• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

What's your "pet seat"?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Bletchleyite

Veteran Member
Joined
20 Oct 2014
Messages
97,532
Location
"Marston Vale mafia"
On a busy service (pre-Covid) my favourite seat was usually the one that someone thought they could reserve for themselves by putting a shopping bag or coat on it.

Otherwise, it's seat A46 on a Pendolino, so maybe one day in the "new normal" I might end up stuck next to Bletchleyite on a journey to/from Lancaster ! ;)

You may already have been! :) Though if the row in front is free I won't insist on sitting next to someone in 46 as it's *almost* (though not quite) as good.
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

Bletchleyite

Veteran Member
Joined
20 Oct 2014
Messages
97,532
Location
"Marston Vale mafia"
Cross County Voyager:
Seat F15/16 - has noticeably non-standard legroom greater than the other airline seats.

F15/16 is a priority extra legroom row (like the 3 rows behind it and many others throughout the train) so you might find if it's taken there are more to your preference!
 

Peter C

Established Member
Joined
13 Oct 2018
Messages
4,514
Location
GWR land
Personally, I find the seats on the Networker Turbos which face the same way as the one in front of them (standard airline seating arrangement) unbearable (legroom), so my favourite seats are the sets of three seats which look at each other. I normally hate these seats, though, because I don't like the overly-open design on some stock, but they are the best of a bad bunch I suppose :D

-Peter
 

NoMorePacers

Established Member
Joined
18 Feb 2016
Messages
1,391
Location
Humberside
The single seat by the crew door entry on an EMT Mk3 TGS, A2 I think it is. Non-reservable as well last time I checked, so I make an effort to take it on a longer journey.

Throw the seats underneath the pantograph on any Mk3-based EMU, as I happen to quite enjoy the rather loud noise they produce.

I also like the single seat on the Civity units next to the cab, as it feels fitting for someone as solitary as myself. :lol:
 

Ianno87

Veteran Member
Joined
3 May 2015
Messages
15,215
Northern 319:
The seats as you immediately enter the pantograph carriage (panto end) is one of the few that are airline style and have a greater chance of passengers not sitting next to you.

Same on GA 317s...and they have *huge* legroom!
 

johnnychips

Established Member
Joined
19 Nov 2011
Messages
3,675
Location
Sheffield
When I read the title I immediately thought: my cat - my testicles!

However on reading other answers it’s got to be the declassified 1st class in the refurbished ex-Scotrail Northern 170s on the Hull to Sheffield route.
 

Tetchytyke

Veteran Member
Joined
12 Sep 2013
Messages
13,305
Location
Isle of Man
I always went for the single seat right at the end of the TGS on a HST. It was lovely. I was not impressed when EC marked it unavailable on the seat selector.

I'm still sad the IETs don't have the equivalent of the 1+1 section in first class on MkIVs.
 

David Goddard

Established Member
Joined
8 Aug 2011
Messages
1,502
Location
Reading
Coach J, seats 2 and 5 on a Pendolino. Next to the luggage rack, near the toilet, and reasonably close to the kitchen for when the free food comes through.
 

Andyh82

Established Member
Joined
19 May 2014
Messages
3,489
Generally forward facing, left hand side, airline, window seat with a full view, I also prefer to have more carriage in front than behind so I can see what’s going on.

To be fair though living in Northern land, the variety of stock, and the mix of units with doors at the ends or in the middle it really could be any seat and the chances of the perfect seat being available is quite low. You have to watch out for the strange situations in some units, for example you’ve got some of the 150s where most of the seats in the rear car face backwards.
 

py_megapixel

Established Member
Joined
5 Nov 2018
Messages
6,642
Location
Northern England
Generally forward facing, left hand side, airline, window seat with a full view, I also prefer to have more carriage in front than behind so I can see what’s going on.

To be fair though living in Northern land, the variety of stock, and the mix of units with doors at the ends or in the middle it really could be any seat and the chances of the perfect seat being available is quite low. You have to watch out for the strange situations in some units, for example you’ve got some of the 150s where most of the seats in the rear car face backwards.
Maybe I'm unique in this, but I quite like a backward facing seat. Not least because I enjoy the view out of the window of the things appearing from behind, if you see what I mean.
 

YorksLad12

Established Member
Joined
5 Feb 2020
Messages
1,875
Location
Leeds
I'm still sad the IETs don't have the equivalent of the 1+1 section in first class on MkIVs.

