TPE 1ST Advance with counted place, not seat reservation

Hello all,

I've bought a 1st Advance between Manchester Stations and Preston, and the ticket states:

Advance Single 1st
From Manchester Stations
To Preston (Lancs)
Valid on 28-OCT-19
Valid on specified TPE trains only
16:26 Transpennine Express
No specific seat reserved
From Manchester Piccadilly
To Preston (Lancs)

The return journey is from Preston to Sheffield, changing trains at Manchester, and the ticket states:

Advance Single 1st
From Preston (Lancs)
To Sheffield
Valid on 01-NOV-19
Valid on specified TPE trains only
Mandatory reservations detailed
on coupon 60316 - 60317

The coupon states:

VALID ONLY WITH TRAVEL TICKET 60315
11:47 Transpennine Express
No specific seat reserved
From Preston (Lancs)
To Manchester Piccadilly
13:18 Transpennine Express
Coach C Seat 12
From Manchester Piccadilly
To Sheffield
MANDATORY RESERVATION COUPON 1 of 1


So it seems that seat reservations are not available on TPE trains between Manchester and Preston and vice-versa, but are available one TPE trains between Manchester and Sheffield.

Having travelled on these trains each year for around twenty years, they are usually rammed with no chance of a seat (even in 1st class) without a seat reservation. This year my brother, who is autistic with severe learning disabilties will be travelling on his own. His disability not withstanding, he is quite capable of travelling by himself, but cannot cope with crowds. With this in mind, I took the tickets to another station, and the clerk tried to issue free seat reservations, but the system issued a seat reservation coupon which gave asterisks for the coach and seat numbers.

Has TPE gone over to a counted place system on its trains between Manchester and Preston? If so, why, as the seats are numbered and physically capable of being reserved?

lightbulb said:

Has TPE gone over to a counted place system on its trains between Manchester and Preston? If so, why

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Yes.

They are in the process of changing trains from 350s and 185s to 397s, so they can't guarantee what type of train will be used. So they can't issue reservations.

I travelled on Sun between Manchester and Preston and we both got reserved seats in 1st. It was meant to be a 350 but a 185 turned up resulting in a declassification of 1st as far as Preston.
Is the counter place just on some services?

lightbulb said:

This year my brother, who is autistic with severe learning disabilties will be travelling on his own. His disability not withstanding, he is quite capable of travelling by himself, but cannot cope with crowds.

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I realise it wasn't the question you were asking about, but have you or your brother contacted the assisted travel team about this journey? They should be able to ensure that he has a suitable seat on the day, even if you can't reserve one now.

ScotTrains said:

Is the counter place just on some services?

Click to expand...

It's from the 28th October to the 14th December.

kieron said:

I realise it wasn't the question you were asking about, but have you or your brother contacted the assisted travel team about this journey? They should be able to ensure that he has a suitable seat on the day, even if you can't reserve one now.

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How are they going to do that if there are no seat reservations....?

221129 said:

How are they going to do that if there are no seat reservations....?

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Just give a call first and see how they can help.
Staff assistance on platform maybe a possibility.

221129 said:

How are they going to do that if there are no seat reservations....?

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Isn't that what Priority seats are for?

cactustwirly said:

Isn't that what Priority seats are for?

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As mentioned, OP's son's diability can hardly be seen, and he has difficulty in dealing with the crowds. Asking people for giving up their seats requires communication effort.

lightbulb said:

cannot cope with crowds

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In all seriousness, if this is the case I suggest if it is possible for him to avoid travelling by train this is probably a good plan, as until the new rolling stock is all in use and Northern have solved their Class 195 issues (and unless he's travelling at 5am or 9pm or something) it is very unlikely he will avoid a crowded train, reservations or no.

Even with a reservation, due to the overcrowding on TPE, it is rather likely that he will need to ask someone to shift.

While slower, National Express can be used to make that journey with a change in Manchester and a guarantee of a seat, perhaps this would be a good idea?

Bletchleyite said:

In all seriousness, if this is the case I suggest if it is possible for him to avoid travelling by train this is probably a good plan, as until the new rolling stock is all in use and Northern have solved their Class 195 issues (and unless he's travelling at 5am or 9pm or something) it is very unlikely he will avoid a crowded train, reservations or no.

While slower, National Express can be used to make that journey with a change in Manchester, perhaps this would be a good idea?

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National Express is smaller than a train, which would be worse.
I am not sure if assisted travel can provide with staff escort to train, just like the one for blind persons

hkstudent said:

National Express is smaller than a train, which would be worse.

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Is claustrophobia the issue, then, rather than crowding? A National Express coach will not be crowded, it does not take standing passengers, only the number of passengers who can be seated. At present, any TPE train almost certainly will have a heavy standing load except at very quiet times of day.

Bletchleyite said:

Is claustrophobia the issue, then, rather than crowding? A National Express coach will not be crowded, it does not take standing passengers, only the number of passengers who can be seated. At present, any TPE train almost certainly will have a heavy standing load except at very quiet times of day.

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By calling assisted travel (https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travelling-with-us/assisted-travel), staff can assist OP's son to get to the priority seat, without any effort.

hkstudent said:

By calling assisted travel (https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travelling-with-us/assisted-travel), staff can assist OP's son to get to the priority seat, without any effort.

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But if the priority seats are taken then what? Also what if someone unable to stand gets on later in the journey and they ask the OPs son to move causing unwanted and stressful confrontation?

221129 said:

But if the priority seats are taken then what? Also what if someone unable to stand gets on later in the journey and they ask the OPs son to move causing unwanted and stressful confrontation?

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I normally sit in priority seats for legroom. It is extremely rare for me to be unseated from one (and I'd move willingly if asked politely[1] or if it was obvious the person needed it before being asked), particularly if choosing the window.

[1] If asked rudely by someone clearly entitled to it, I would still move, but slowly and not gracefully

221129 said:

But if the priority seats are taken then what?

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At major stations the assistance person should help the passenger board the train and ask people in the priority seats to move. Obviously people can't be forced to move, but most people will if asked by someone in a bit of authority.

Hi. Have bumped this thread rather than start a new one. I've just bought two 1st Advance singles from Edinburgh to Manchester on March 17th with TPE,a journey I make regularly. I notice that no reservation has been provided. According to this thread, this was supposed to stop happening in December. Anyone have any idea why this is, and whether there is likely to be any difficulty in getting a seat on the day?

khib70 said:

Hi. Have bumped this thread rather than start a new one. I've just bought two 1st Advance singles from Edinburgh to Manchester on March 17th with TPE,a journey I make regularly. I notice that no reservation has been provided. According to this thread, this was supposed to stop happening in December. Anyone have any idea why this is, and whether there is likely to be any difficulty in getting a seat on the day?

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It's still related to uncertainty over which rolling stock will operate which service. Standard class reservations have been reinstated but First Class mustn't be coach C on a Class 397? Anyway, First Class being in different coaches was the reason I was given. Should have First Class reservations from May timetable change.