Trains that should be reservable which (temporarily) aren't

[yorkie]

Recently several trains have been shown as non reservable in the data but have then changed to become reservable.

This has happened to Virgin Trains and GWR for definite, and maybe others.

Here is an example showing an Advance from Plymouth to Doncaster with no reservation between Plymouth and Paddington:


The 1500 Plymouth to Paddington is now shown as reservable in the data for this date (25 May), but anyone who had purchased such a ticket a few days ago, without a reservation for the first train, would probably not be happy if they end up on a busy train with no reservation.

Furthermore, the Guard may expect to see a reservation and the lack of one may cause confusion.

Has anyone here been affected by this?

This thread is more to raise awareness of this issue than anything else, and so that anyone who is affected can learn the reason for it.

 

[moliones]

By non-reservable, do you mean not able to reserve a seat, or that a counted-place reservation cannot be made? The difference of course would be if you would be tied to that specific train or not.

I ask because my understanding is that you can't use the & Connections part of a ticket on a reservable train unless the ticket came with a reservation for it. (Please correct me if I'm wrong there). That might severely limit choices of train on some routes.

 

[yorkie]

By non-reservable, do you mean not able to reserve a seat, or that a counted-place reservation cannot be made? The difference of course would be if you would be tied to that specific train or not.

They were completely unreservable so you wouldn't even get a counted place coupon.

I ask because my understanding is that you can't use the & Connections part of a ticket on a reservable train unless the ticket came with a reservation for it.

These were showing as non reservable trains so you would not get a 'counted place reservation'

 

[moliones]

Would it be possible to get a reservation after booking if the train becomes reservable? (Akin to getting a reservation on a non-Advance ticket after purchase)

That way you would at least be guaranteed a seat (insofar as a seat reservation guarantees a seat, it seems often enough the reservations aren't put out on trains I catch...)

 

[yorkie]

Would it be possible to get a reservation after booking if the train becomes reservable? (Akin to getting a reservation on a non-Advance ticket after purchase)

Yes, absolutely.

There was a case on Twitter recently. The retailer offered to sort a reservation out, while Virgin - whose data error was the cause of the problem - appeared to just ignore it (no surprises there!)

 

[Wallsendmag]

Is this linked to the he NR timetable problems ?

 

[AlterEgo]

Is this linked to the he NR timetable problems ?

This would be my first thought too.

 

[TUC]

Given that a ticket would show how many coupons should be included, would it not be apparent that there was no reservation missing?