Seat Reservation - No specific seat(s) reserved What's that mean?

NBLondon

I've just picked up my tickets for a journey on Monday morning.

I have my outbound ticket; a seat reservation on the first leg (all OK) and a seat reservation coupon for the second leg which says "Coach *  No specific seat(s) reserved".  I know this is a service that doesn't usually offer reservations anyway so what's the point of this coupon?  It's an Anytime Single so it isn't because the ticket is only valid on that connecting service.   Does it mean that if the train is full (not that likely) I can pick a random person and demand their seat?  (Joke - I know that's not the case).

I don't have it on the return ticket.  Different train companies though - outbound is Hull Trains plus Northern; return is TPE then LNER - so is that a reason?

James_Londoner

It's what's called a 'counted place reservation'  - it means the train is reservable for the purposes of selling advance tickets, but you are not allocated a specific seat (and potentially no seat at all if it's really packed).

It's basically a fudge to allow them to sell quota-controlled tickets on trains where actual reserved seats are not technically possible. 

NBLondon

Thanks James!  I'm not expecting it to be an issue but I'll know in 90 minutes time.