GWR mandatory reservations

[Class800]

Plymouth Argyle v Bolton Wanderers: Can I travel to Wembley by train? | GWR News

GWR warns trains before and after the match will be reservation only Kick-off at 1500: Allow extra time to board trains

news.gwr.com

• GWR warns trains before and after the match will be reservation only
• Kick-off at 1500: Allow extra time to board trains

Plymouth Argyle’s Green Army will travel to Wembley in their thousands for the final of the Papa Johns Trophy against Bolton Wanderers this Sunday 2 April, but those travelling must have a seat reservation to board a train.
With so many making the journey, train operator GWR is warning that direct trains from Plymouth into London before the game, and out of London towards Plymouth after the match will be reservation only. Customers without seat reservations will not be able to board reservation only trains.
This means that all direct trains departing from Plymouth before 1115, and all direct trains leaving London Paddington after 1800 will be reservation only to all customers. Those not travelling to the match should consider travelling at alternative times.

I am surprised this is being applied to those who have already purchased flexible tickets or holders of staff passes.

 

[Kite159]

Good luck enforcing that

 

[Master29]

Good luck enforcing that

Exactly, like they`ll have enough staff for that.

 

[Class800]

They said they'll have checks at the terminal stations. Just seems unfair on those with flexible tickets

 

[Bletchleyite]

They said they'll have checks at the terminal stations. Just seems unfair on those with flexible tickets

Who can if they wish obtain a reservation for nowt.

 

[AlterEgo]

You're not going to want to be travelling on those trains full of drunk Janners off to Wembley by choice.

 

[DarloRich]

You're not going to want to be travelling on those trains full of drunk Janners off to Wembley by choice.

or Home. Especially if Bolton beat them!

( understand there is a special from Horwich Parkway to London for the Trotters fans off to Wembley)

 

[philthetube]

They said they'll have checks at the terminal stations. Just seems unfair on those with flexible tickets

Is anyone committing a crime by not having a reservation when they have a valid ticket?

 

[Class800]

You're not going to want to be travelling on those trains full of drunk Janners off to Wembley by choice.

No, but it seems a whole range of trains not just one and the whole route from Plymouth to London!

 

[Snow1964]

Plymouth Argyle v Bolton Wanderers: Can I travel to Wembley by train? | GWR News

GWR warns trains before and after the match will be reservation only Kick-off at 1500: Allow extra time to board trains

news.gwr.com

I am surprised this is being applied to those who have already purchased flexible tickets or holders of staff passes.

You cannot under consumer law, or Unfair contract terms Act retrospectively add conditions to an existing contract

So if they have already sold say 100 tickets for that specific train before making it compulsory then they are still valid. If sold non train specific tickets then that different.

Common sense would go further and expect same number of unreserved seats would need to be available (even if it meant adding extra coaches or another unit to the formation)

 

[Master29]

Is anyone committing a crime by not having a reservation when they have a valid ticket?

No. It's just hard to see how they can police it. Are they really expecting football fans to show their reservations as well as their tickets unless of course it's an advance. I just doubt it. in spite of what GWR have said I bet they don't bother at Paddington. You could just go to another platform barrier.

 

[station_road]

You cannot under consumer law, or Unfair contract terms Act retrospectively add conditions to an existing contract

So if they have already sold say 100 tickets for that specific train before making it compulsory then they are still valid. If sold non train specific tickets then that different.

If they had sold tickets for that specific train, then those ticket holders would have reservations?

And for staff passes, staff travel facilities are always subject to restrictions that can be imposed at any time

 

[Class800]

If they had sold tickets for that specific train, then those ticket holders would have reservations?

And for staff passes, staff travel facilities are always subject to restrictions that can be imposed at any time

But an off peak single if it's within off peak time?

 

[WelshBluebird]

If they had sold tickets for that specific train, then those ticket holders would have reservations?

I mean technically yes. But plenty of people use online / app based ticketing where they select a specific train they want to travel on as part of the booking flow, but the ticket they buy is able to be used on other services. Whilst technically under ticketing rules that means their ticket isn't for that specific train, as part of that booking people would expect to be able to travel on the train they chose when buying the ticket, and they certainly wouldn't expect to be turned away because they do not have a reservation.

 

[Essexman]

Presumably people can travel by Bristol?
Or board at Totnes and stand all the w ay to London?

 

[sheff1]

The joys of the modern GB railway.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

The joys of the modern GB railway.

BR at King’s Cross had a long history of queuing and mandatory reservation on some busy Long Distance services out of King’s Cross at busy times around holidays etc this is no different.

 

[Falcon1200]

BR at King’s Cross had a long history of queuing and mandatory reservation on some busy Long Distance services out of King’s Cross at busy times around holidays etc this is no different.