Indeed. Depending on the time of day and the direction of travel seats 29 or 31 as that was the crossover, and you had the back of a double behind and to the side of you; preferably coaches J or L if a dining service, in case it was busy and they ran out of what you wanted before they reached M.

On the new stock: I usually end up in L39, either direction, as it lines up properly with a window. In Standard, something like 59 or 62 in Coach B or J (harder to choose on a 2x5 set), because no-one likes to walk along the platform as far as B... strangely, not all of the airlines immediately after tables line up with windows.

Northern 158: one of the airline seats behind a table usually lines up with the window, but they sometimes have a heating vent-thing underneath. Northern Pacer (RIP): all good (as in all poor); depending on when you board the window seat of a three-seater was fine.

In all cases, on the shaded side of the train when possible!
 

Mitchell Hurd

On Moderation
Joined
28 Oct 2017
Messages
1,648
I also like this one! Back in the early days of (Virgin) Crosscountry I was commuting from York to Birmingham on a weekly basis: Out on the 06:00 from York on the Monday (Change at Donny!) and back on the 15:55 (later 15:58) from Brum on the Friday.

I managed to get a mate of mine who worked in the booking office at York to do me a block booking for that seat on those trains for about 2 months at a time! Luxury with no one disturbing my sleep and plenty of room for the week's luggage! :D
At that time it was seat 47 on XC, don't know what it is now.

XC HST's: still the Quiet Coach but seat G01 (I've put the '0' as it would appear on your seat reservation ticket)

GWR Castle HST's: Coach A seat 73. Existed wjen they ran the London trains. Must be nice considering how packed the 150's that ran on those routes for some years must have been!
 

Mitchell Hurd

On Moderation
Joined
28 Oct 2017
Messages
1,648
Maybe I'm unique in this, but I quite like a backward facing seat. Not least because I enjoy the view out of the window of the things appearing from behind, if you see what I mean.

I see what you mean - you can be taken by surprise more.
 

Metal_gee_man

Member
Joined
28 Oct 2017
Messages
669
For me being broad shouldered and tall:

Class 375, priority seat behind drivers cab back to glass vestibule divider if its a 4 car there are 2 per train but obviously multiples when it becomes a an 8 or 12 carriage.

Class 395, again priority seat (not in a very priority location) end of carriage either side of the carriage dividing doors so on a 6 car there are 20 per train or obviously more on a 12 car

Class 171, either the Priority seats just inside the door, in the middle of the train carriage normally 4 per carriage and will depend on how long the train is (cough cough Uckfield branch) or the declassified 1st class on the Marshlink line single seat either behind the drivers cab or the one slightly further forward

I've found the 168 clubmans pretty spacious for legroom full stop and don't have a favourite unless I really want a seat to myself then the single seat with a weird table close to the carriage dividing doors isn't a bad shout.

I do love using the declassified 1st class on 700s but 95% would if they actually knew about it
 

bussnapperwm

Established Member
Joined
18 May 2014
Messages
1,506
Because of my build and knee problems its either the seat nearest the accessible convenience or the priority seat nearest to said convenience (mainly as I'm built in a slightly smaller percentage of former Liberal member for Rochdale so I need the legroom to host my 6'6" height)
 

Tracked

Established Member
Joined
30 May 2011
Messages
1,242
Location
53.5440°N 1.1510°W
222 - The fold-down seats, furthest forward in Standard as possible (usually only on these from Chesterfield-Sheffield)

170 - Ex-Scotrail 1st class, the single seat ones

185 - The fold down seats near the toilets when commuting, if it's at the front end in Sheffield people see the "1" on the door and don't crowd round it as much.

Could just say that generally, when coming home from work on a Northern service, the front end of whatever unit's on from Sheffield; people tend to cram into the carriage nearest the footbridge whilst the front carriage is nearly empty (153's excepted)

HST (EMR) - Front end of the 4th carriage, table seat. Another going to work one, as that end stops nearest Chesterfield Station's subway
 

hexagon789

Veteran Member
Joined
2 Sep 2016
Messages
15,713
Location
Glasgow
That's always nice, especially the ones in the earlier batches which have bigger folding tables.

And the original more comfy seat rather than the exact same design as standard just fitted 2+1 and equipped with a slight tilt (not really a recline)
 

Mitchell Hurd

On Moderation
Joined
28 Oct 2017
Messages
1,648
Here's my favourite seat on these trains...

GWR Class 387: When forward facing, it's one of the 2 table seats with the disabled toilet in front of you and full (rather than half) window alignment. It also means no one can sit opposite facing you which means First Class-style legroom.

