Great Western Coffee Shop

The thing is this: I have severe mobility problems and hence I tend to be left behind in any rush for seats ( Cotswolds Line ), in one case being forced to stand between Padd and Reading ( please don't make me laugh about me asking people to vacate the seats that are marked for disabled people) which with a leg prosthesis wasn't much fun. However, I frequently don't know which train I will be catching home until an hour or two before departure ( business needs etc) and I am wondering if there is any way about getting a seat reservation so close to time?

Information about Chiltern ( I sometimes go to Warwick ) as well as FGW would be appreciated.

Chiltern do not offer seat reservations.  FGW reservations have to be made 2 hours before the train departs its origin, as the seat labels are piece of paper which must be printed.

I would recommend speaking to someone on the platform before boarding, who could have a word with the train manager to ensure you get a seat.

Generally reservations close a minimum of 2 hours before the train departs its originating station. However it is not unheard of for reservations to close the evening before.
It is a bit of hit and miss.

FGW do produce a Priority Seat Card - application form/leaflet from staffed stations or online here (http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/PDF/YourJourney/AssistedTravel/web_priority_app.ashx)

Very suitable for you who won't have any outwardly obvious signs that you need accessible seating.

Re Chiltern, by allowing yourself plenty of time to catch a northbound train, you should be able to get one of their Priority seats with ample legroom that are dotted about every train. From Warwick southbound, the trains are never so busy that some priority seating is usually available.

A seriously tricky issue - the system at Paddington's such that (reservations excepted, and assuming they're applied) it's largely down to survival of the fittest, and an embarrassment to those who are less fit to ask for a seat, even one marked "priority".   The First issued card (and they're available for buses too) indicating that you need special consideration in some way is a small step but still a bit "ouch".   Could you reserve seats on several likely trains (free reservation, after all) and just use the one you happen to catch;  I don't like to suggest that really, as it takes a system that's already creaking and stretches it further but, technically, ....

I think only one reservation per journey is free - I think there's a charge for more?

On HSTs, find the train manager & ask for assistance....

Try that on the 19:30 off Paddington, where the train's called 5 minutes before it leaves, and is so crowded that even an athlete couldn't get to the buffet.

Alternative suggestion:

Print on the back of tickets "If you don't have a reservation, please give up your seat if there's someone more in need of it than you are ..."

For the busiest train, book station assistance then - and get priority boarding