Priority Seats and their use

matt_world2004 · 6 Nov 2019

Camden said:
The person who complained suggested that they could be sat in the seat with their white cane folded up (ie. entitled to the seat).

But in that case, if all the person had was a white cane requiring issue (ie. no physical impediment to stand) I would still ask them to move so that I could sit down, in the case of actual mobility issues. As such the current system is the right one, as nothing is assumed or mandated other than "give up to someone more needy, please".

A white cane is a mobility issue as they may not be able to see well enough to judge what's happening around them.

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alxndr · 6 Nov 2019

trainophile said:
Must be a bit awkward if you’re in a window seat adjacent to someone with an obvious disability, and you need to ask them to let you out for the loo or the shop. Would make more sense to have both seats with extra pitch and the window one reserved for disabled passengers.

Doesn't work if the person with restricted mobility needs the toilet or finds getting into the window seat difficult though.

trainophile · 6 Nov 2019

I

alxndr said:
Doesn't work if the person with restricted mobility needs the toilet or finds getting into the window seat difficult though.

t would be good if aisle seats swivelled round to create a passing space!

sprunt · 6 Nov 2019

dcsprior said:
Maybe a solution similar to the "Baby on board" badge could be introduced?

TfL have such a system - Please offer me a seat.

transmanche · 6 Nov 2019

dcsprior said:
Maybe a solution similar to the "Baby on board" badge could be introduced?

In addition to 'Baby on board' badges, TfL issue 'Please offer me a seat' cards and badges. (GTR also issue similar cards, but require proof of why you need the card.)

Source: https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/please-offer-me-a-seat

Another idea that can be borrowed from TfL is the use of a different and distinctive seat colour for priority seats. On the Jubilee line they've even added text to make it very clear.

Source: https://hydeparknow.uk/2019/05/11/jubilee-line-disability-seats/

irish_rail · 6 Nov 2019

Mind you there would be no problem in the first place if all trains provided all seats with sufficient legroom. Too be fair to IETs the legroom is pretty decent on all seats.

Bletchleyite · 6 Nov 2019

irish_rail said:
Mind you there would be no problem in the first place if all trains provided all seats with sufficient legroom. Too be fair to IETs the legroom is pretty decent on all seats.

Yes, I mentioned that - I don't choose to sit in priority seats on trains where the regular legroom is acceptable.

transmanche · 6 Nov 2019

irish_rail said:
Mind you there would be no problem in the first place if all trains provided all seats with sufficient legroom.

Although it's not just additional legroom that makes a seat suitable for being a priority seat. It's also the location. That's why the priority seats on the tube, London Overground, T&W Metro etc and many buses don't have any extra legroom, they are just the ones nearest the doors and next to a grabrail.

Merle Haggard · 6 Nov 2019

Bletchleyite said:
To add to your post a bit - this only applies to table seats, which indeed all appear to have the same pitch (or near to it) but with the priority ones having the foldy bits. However, Pendolinos have relatively few tables in Standard - 4-5 per coach typically, only 2 in coach A, so the airline seats (which are very tightly packed indeed) are of more interest.

In airline rows the priority rows have about 4-6" more legroom, but the priority seat is only the aisle seat. This does make quite a lot of sense in a way.

They are available to anybody (whether tall or short) provided they are given up when required by someone needing them more (which is what the signs by them usually say). In a way this applies to all seats and always used to, but having priority seats just avoids the "can't you ask him instead" thing.

Being tall isn't a reason to evict somebody from one, however, provided you are capable of standing (if not, you get it on PRM grounds, not grounds of height).

The reason this differs from disabled parking spaces is because when you park your car you aren't typically sat in it and able to move at a moment's notice, as that would sort of negate the point of parking your car in the first place.

Thanks for the explanations. I don't venture past the door with the blue signs on much, I apologise for my ignorance about the standard priority seats.

However, here's something else that may be relevant; After my railway career (?) was over, in retirement I did work in 'hospitality' for a bit - Silverstone at the F1 GP, that sort of stuff. Staff training was carried out, and I was told that, if someone claimed to have a disability this had to be accepted at face value and couldn't be challenged. This could make evicting anyone from a priority seat difficult, although perhaps 'priority' could be argued to be different from 'disabled'

kristiang85 · 14 Nov 2019

On my regular SWR trains the priority seats are, oddly, at the back of the carriage - I like to sit out of the way as it is quieter, so I'm regularly in these seats whilst keeping an eye out and not once, ever, have I been asked to move or seen anybody looking like they need them. All the most spacious and accessible seats are near the doors. It is frankly bizarre (I think these are a hangover from the SWT days, which had many bizarre seating decisions implemented).

Mitchell Hurd · 14 Nov 2019

The only time I'll book a Priority seat will be on a Voyager that starts at a station that isn't scheduled to reverse direction during the journey. I'll book one where if it's backwards facing then I can get the same type of seat but unreserved in coach C.

Long story short but despite the XC HST's having like 50 of these seats, let's say I won't make the mistake of booking one (don't worry it's not that bad but lesson learnt from November 27th 2017).

I won't book Priority seats from now on from a station the train calls at and not starts from.

Priority Seats and their use

matt_world2004

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alxndr

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trainophile

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sprunt

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transmanche

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irish_rail

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Bletchleyite

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transmanche

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Merle Haggard

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kristiang85

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Mitchell Hurd

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