As did the Western Region on (somewhat relevant here!) West Country Holiday Trains; in the May 1971-April 1972 timetable for example, there were mandatory reservations on such trains in the summer - And they weren't even free! Depending on date and direction 25p or 50p per adult, 25p child, on top of the train fare already paid.

 

[Snow1964]

GWR do have quite a muddled policy at the customer end, as an example, few days ago booked for today, all tickets were advances.

The first part is on a train with reservations recommended, but the tickets show no reservations - sit in any seat (it's a 166 which last time I looked few weeks ago had slots in seats for reservations), the next part to Cheltenham has reserved seats (XC class 221 service)

How an occasional traveler is supposed to understand what reservations required means when it is often not more than a ticket count at back office, and for the customer the seats are a free for all, is beyond me.

 

[Benjwri]

it's a 166 which last time I looked few weeks ago had slots in seats for reservations

The 166s have the ability for reservations but this is never used. GWR don’t do the card based reservations anymore, the only reserved services are the IETs

 

[VP185]

Interesting. At the moment I hear Sunday they are struggling for staff

 

[cactustwirly]

Who can if they wish obtain a reservation for nowt.

Only if they reserve the day before, if you're on a flexible ticket you want the flexibility to travel on any train

 

[philosopher]

GWR do have quite a muddled policy at the customer end, as an example, few days ago booked for today, all tickets were advances.

The first part is on a train with reservations recommended, but the tickets show no reservations - sit in any seat (it's a 166 which last time I looked few weeks ago had slots in seats for reservations), the next part to Cheltenham has reserved seats (XC class 221 service)

How an occasional traveler is supposed to understand what reservations required means when it is often not more than a ticket count at back office, and for the customer the seats are a free for all, is beyond me.

Compulsory reservations for a few trains on certain days when there are events that increase passenger numbers I think is just going to confuse passengers. Not all passengers are going to know these trains are reservation compulsory. Thus passengers risk getting put off rail travel or worse it will result in disputes between passengers and staff if they are denied boarding.

If going down the route of compulsory reservations then it would be better if all services above a certain journey length were compulsory, even the ones that are normally very quiet. That way passengers would know where they stand.

In this case I think it would just be better off if GWR warned passengers that those trains would likely be very busy and they may have to stand for most or all their journey if they did not had a reserved seat.

 

[RichardAsh1981]

If going down the route of compulsory reservations then it would be better if all services above a certain journey length were compulsory, even the ones that are normally very quiet. That way passengers would know where they stand.

Surely what the passengers want to know is where they sit? I'll get my coat ...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Compulsory reservations for a few trains on certain days when there are events that increase passenger numbers I think is just going to confuse passengers. Not all passengers are going to know these trains are reservation compulsory. Thus passengers risk getting put off rail travel or worse it will result in disputes between passengers and staff if they are denied boarding.

If going down the route of compulsory reservations then it would be better if all services above a certain journey length were compulsory, even the ones that are normally very quiet. That way passengers would know where they stand.

In this case I think it would just be better off if GWR warned passengers that those trains would likely be very busy and they may have to stand for most or all their journey if they did not had a reserved seat.

What would help is if TOCs would stop using the "reservations compulsory" flag to mean something different. Then it can be returned to its normal meaning to identify these services properly as it did for absolutely years including under BR.

 

[GoneSouth]

What happens to the Penzance, Truro etc passengers who turn up with flexible tickets looking to use an unreserved seat? Refusing them access to the train they want to use, which was available when they booked the ticket, and is actually running, is surely a breach of contract?

I wouldn’t want to be on any train with those football fans, as in my experience of travelling on trains with fans from many teams, Plymouth have some of the most challenging and incoherent of all.

I’d be quite happy if they were all just pulled along in a freight container and didn’t have the chance to interact with those of us who didn’t want to hear about the green army or swear at least twice per sentence.

 

[irish_rail]

What happens to the Penzance, Truro etc passengers who turn up with flexible tickets looking to use an unreserved seat? Refusing them access to the train they want to use, which was available when they booked the ticket, and is actually running, is surely a breach of contract?

I wouldn’t want to be on any train with those football fans, as in my experience of travelling on trains with fans from many teams, Plymouth have some of the most challenging and incoherent of all.

I’d be quite happy if they were all just pulled along in a freight container and didn’t have the chance to interact with those of us who didn’t want to hear about the green army or swear at least twice per sentence.

Yawn. You could literally be talking about any football teams supporters there matey.

 

[Phil R]

Yawn. You could literally be talking about any football teams supporters there matey.

True story. Ours can be very embarrassing though. Lost 4-0 today so trains back might be subdued.