Query on seat reservations

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I booked return train tickets from Wilmslow to Hereford with seat reservations for a party of four, three days prior to the date of travel. On the outward journey, the seat reservation tickets were correctly affixed. However. on the 1508 return journey from Hereford, there were no seat reservation tickets affixed. The conductor just said that no seat reservation had been affixed on that train, even though the proof of reservation was produced and shown for inspection.

The four teenagers who were in these seats were very thoughtful young people and immediately vacated the seats, when the proof of resevation was shown to the conductor.

I would ask a question here. In the case of certain trains not accepting seat reservations, should it not allow reservations to be made at the time of ticket purchase, but to notify the staff who isssue these that these trains do not accept seat reservations.

 

[valenta]

In my opinion, it should be made clear when tickets are booked that reservations are not applicable on the train.

 

[mallard]

In my opinion, it should be made clear when tickets are booked that reservations are not applicable on the train.

You can't reserve seats on trains where reservations aren't applicable. The problem is that some TOCs advertise trains as reservable but then don't put the tickets on the seats.

It's a problem that I've seen on CrossCountry's 170s and various ATW services (in fact, on one HoWL service the guard removed all the reservation tickets as soon as the 153 departed Shrewsbury).

Basically, TOCs need to make up their mind as to whether the train is reservable or not and advertise them correctly.

 

[jopsuk]

Sometimes the printer at the origin fails... sometimes if there are cancelled trains they'll cancel seat reservations for the next couple of trains.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I was issued with seat reservations for 4 on the 1508 Hereford to Wilmslow train on the ticket that was printed at the same time as the four travel tickets, at the ticket office at Wilmslow station, which was made three days in advance of the journey.

I do not know whether seat resevations are available on this service which is the 1108 ATW Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly service, but in the case that they are not, my contention is that I should have been told of this at the time of ticket purchase and not been issued with a seat reservation ticket for that train. This is the point I am trying to establish.

However, if this train does accept seat reservation tickets, should I make a complaint to ATW, for the fact that none of the 4 seats (2F/2B with a table) displayed the reservation tickets? This is why I have posted this query upon this forum.

 

[John @ home]

I was issued with seat reservations for 4 on the 1508 Hereford to Wilmslow train ... . I do not know whether seat resevations are available on this service which is the 1108 ATW Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly service

The National Rail Timetable's Table 131 shows that the Mon-Fri 1508 Hereford - Wilmslow 1648 is reservable. This is shown by the diamond symbol at the top of the relevant column.

if this train does accept seat reservation tickets, should I make a complaint to ATW

That's up to you. Page 14 of ATW's Passenger Charter details the compensation payable if a reservation is not honoured and as a result the passenger has to stand for more than 15 minutes. It appears that did not happen in your case.

 

[AlterEgo]

Compensation is obviously not payable, but of course there's nothing stopping Paul submitting his thoughts to ATW for their comments.

 

[Welshman]

Good afternoon, Paul,

ATW does not seem to have a consistent policy regarding seat reservations.

There have been times when I've book Advance tickets online and been given a seat reservation ticket quoting train and seat number, only to find no reservation ticket on that seat when I boarded, and someone already occupying that seat. As I was on my own and it was relatively quiet, I simply sat elsewhere.

At other times, I've booked advance tickets online, and a message appeared on the screen saying individual seats were not reservable, and was supplied a reservation ticket simply quoting the train only. Which was fine, until I boarded the 175, only to find half the seats in the front coach had reservation tickets on them!

I don't suppose this helps - but I commiserate with you!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Compensation is obviously not payable, but of course there's nothing stopping Paul submitting his thoughts to ATW for their comments.

Thank you for that reply. The conductor did admit that no reservation tickets had been affixed to the seats on that train, but gave no reason why. It may well have been that the machine that printed these had a problem, but there surely should be a manual system of making such tickets in times as this. A letter will be sent to ATW today.
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The National Rail Timetable's Table 131 shows that the Mon-Fri 1508 Hereford - Wilmslow 1648 is reservable. This is shown by the diamond symbol at the top of the relevant column.

Thank you for that information. I shall quote it in my letter to ATW.

 

[table38]

It may well have been that the machine that printed these had a problem, but there surely should be a manual system of making such tickets in times as this.

Once I saw an XC guard printing seat reservations out on his Advantix. They come out "sideways" so you can still put them in the top of the seats.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Thank you for that information. I shall quote it in my letter to ATW.

That's coming from the book that also said Corby didn't exist and has about 100 pages of amendments! :P

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

That's coming from the book that also said Corby didn't exist and has about 100 pages of amendments! :P

Are you saying that the information given to me by John @ home is incorrect in this specific instance....or are you just making a general observation?

