Seat Reservations on FGW

[whole diary]

[Mookiemoo]

For the first time in years I have the unenviable prospect of working over xmas and new year including xmas eve and new years eve!  (God knows when I'm gonna pick up the Toikey and Goose since the weekend before is a bit early!).

Anyway, I digress.......I suspect even FC^‡(resolve) will be rammed on both those days - and I dont DO rammed.  Can I make a seat reservation?  How much will I get shafted for the privilege?  Are there any other days in that period where I should consider doing this if possible!

[inspector_blakey]

Yes, I suspect best done at a staffed ticket office, although it may be possible on the phone to telesales?

I think you'll need to show your season ticket to the clerk, and the reservation will cost you ^5 a pop.

New Years Eve isn't too busy in my experience, but Christmas Eve certainly is (I've got my Heathrow - Carmarthen reservation made in FC^‡(resolve) already for Xmas Eve...hurray for advance first class tickets). Be aware that on both evenings services will start to wind down much earlier than a normal day (around 2000 from memory).

[Mookiemoo]

If I were to book a ticket online and ask for a seat reservation I do not get to choose the seat so if I ask for a table near the window then I may end up in an airline on the ailse :-(

If I do it in the ticket office....can I choose a seat for certain?

Scenario - i'm going to liverpool on Saturday.  Going via Crewe - not too bothered about a seat reservation for this leg since the 07:13 from ludlow is fairly empty and I would upgrade on the london midland connection or virgin connection in the unlikely event they bother to come around to take my cash.

however returning, I will be on the 17:13 from chester direct to ludlow (shopping at the outlet mall) and as i'm likely to have several bags, and I know from experience it can be pretty full of saturday shoppers, I'm thinking of getting a seat reservation.

If I do it at WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains) on the way home, can they guarantee a window seat at a table?

[matt473]

You may not be offered a table seat if your travelling on your own as, and quite rightly inmy opinion, table seats are sometimes only reserved if your travelling in a group/family. It may be down to the discretion of the person in the booking office

[Mookiemoo]

You may not be offered a table seat if your travelling on your own as, and quite rightly inmy opinion, table seats are sometimes only reserved if your travelling in a group/family. It may be down to the discretion of the person in the booking office

And for those of us who want to get some work done?

Which is precisely why I want a table seat

[Mookiemoo]

Note - don't tell me to pay for first class if I want a table - I would, but arriva snails wales do not have such a luxury

[Tim]

You may not be offered a table seat if your travelling on your own as, and quite rightly inmy opinion, table seats are sometimes only reserved if your travelling in a group/family. It may be down to the discretion of the person in the booking office

I think that the stock used by ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (class 175? - the "mini-adelantes") have loads of table seats anyway.  if the booking clerk is minded to use descretion to deny you a table seat I would point this out. 

[Mookiemoo]

You may not be offered a table seat if your travelling on your own as, and quite rightly inmy opinion, table seats are sometimes only reserved if your travelling in a group/family. It may be down to the discretion of the person in the booking office

I think that the stock used by ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (class 175? - the "mini-adelantes") have loads of table seats anyway.  if the booking clerk is minded to use descretion to deny you a table seat I would point this out. 

the chester train is either a 175 or a 158.

the 175s have six tables in each carriage I think - the 158s seem to have less.

The 1713 from Chester is always heaving as far as shrewsbury because of shopping............Last time I did not get a seat at a table....

[devon_metro]

On the flip side, when travelling with a group of friends, there is nothing more annoying than seeing 1 person with laptop & work spread out over a table. Its often very satisfying sitting down regardless.

[Mookiemoo]

On the flip side, when travelling with a group of friends, there is nothing more annoying than seeing 1 person with laptop & work spread out over a table. Its often very satisfying sitting down regardless.

So why does your right to sit together outweigh my right to do some work......

What is even more annoying than that though, is when one non-connected party at a table sees it as a place to keep their luggage as they dont wish to be parted from it (its not the crown jewels) and take up half of the table with a bag and prevent anyone else from using it

[matt473]

Sometimes it is essential for families to sit together otherwise young children can get worried if they can't see other members of family for example. Also, what gives you the right to a table yourself forcing a group to become dispersed? There are two sides to every story but if the choice was for an individual or a group to have a table, then the group wins hands down in my opinion.

[JayMac]

Sometimes it is essential for families to sit together otherwise young children can get worried if they can't see other members of family for example. Also, what gives you the right to a table yourself forcing a group to become dispersed? There are two sides to every story but if the choice was for an individual or a group to have a table, then the group wins hands down in my opinion.

Hear, hear.

[John R]

On a few occasions I've been travelling with the family on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) we've struggled to find a table (not surprisingly these days). But we've often found a table with one business type person (usually with laptop etc spread out) and three empty seats.

So the two children and one adult have occupied the remaining three seats, with the other adult sitting nearby. That way, the kids can get the cards/pass the pigs/other games out, together with the obligitary fizzy drinks and crisps that don't really balance well on an airline style tip up table.

We're entitled to take those seats, and we'll continue to do so if it makes our journey more comfortable.
If it makes aforementioned business person think twice before occupying one of only two tables in the coach then that's up to them.
 

[Btline]

Just ask for one, I'm sure they'll oblige.

What's wrong with someone who wants to work? Have you tried working in an airline seat?

Yes, I understand it's frustrating for groups, but it is just a fact of life today that tables are scare. ALL people have the "right" to one. If you really want one, reserve.

[Mookiemoo]

On a few occasions I've been travelling with the family on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) we've struggled to find a table (not surprisingly these days). But we've often found a table with one business type person (usually with laptop etc spread out) and three empty seats.

So the two children and one adult have occupied the remaining three seats, with the other adult sitting nearby. That way, the kids can get the cards/pass the pigs/other games out, together with the obligitary fizzy drinks and crisps that don't really balance well on an airline style tip up table.

We're entitled to take those seats, and we'll continue to do so if it makes our journey more comfortable.
If it makes aforementioned business person think twice before occupying one of only two tables in the coach then that's up to them.
 

Does it make any difference if its a Student trying to get an assignment done for submission - which is the guise I will be in on Saturday as I am going to Liverpool for a tutorial and meeting mother for lunch and shopping afterwards......