Seat reservations suspended temporarily on Greater Anglia

[whole diary]

[Lee]

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2019/05/seat-reservatiosn-suspended-temporarily-on-greater-anglia.html

Greater Anglia has announced that rail passengers using their Intercity trains between Norwich – Ipswich – Colchester and London are being advised that they will not be able to reserve seats for 6 months.

No reservations will begin for six months from Saturday 13 July 2019.

This action is part of the company’s preparation for bringing new trains into service. This is because there will be a period when both the old and new trains are in service, however, they have different reservation systems.

The train operating company is taking the step to prevent confusion or misunderstandings for passengers during this transitionary period.

Tickets such as Greater Anglia’s cheaper Advance fares can still be purchased, and a specific train time selected.

However, as the seating configuration inside the carriages on the new trains and the lettering on the outside is going to be different to the current trains.

[grahame]

If reservations are to be suspended for six months ... I have to wonder whether they whether they were / are an important facility and business generator that will cost Greater Anglia dear in passengers no longer travelling with them (e.g. using National Express), or whether seat reservations had / have become something of an anachronism on such a relatively frequent and short distance service.