Do I Have A Seat Reservation Stalker?

[Belperpete]

I seem to remember GNER had a policy which said advance tickets were only valid in the reserved seat. Seems to have faded into history now though.

A lot of this would be avoided if reservations weren’t given out like confetti.

It is all very well a TOC having a policy, but it has to make sure all its passengers are aware of that policy, whoever they have bought their ticket from. I suspect that is why GNER's policy died - they couldn't enforce it if it is not in the NRCoT.

 

[Wallsendmag]

It is all very well a TOC having a policy, but it has to make sure all its passengers are aware of that policy, whoever they have bought their ticket from. I suspect that is why GNER's policy died - they couldn't enforce it if it is not in the NRCoT.

NRCOC at that point

 

[trainophile]

Why would a guard even care, so long as there are seats for everyone? They can check you are in the right Class by the top of the ticket, the time is in the middle, the destination usually quite clear, railcard can be almost anywhere, but everything else is just excessive print. They have quite enough to check if they want to be pernickety. I should have thought they don't need the extra hassle of enforcing seat arrangements.

I personally do feel more relaxed in my personal space, and would be quite uncomfortable if a stranger chose to occupy it if there was a reasonable alternative nearby. I have absolutely no wish to engage in chit chat while travelling (unless I am with someone), and from the pattern of most people choosing a seat when boarding a train or bus I imagine I am far from alone. Have none of you ever encountered someone who stands way too close to you at a party or something, so they are literally "in your face"? It puts one's teeth on edge.

 

[mmh]

If, on a empty train, someone came and sat next to me rather than an empty bay or table I'd, if I was going to be on the train any length of time either ask them to move or move myself, depending on the circumstances.

It'd at best come across as strange, at worst provocative or threatening behaviour to me. Akin to the strange person on the bus you don't want to be next to, or the person in a pub looking for a fight with a lone stranger.

Of course they might not be threatening at all, they may just have, what I'd consider, an over concern with rules, or be autistic, and be perfectly pleasant. I still don't want to sit next to them though.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I seem to remember GNER had a policy which said advance tickets were only valid in the reserved seat. Seems to have faded into history now though.

A lot of this would be avoided if reservations weren’t given out like confetti.

I reckon a small fee (say £2), a small refund if cancelled (£1 back) and a seat selector (why wouldn't you sit in the seat you had specifically chosen?) would remove pretty much all unused reservations.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If, on a empty train, someone came and sat next to me rather than an empty bay or table I'd, if I was going to be on the train any length of time either ask them to move or move myself, depending on the circumstances.

If you asked me to move I would ask you to show me the tickets you had purchased entitling you to all 4 seats at that table.

If you don't like it, you move. I choose specific seats for specific reasons.

FWIW, someone did that to me last Tuesday, I was sat in a table on a relatively quiet Pendolino and he sat directly rather than diagonally opposite (so creating a game of kneesie and footsie as I'm tall). I just moved to the aisle seat as while I didn't like him having done that he had every right to do so, perhaps he too preferred the window. Though I'd have considered it freaky if he had then also moved to the aisle!

 

[Journeyman]

Nine times out of ten I sit somewhere other than where the system has booked my seat, and that probably accounts for a few thousand journeys over the past ten years. Never once has anyone queried that my seat number isn't the one on the reservation.

I've done the same on many occasions, and it's never, ever been questioned. As long as you're on the train you're meant to be on, it's fine.

 

[47271]

If you asked me to move I would ask you to show me the tickets you had purchased entitling you to all 4 seats at that table.

If you don't like it, you move. I choose specific seats for specific reasons.

FWIW, someone did that to me last Tuesday, I was sat in a table on a relatively quiet Pendolino and he sat directly rather than diagonally opposite (so creating a game of kneesie and footsie as I'm tall). I just moved to the aisle seat as while I didn't like him having done that he had every right to do so, perhaps he too preferred the window. Though I'd have considered it freaky if he had then also moved to the aisle!

That's right, you just politely and gently move yourself.

The most common hemming in I experience is around a table seat when the two occupants opposite have left the train but the person beside me remains. If they don't shift within a few minutes then I'll say something harmless like 'Excuse me and I'll move over there and give us both a wee bit more space'. I've never known anyone ever to be bothered and then we carry on sitting diagonally opposite each other.

 

[Belperpete]

That's right, you just politely and gently move yourself.

The most common hemming in I experience is around a table seat when the two occupants opposite have left the train but the person beside me remains. If they don't shift within a few minutes then I'll say something harmless like 'Excuse me and I'll move over there and give us both a wee bit more space'. I've never known anyone ever to be bothered and then we carry on sitting diagonally opposite each other.

Indeed, I usually say something similar if moving to a different table. Otherwise it can look odd if you just move away - the person you were sitting next to might think they have BO!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Indeed, I usually say something similar if moving to a different table. Otherwise it can look odd if you just move away - the person you were sitting next to might think they have BO!

Yes, I do that. I feel a bit awkward about it if they're in the aisle and me in the window, though I've never had an adverse response to "Could you let me out, I'll move over there and we can have a bit more space".

I won't however do it from seat A45 on a Pendolino unless the seat immediately in front of it is free, as I'd rather be next to someone with extra legroom than a row to myself with regular legroom.