Getting a train seat

Livingthedream

If you don't get a seat there's always the roof.

Norman_Fielding

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I took a look at the NRCoC and there's nothing in there about seat guarantees.

I did also take a look at some of the TOC passenger charters (i use the trains a lot!) and FGW appears to be saying that if you don't get a seat on one of their busier lines then you may be able to get some sort of refund - at the guard's discretion. However, when i looked at Virgin's charter it simply state that "best efforts" will be made to provide a seat.

It seems to me that there is a big yawning difference between the various TOCs and their seating policy. Not ideal for the travelling public!

geordieracer

Norman_Fielding wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I took a look at the NRCoC and there's nothing in there about seat guarantees.

I did also take a look at some of the TOC passenger charters (i use the trains a lot!) and FGW appears to be saying that if you don't get a seat on one of their busier lines then you may be able to get some sort of refund - at the guard's discretion. However, when i looked at Virgin's charter it simply state that "best efforts" will be made to provide a seat.

It seems to me that there is a big yawning difference between the various TOCs and their seating policy. Not ideal for the travelling public!

The problem is Norman in all honesty is that the travelling public in the majority are not aware of how hard it is to actually run an on time railway with what is available and just think we can magic new carriages and longer platforms and more trains out of this air.

Some stations have no room to lengthen platforms most terminals are running at capacity during peak times to have the trains arrive and there just isnt the extra carriages out there either.

And then how do you stop people who all want to catch the 0730 from Reading to Paddington(for example if that is a service) from getting on board that train? They have a valid ticket so they have every right so then the service is full again because people just want to get to work.

I can understand your frustration but its a lot harder then the average person thinks it is.