Class 80x and 810 trains: When it's travelling on non-electrifed tracks, any forward facing window table seat in a diesel engine coach. I've mostly been on GWR ones, 1 LNER example but no others yet but the motors and when in diesel mode sound lovely. If passing by the sea, then it's the same type of seat but on the sea view side of course.

GWR HST's: When forward facing, one of them is seat 69 or 72 in Coach C when they're seating layout changed when they were refurbished in 2006-2008. Plenty of window view but ridiculously generous legroom - I've been lucky 2 or 3 times when catching one back from London Paddington to Oxford. The sideway seats too - I remember me Mum and my sister back in like 2008 (I'd have been 15) were travelling back from Reading to Oxford after a day out. 15:50ish it was. Seats 69 and 72 were already taken so one of the sideway seats it was. I remember having a fairly quick read of my High School Musical book.

If I board a 4-coach GWR Castle HST and Coach A (the TGS coach) is at the rear, I'll make a dash for A73 (that single seat)!

XC HST's: In Standard Class it's seat G05 in the Quiet Coach. G03 which is the same side but in facing the same way as the single seat in the HST TGS coach - both are window table seats that are aligned with the window. G05 I'll be booking for the Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh leg when I get there eventually - backwards on the sea view side or forwards on the opposite but it faces the power car. It feels like an own-compartment Mark 1. I've not sat in G03 yet.

Class 165's: Complicated so I'll try and be brief, if I board a 165 at a station where it starts from (if I board at a buffered platform), I'll be lazy and board at the back of the train if Standard Class. This includes sitting in one of the back window-aligned seats with the cab immediately behind me.

Class 166's: One of the bigger window table seats at the cab ends, particularly the ones facing the cab - I know I'm not on my own with these table seats!

XC Voyagers: If / when I have a suitcase with me, I'll book seat F33 (window view table seat) when boarding at a calling station rather than starting - I'm in better view of my luggage which there's the overhead rack for backup. When I return from Edinburgh, I'll catch the train that leaves around 7am that goes through to Oxford without a single change of train unless there's a fault or disruption. I'll book seat 52 in Coach D (window view table seat) because...

1. I can put my luggage in the overhead rack.

2. To Birmingham New Street it's backwards on the sea view side or forwards on the opposite.

3. C28 and F33 is the same. But I'd rather leave Coach C for those that make a 10 (or last) minute seat reservation. I'd book seat C28 if D52 was unavailable.

Next time I board a Chiltern Class 168 - at a buffered platform, I'll board at the back and sit in one of the window table seats. I did this when I went to Bicester Village back in February 2017 (13:10ish from Oxford). Was disappointed it wasn't a blue and white 6-gears 172 strangely. At least the 168 was 3 coaches rathe than the 2-car 172.

Loco-hauled Mark 1 or Mark 2: Hopefully I'll be able to sit on the left hand side of the train in the front window table seat at the front of the train nearest the loco. I say loco-hauled Mark 1 as there's Mark 1 DMU's and EMU's.

Say a Class 101 when I catch one: A rail enthusiasts favourite window seat when forwards - I think we all know where that would be for us!

Pacer: Where possible and when forward facing, always a window seat in the front coach nearest the front - I've heard of diesel fumes coming in on these trains so avoid it where I can.

TransPennine Express (TPE) Mark 5 when I catch one in First Class: E32 - bigger table seat by the window with the kitchen right behind you! I've seen the online seating layout on the TPE website. I'll be able to hear the Class 68 noises better!

TPE Class 397 when I catch one: Literally any window table seat as these are fully window aligned I believe.

TfW Class 150: When forward facing, it's the window table seat on the left hand side nearest the drivers cab. If I'm ever on a 150 instead of a 175 any time then this will be a great seat.
 

xotGD

Established Member
Joined
4 Feb 2017
Messages
6,063
The seat nearest to the loco of course.

Not in the middle of a 3 on a 333. But I'll squeeze in rather than stand.
 

Bletchleyite

Veteran Member
Joined
20 Oct 2014
Messages
97,532
Location
"Marston Vale mafia"
Class 80x and 810 trains: When it's travelling on non-electrifed tracks, any forward facing window table seat in a diesel engine coach. I've mostly been on GWR ones, 1 LNER example but no others yet but the motors and when in diesel mode sound lovely. If passing by the sea, then it's the same type of seat but on the sea view side of course.

I prefer the high floor coaches in 80x, the window position is just better for me, it feels too high up on the low floor end coaches, also the windowsill is at a better position to put my arm up on.