It is too late now, as I have already posted my letter to ATW at Cardiff.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Are you saying that the information given to me by John @ home is incorrect in this specific instance....or are you just making a general observation?

It is too late now, as I have already posted my letter to ATW at Cardiff.

Just the NRT in general: since it moved to private publishers, it has commonly been riddled with errors. I'll check what ATW's official literature says...

 

[John @ home]

I'll check what ATW's official literature says

I wouldn't describe an ATW timetable booklet as any more official than the National Rail timetable, but their Timetable 2: South Wales to North Wales and Manchester also shows on page 6 that the Mon-Fri 1508 Hereford - Wilmslow 1648 is reservable.

 

[AlterEgo]

I can confirm an industry journey planner will issue a seat reservation for the service if asked for....

Seems to be clearly a reservable service to me.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I will let everyone know what ATW say when I receive their letter in return to the one that I have sent. Thank you to all of you who have responded on this thread.

 

[Greenback]

The service is reservable and ATW are by no means the only TOC who have sometimes have difficulties in putting reservation labels out. Mostly, in my experience, this happens due to technical problems with printing, or when trains are turned around quickly as a result of a late incoming service.

In the latter case, the TOC concerne will usually send the service back out on time or as close as possible to on time without reservations, presumably because it is financially beneficial to do so. this has happened several times to on FGW at Swansea, on trains I have travelled on. But then I do travel on a lot of those services!

ATW do not now issue seat reservations for online Advance bookings. You are only booked on to the train and not to a specific seat. Other TOC's like SWT also do this, I understand.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The service is reservable and ATW are by no means the only TOC who have sometimes have difficulties in putting reservation labels out. ATW do not now issue seat reservations for online Advance bookings. You are only booked on to the train and not to a specific seat. Other TOC's like SWT also do this, I understand.

I do not know if this is of help but these tickets with seat reservations were purchased at the ticket office at Wilmslow station (that is managed by Northern Rail) in person, three days in advance of the journey being made. The seat reservation tickets that were issued for both the outward and the return journeys had both the coach number and the seat numbers clearly printed upon them, together with the times of the trains.

Are you saying that Northern Rail (as the ticket and seat reservations issuer)have any responsibility in the matter? I bow to the greater knowledge of the forum members who specialise in the specific railway subjects that are covered by this sub-forum and, indeed, this was the reason why I brought up the matter upon here.

 

[Greenback]

I do not know if this is of help but these tickets with seat reservations were purchased at the ticket office at Wilmslow station (that is managed by Northern Rail) in person, three days in advance of the journey being made. The seat reservation tickets that were issued for both the outward and the return journeys had both the coach number and the seat numbers clearly printed upon them, together with the times of the trains.

Are you saying that Northern Rail (as the ticket and seat reservations issuer)have any responsibility in the matter? I bow to the greater knowledge of the forum members who specialise in the specific railway subjects that are covered by this sub-forum and, indeed, this was the reason why I brought up the matter upon here.

No. I did pick up on the fact that the tickets wer ebought at a station. ATW trains are reservable from stations as they used to be on the internet. All I was saying that the provision of the reservations on the trains can sometimes not take place for various reasons. ATW may be able to give you more information about what happened on this particular occasion, but you make just get a generic letter of apology. It is very irritating when this happens, and it has happened to me a few times!

I think that like late running trains it is one of those things that, sadly, just happens every so often.

 

[DelayRepay]

It's only a problem if the train is busy though. And last time it happened to me, the guard gave me a free upgrade to first class

 

[Greenback]

It's only a problem if the train is busy though. And last time it happened to me, the guard gave me a free upgrade to first class

Mostly, when it's happened to me it's been at Swansea where the train starts, so it's never full. But now and again I've experienced getting on a packed 158 at Bristol TM to find no reservations, which is, frankly, a pain in the rear end!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It's only a problem if the train is busy though. And last time it happened to me, the guard gave me a free upgrade to first class

There is no First Class section in the Class 175 units that are the regular trains on the Manchester Piccadilly to South Wales.

 

[jetice]

The usual reasons for there being no reservations are that the printer has broken, train in too late, change of train at last minute, different train than one reservations made out for which is possibly why someone in an earlier post saw the guard taking them off as if station staff attempt to put reservations on train with different layout it causes more confusion than if there were none! I have also seen passengers board before train has been announced making it impossible for staff to put reservations on (certain phone apps tell you platform info plus regulars know usual platform!) By the same token it works both ways because often people with reservations sit elsewhere and then until underway (and as long as staff onboard remove them) passengers without reservations think they cannot sit on them which causes congestion boarding busy trains.