No seat reservations on EMR

[WesternLancer]

I did ask the train manager about this but sadly I'm not eligible. She said that as the train had first class accommodation, I got a seat in it and the refreshments are complimentary she couldn't give me a note to get a refund.

That’s a fob off.

Just go to customer services about this.
You are not just paying for the seat. You are paying for the first class environment eg peace and quiet etc.
if they declassify it means the first class is effectively then standard class seating.
Claim your refund via customer services.

Someone on here will be able to point you towards the conditions of travel that aiui entitle you to this. Or correct me if I’m wrong.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Mar 2026 ==

EMR have been 'rolling out new stock' since last year. That's the excuse they're using for only running 5 carriages instead of 10. We had an horrendous journey from Sheffield to London (2 adults + 2 toddlers). Booked 1st class but train announced people could sit anywhere. And they did, including inside toilets! People with luggage were blocking aisles and corridors (Health & Safety violation). Staff 'decided' they wouldn't give out the usual free snacks -understandable as they couldn't push a trolley down the aisles. But they could've easily walked through distributing bottles of water at least. When our 4-year old wanted to go to the loo, the people who were sitting there vacated but the floor was wet - horrible. Their toilets are never that clean and there's never any running water to wash hands. Today I just booked seats and the confirmation said: SIT IN ANY VACANT UNRESERVED SEAT INCLUDING FIRST CLASS" So I'm preparing myself for another journey from hell with EMR.

See other response about at least claiming back the difference between standard and first fares.

 

[STINT47]

Thank you for this information. I will wrote to EMR requesting a refund for the first class part of my fare and see what they say.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you for this information. I will wrote to EMR requesting a refund for the first class part of my fare and see what they say.

If you wish, feel free to post a draft of this here if you think it might help with the key points to make.