Ridiculous LNER reservations again

[voyagerdude220]

Not surprising on a Voyager

Not on trains.

 

[Bristol LHS]

I had a trip to Durham from Northallerton last Saturday. Very busy with the Miners Gala on.

Outward - 5-car Azuma instead of 9, no reservations, guard said to sit in any available seat.
Return - 9-car Azuma instead of a 225, no reservations, again we were told to find any available seat.

Conversely, on Cross Country York to Birmingham earlier in the week, the first class host accosted me on entry to first class, checked I had a ticket for first class and told me there were no reservations but to make sure to sit in my reserved seat. I had to ask someone to move in order to do so, who was obviously peeved at moving.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Conversely, on Cross Country York to Birmingham earlier in the week, the first class host accosted me on entry to first class, checked I had a ticket for first class and told me there were no reservations but to make sure to sit in my reserved seat. I had to ask someone to move in order to do so, who was obviously peeved at moving.

I'd complain about them. Cross Country First Class Hosts don't routinely (although I have known them to occasionally) check tickets and they shouldn't have specifically told you to sit in your reserved seat if the reservation system wasn't working.

 

[yorkie]

I'd complain about them. Cross Country First Class Hosts don't routinely (although I have known them to occasionally) check tickets and they shouldn't have specifically told you to sit in your reserved seat if the reservation system wasn't working.

Agreed

@Bristol LHS please do so, and let us know the outcome

 

[Wallsendmag]

I'd complain about them. Cross Country First Class Hosts don't routinely (although I have known them to occasionally) check tickets and they shouldn't have specifically told you to sit in your reserved seat if the reservation system wasn't working.

I was asked the same thing last year

 

[Deerfold]

Looks like they're doing it again today.

Presumably this is official policy.

London North Eastern Railway (@LNER) on X

#LNERUpdate: There is a fault with our seat reservation displays across our fleet. We are working with our maintenance team to resolve the issue. Please continue to sit in your reserved seat while travelling. We apologise for any inconvenience to your journey.

x.com

#LNERUpdate: There is a fault with our seat reservation displays across our fleet. We are working with our maintenance team to resolve the issue. Please continue to sit in your reserved seat while travelling.
We apologise for any inconvenience to your journey.

So, anyone without a reservation may be turned out of their seat multiple times.

 

[Rail Ranger]

A Google search says "On LNER trains, unreserved seating is located in Coach C for Standard Class and Coach E or M for First Class". Is the issue that the unreserved seating is not the whole coach?

 

[Deerfold]

A Google search says "On LNER trains, unreserved seating is located in Coach C for Standard Class and Coach E or M for First Class". Is the issue that the unreserved seating is not the whole coach?

On the train I'm on there's 16 seats in M; most are reserved (as per the seating plan when I booked). There's nothing to indicate which seats in C or M can't be reserved, although some people may know.

We are being told to sit in our reserved seats and that there are some unreserved seats in C, though the announcement didn't mention if it's the entire carriage, or anything about First Class seats.

 

[alistairlees]

On the train I'm on there's 16 seats in M; most are reserved. There's nothing to inducate which seats in C or M can't be reserved, although some people may know.

We are being told to sit in our reserved seats and that there are some underserved seats in C, though the announcement didn't mention if it's the entire carriage.

For your reference, it's the half of coach C that is closest to coach D (or E if there is no coach D).

 

[Segedunum]

On the train I'm on there's 16 seats in M; most are reserved (as per the seating plan when I booked). There's nothing to indicate which seats in C or M can't be reserved, although some people may know.

We are being told to sit in our reserved seats and that there are some unreserved seats in C, though the announcement didn't mention if it's the entire carriage, or anything about First Class seats.

Nine-car Azumas it's C03 to C42, five-car (and 10-car) Azumas it's C01 to C38.

M04 to M08 in First on a nine-car, E01 to E03 on a five-car (not 100% if you also have M01 to M03 on a 10 unreserved).

 

[Rail Ranger]

It would help if this was made clear on LNER's online seating plans.

 

[yorkie]

This is consistent with how LNER act these days; LNER do their own thing, while other operators along the same routes, such as TPE, take the more sensible and long-standing approach that no reservations means no reservations.

It's not entirely clear when LNER changed policy; they never announced a change of policy (which is a sign of weak leadership, in my opinion) but it slowly happened around the time they decided to specify in all data feeds that their trains are "reservations compulsory"

These days, the only time that LNER cancel reservations is - but not consistently - when they cancel busy trains to the point where you have two train loads into one. However, this creates the absurd situation where passengers do not know what the lack of reservations means, as regular passengers will be so used to being told that invisible reservations apply, they may wrongly try to remove disrupted passengers from their rightful seats when reservations are genuinely cancelled.

 

[D1537]

We are being told to sit in our reserved seats and that there are some unreserved seats in C, though the announcement didn't mention if it's the entire carriage, or anything about First Class seats.

On Sunday I was on a (9-car) Azuma where reservations had failed, the TM did the announcement "please sit in your reserved seat, and coach C lower numbered seats are the unreserved ones" but also to come and see her if you had a first class ticket and no reservation. To be honest the train was only 2/3 full at best so it wasn't a problem, but I think that was reasonably well done.

 

[Blaine]

For your reference, it's the half of coach C that is closest to coach D (or E if there is no coach D).

Though helpfully the LNER website will use these seats for reservations on occasion (typically when a family book a ticket so they can sit together). So no guarantees!

 

[Bletchleyite]

These days, the only time that LNER cancel reservations is - but not consistently - when they cancel busy trains to the point where you have two train loads into one. However, this creates the absurd situation where passengers do not know what the lack of reservations means, as regular passengers will be so used to being told that invisible reservations apply, they may wrongly try to remove disrupted passengers from their rightful seats when reservations are genuinely cancelled.

Clearly stating and publicising (including on board) what the policy is in such cases is such an easy solution to that conflict the mind boggles as to why no TOC has ever done so. So much easier if you can "tap the sign" when you need to.