XC HST unreserved seats advice?

[ashworth]

In a few weeks time I am travelling down to Exeter from Derby on the Cross Country train which departs Derby at 10.30. I think I'm correct in the fact that this is usually a HST.
I have a reserved seat from Derby as far as Cheltenham in coach G as I've got a cheap Advance ticket for that part of the journey. I'm staying on the same train travelling through to Exeter using an 8 days in 15 South West Rover which I will also be using for 6 days whilst I'm staying in Exeter and for the return journey as far as Cheltenham a week later. When I get to Cheltenham are there likely to be many unreserved seats available between there and Exeter in Coach G or is there another part of the train where there are likely to be plenty of available unreserved seats. I'm travelling on a Monday morning mid July.

 

[Hadders]

I'd visit a station ticket office and ask them to reserve a seat from Cheltenham to Exeter. They may even be able to reserve the same one if it hasn't been reserved by someone else beyond Cheltenham.

 

[cf111]

The issue here with XC is that people can reserve seats on the day using their mobile phones, so you can end up getting turfed out. I would recommend going to a booking office and getting a seat reserved.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Or failing that, use the mobile phone (Ten Minute Reservation) feature yourself.

 

[sheff1]

I quite often travel on that train, usually in Coach G. In my experience there always seems to be plenty of unreserved seats. Of course, what the situation may be on one specific day is impossible to say. If you are concerned then, as others suggest, probably best to make your own reservation from Cheltenham.

 

[ashworth]

I'd visit a station ticket office and ask them to reserve a seat from Cheltenham to Exeter. They may even be able to reserve the same one if it hasn't been reserved by someone else beyond Cheltenham.

Taking everyone's advice, whilst in Sheffield today, I called in at the station to reserve a seat from Cheltenham to Exeter. Guess what? The lady at the Sheffield booking office would not give me one. She said that I couldn't reserve a seat until I had my ticket. I explained that I was going to be using a rail rover ticket and showed her my reservation as far as Cheltenham but she still insisted that I couldn't have a reservation until I had purchased a ticket. What is wrong with the EMT staff at Sheffield. I always find them very helpful at my local stations at Nottingham, Alfreton and Chesterfield.

About an hour later I got a reservation with no problems from a very helpful Northern Trains lady at Meadowhall. She even got me a reservation in the same seat as the first half of my journey.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I believe that is correct - you should not be issued with a reservation until you can produce the relevant ticket. Rovers can be purchased in advance if you wish.

 

[Hadders]

Ah, the infamous Sheffield ticket office.....

 

[ashworth]

Ah, the infamous Sheffield ticket office.....

Yes, I was aware of the infamous Sheffield ticket office. That's why I didn't take their word as final and tried again later in the day at Meadowhall.
Even if technically they are not supposed to issue you with a reservation without a ticket to travel I did show my ticket and reservation as far as Cheltenham to prove that I was travelling that day on that train and I explained about using a rail rover.

The much better attitude and sensible actions of the lady at Meadowhall does build up good will and better customer relations.

 

[Starmill]

It's a slightly ridiculous policy. I recently wanted to reserve a table of 4 for the group of us travelling together. I had walk-up tickets for two people, the others had their own tickets. I was told where to go for asking for 4 reservations despite the fact that the other people with their tickets live more than 100 miles away.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's a slightly ridiculous policy. I recently wanted to reserve a table of 4 for the group of us travelling together. I had walk-up tickets for two people, the others had their own tickets. I was told where to go for asking for 4 reservations despite the fact that the other people with their tickets live more than 100 miles away.

To be honest, that is probably a cheap price to pay for avoiding people attempting to reserve an entire table/pair of seats for themselves with only one ticket.

 

[PeterC]

Sadly anything that makes life easier is likely to end up being abused to the detriment of other passengers.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Coach G as previously explained is normally good for unreserved seats.

Thanks,
Ross

 

[Old Yard Dog]

A more serious problem is businessmen buying Anytime tickets and then getting their secretaries to book seats on two or more trains in case their meetings finish early or late.