member
Nothing new about it... It's been ongoing for a good few years now.
LuSiVe
Member
See: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=145329
Don't sit in a seat that says 'may be reserved'. It means it may be reserved in the future.
I liked it when travelling with luggage but not knowing which train I'd make. Meant I could get on at the right door and know where I was aiming for.
Don't sit in a seat that says 'may be reserved'. It means it may be reserved in the future.
I liked it when travelling with luggage but not knowing which train I'd make. Meant I could get on at the right door and know where I was aiming for.
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BestWestern
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The issue they're trying to solve is that their trains are wholly inadequate and completely unfit for purpose (not XC's fault). Unfortunately, the system they have cobbled together is massively unfair for anybody who hasn't had the good fortune to be able to use it themselves to reserve a seat, as well as presumably leading to regular conflict amongst passengers. There were hopes at one time that they may take on some of the HSTs becoming surplus in the next few years, which would actually have solved the issue, but regretfully this won't be the case it seems. Sadly, travelling with CrossCrowded is likely to remain a usually unpleasant experience for some time to come.
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