Why can't I book seats on Trainline?


Why can't I book seats on Trainline? Some carriers don't provide seat reservations on all or some of their trains. This is common on regional trains, shorter routes and during peak travel times on commuter routes. On these trains you can sit in any vacant seat in the class your ticket is booked for.


When to book tickets on Trainline?

Advance train tickets are usually the cheapest way to travel by train, and generally go on sale 12 weeks before your date of travel. You'll need to travel on the train you're booked on, but you'll get a cheaper price by foregoing flexible travel times.


Are you guaranteed a seat on a train?

Passengers are entitled to one seat per fare, to ensure other paying passengers are not excluded. Unless specific seats are assigned, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Seat availability is not guaranteed until we provide you with a reservation confirmation.


Is it cheaper to buy on Trainline or station?

Trainline rely entirely on making sales to people who fall for their adverts. On the contrary, whether you are buying in advance or on the day (which may be more expensive), it is always cheaper to use the actual operators' websites or book at a station.


Why are my seats not together on Trainline?

If your seats are not grouped together then either: the train is full, only limited availability left. the ticket types you have booked don't match. 2 separate bookings were made independently of each other.


What can I use instead of Trainline?

The main contenders are Omio, Rail Europe and Trainline. Those three are all legitimate companies, and established ticket resellers for European train tickets. (They're official partners of the European national train companies.) And they all put you on the same trains!


Does Trainline include seat reservation?

Free seat reservation allocated at the time of booking If you require a reservation you will be allocated one at the time of booking. Many carriers allow you to specify seating preferences, fill these in when prompted during the booking flow and we'll do our best to provide a seat meeting those preferences.


Can I sit in first class if no seats on train?

If overcrowding becomes intense, first class can be “declassified”, i.e. opened up to all passengers, regardless of their tickets. But there is no automatic right to occupy first class. Ad hoc declassification typically happens after other trains have been cancelled or seriously delayed.


Which seat is safest on train?

When choosing a seat on a train, try to get one in the center-most car, or one of the central cars. This will put you as far as possible from the most common points of issue for collisions or derailment, namely the front and end of the train. Also, when possible, sit in a rear-facing seat.


What happens if you skip seat selection?

Skipping seat selection doesn't mean you won't get a seat on the flight. You might get stuck in the middle seat if you don't pay for one. Even if seat selection is free, you might want to skip it if only lousy seats are available (see the upgrade hack” below).


How do I know if my train seat is reserved?

There will be a small sign above the seat's headrest indicating it's reserved.


Does it cost extra to reserve a seat on a train?

With point-to-point tickets, however, the ticket price includes the cost of any mandatory reservations (dates, times, and seat assignments are built in, just like with an airline ticket). If you opt to reserve a seat on a train that doesn't require reservations, you'll need to pay a small extra fee.


Can I reserve a seat with an open return?

The main benefit of booking a Return, instead of an Open Return is the option of reserving a seat. If you'd like to reserve a seat, search for a Return ticket, if you're not fussed about seat reservations and aren't sure when you're returning, pick an Open Return.