Travel using disabled bus pass - Leicester to Peterborough

Good afternoon everyone, I am new to Leicester and currently in the process of renewing my disabled bus pass with them for the first time. I understand this would also entitle me to free train travel between Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Peterborough. My question relates specifically to travel between Leicester and Peterborough using Cross Country Trains, I hope someone can possibly help as trying to obtain information from them is like trying to get blood out of a stone.

As I understand it, most seats on these trains require a reservation and I am unsure as to whether I would need still need to obtain one prior to travel and if so how (on-line, at the booking office?)

I have contacted East Midland trains who replied to say I just need to show my pass on the train or at the barrier, but there is usually plenty of unreserved seating available on these journeys. With Cross Country however things are different and seating restrictions usually apply on most journeys.

Is anyone who makes this journey regularly using a disabled bus pass able to advise on procedure? I am not physically disabled or a wheelchair user, and would be willing to stand if it lessens the possibilty of any issues occurring. Many thanks.

ColinJones said:

As I understand it, most seats on these trains require a reservation

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There are almost no trains in Britain that require a reservation - only the sleepers are like this, and some ferries, so you'll have no problem with CrossCountry. You're thinking of the cheaper fares, I think, that do need a reservation (in order to limit the number sold at each price) but the train itself doesn't.

As ThisIsSurbiton says there are very few trains in the UK that outright require reservations. Advance tickets require reservations but that is a characteristic of the ticket, not of the train.

You are in basically the same position as anyone travelling on a walk-up or season ticket. You can board the train, but are not guaranteed to get a seat.

If you can find an unreseved seat or a seat that is reserved only for a part of the trains journey that you are not making then great, if all the unoccupied seats are resevered then you may as well sit down anyway, you might get moved-on if the person who reserved the seat turns up, but it's still better to sit for some of the journey than none of it and there is a good chance the reservation won't be claimed.

I use this service occasionally, although not as far as Peterborough. There's normally a few unreserved seats plus the fold-down seats next to the doors when you board at Leicester. The service uses either 2 or 3 car class 170s with paper reservations placed in the top of the seat so its easy to spot unreserved ones. If you're unlucky I suppose you might get a busy 2 car service.

Many thanks for your replies. I have now received a further reply from Cross Country.

Thank you for your email reply.

As stated in one of my previous emails, you can either reserve a seat at a station with a ticket office, or by contacting us on 03447 369 123 (option 3).

You can also reserve a seat on the day of travel using our Ten Minute reservations system. Full details of how to use the Ten Minute reservations system can be found on our website using the following web address:

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/tickets/ten-minute-reservations

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us on the above telephone number and state your case reference, which is xxxxxxx
Once again, thank you for contacting us.

It's just simply procedure that I am struggling to get to grips with. This seems to be a start, with telephone or in person looking to be the way to go but not on-line (Leicester isn't even in the menu for ten minute reservations!). Failing that it looks to be a standing journey. Should hopefully become easier once I fully understand and gain confidence. Trains on this service are usually packed and a reservation is pretty much mandatory if you want a seat.

ColinJones said:

Many thanks for your replies. I have now received a further reply from Cross Country.

Thank you for your email reply.

As stated in one of my previous emails, you can either reserve a seat at a station with a ticket office, or by contacting us on 03447 369 123 (option 3).

You can also reserve a seat on the day of travel using our Ten Minute reservations system. Full details of how to use the Ten Minute reservations system can be found on our website using the following web address:

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/tickets/ten-minute-reservations

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us on the above telephone number and state your case reference, which is xxxxxxx
Once again, thank you for contacting us.

It's just simply procedure that I am struggling to get to grips with. This seems to be a start, with telephone or in person looking to be the way to go but not on-line (Leicester isn't even in the menu for ten minute reservations!). Failing that it looks to be a standing journey. Should hopefully become easier once I fully understand and gain confidence. Trains on this service are usually packed and a reservation is pretty much mandatory if you want a seat.

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From the T&C of that Cross Country 10 minute resevations web page..... service not available on Turbostar services (which is what is used on the Birmingham to Stansted service)
https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/tickets/ten-minute-reservations/how-it-works

On our Voyager and HST services you will find your seat reservation displayed in the electronic seat reservation system. If there are problems with your seat reservation, please speak to the Train Manager. On our Turbostar services, it is not possible to reserve a seat on the day of travel.

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Trains between Leicester and Peterborough are only 2 or 3 coaches long and get very busy. A reservation isn't required but is advisable.

Thank you, I certainly wouldn't welcome the prospect of standing for an hour. Hopefully it will be possible to make a reservation in advance either by phone to Cross Country or in person at Leicester station without actually needing to buy a ticket. I understand from East Midland that for travel between Leicester and Nottingham where unreserved seating is generally readily available, I simply need to show my bus pass on the train or at the barriers, and their staff are fully conversant with this.