Class 166's: One of the bigger window table seats at the cab ends, particularly the ones facing the cab - I know I'm not on my own with these table seats!

I've not been on a 166 for years, but isn't there an area of about 6 bays of well-spaced 4+table seating at the inner end of at least one coach? That would be my preference if it's still there. It's again (apart from narrowness) a bit of Standard that's better than the 1st on those units (I find the 1st seats uncomfortable due to the fixed armrests).

I don't like 166s generally, though. They're tired (a very distinctively 90s design that now looks incredibly dated, even compared with the Mk3 derived DMUs and EMUs which are more timeless), the aircon never works and they stink of fumes.

Say a Class 101 when I catch one: A rail enthusiasts favourite window seat when forwards - I think we all know where that would be for us!

:)

I sat there enough that when I finally got a go at one (as my 30th birthday present) I already pretty much knew how to drive it! The brake was the difficult thing to learn.
 

py_megapixel

Established Member
Joined
5 Nov 2018
Messages
6,642
Location
Northern England
Not in the middle of a 3 on a 333. But I'll squeeze in rather than stand.
I have the complete opposite opinion - I'd much rather stand than sit immediately next to a stranger. Though if it's a long journey I might take an aisle side airline seat if the window is occupied. I prefer not to feel like I'm squeezed in.
 

fairysdad

Member
Joined
27 Dec 2010
Messages
928
Location
London, Surrey... bit of a blur round here...
707: Single seat by the cab door. Depending on which station I'm getting off at, usually the one at the back of the front unit.

456: The 'airline' seat facing the edge seats.

SWT 159: The standard class seat just by the first class door. (Not travelled on them since SWR, so no idea if they've been refurbished out!)

377: (the ones without the ironing board seats) The declassified (because of what service it's on) First Class seats - particularly if it's the ones that have a door separating First from Standard!
 

61653 HTAFC

Veteran Member
Joined
18 Dec 2012
Messages
17,623
Location
Another planet...
Back when they were being used, the "observation suite" on 144s (the bay of seats in the DMS vehicle that's where the toilet is in the DMSL) was always my first choice.
 

Huntergreed

Established Member
Associate Staff
Events Co-ordinator
Joined
16 Jan 2016
Messages
3,019
Location
Dumfries
Heading south: Coach J seat 39 (only 2 seat table on the right hand side)

Heading north: Coach J seat 2
 

Metal_gee_man

Member
Joined
28 Oct 2017
Messages
669
It's again (apart from narrowness) a bit of Standard that's better than the 1st on those units (I find the 1st seats uncomfortable due to the fixed armrests).
My more than ample posterior just about fitted in those 1st class seats on a Brighton to Bristol service when in they were alright, if I'd paid 1st class money I'd be spitting feathers because even with folding tables they are not fit for the modern railway
 

YorksLad12

Established Member
Joined
5 Feb 2020
Messages
1,875
Location
Leeds
I have the complete opposite opinion - I'd much rather stand than sit immediately next to a stranger.

I don't mind sitting next to strangers as much as they mind sitting next (or even close) to me. Once, when commuting to Sheffield we had a 3+2 Pacer (it usually was a Pacer on the 0748, I'll have missed the 0738 semi-fast). A woman was sitting in the aisle seat of a bank of three; I asked if I could take the window seat; she moved across the aisle to sit next to someone else (they didn't seem to know each other).

I would have been offended, but I got a window seat and two empties for a while while I listened to some music and caught up with the morning's news, while I headed into the office in a shirt & tie (in case you thought I looked like a lank-haired druggie who didn't know what a shower is).

Also: if it's a really busy commuter train with people standing, and someone has used a seat for their jacket or small bag... I make a beeline for those. I'm mean.
 

Driver2B

Member
Joined
21 Apr 2018
Messages
224
In Thailand, the Thais call this "The best seat on the train":

(Note the doorways of the passing train, too)

(However, the RSSB are still not yet completely convinced that this is a good idea for the UK! :lol:)
 

route101

Established Member
Joined
16 May 2010
Messages
10,594
Depends on unit or if its my local line.

My local line is 156s and 30 min journey.

Usually airline facing forward into town. Coming back airline seat, maybe be backwards. Table if its quiet.

On routes i havent been on yet i try and sit in a seat facing forward with a good window view.

First class , try and get a single seat facing forward. I suppose thats easier on coach k on a pendo heading Northbound. K feels cramp going backwards southbound.

Standard on pendo. Usually airline facing forwards with a window view. Even better if the seats across the aisle are facing same way as yours.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top