How busy is the 11:06 Paddington to Plymouth?

[Remind]

On a Friday in school holidays?

I haven't been able to book seats. Will it matter?

[Bunbaker]

I travel quite frequently between Sheffield and London. Very few seats are not reserved. Unfortunately you can't reserve seats this far in advance, so I would wait until you can (usually three months in advance) and then book reservations. You probably won't get a seat unless you reserve one.

[Remind]

Thanks Bunbaker. I was wondering if it's because all seats have already been reserved. It is for a trip 12 weeks away - May h-t. We'll be travelling there the Friday before (inset day honest!) and I've tried several different trains but all say no seats are available to book.

[Bunbaker]

I would keep checking the website over the next few days. I had this last summer when I took DD and some friends to an event in London and couldn't reserve seats so far in advance. Even at 12 weeks in advance they didn't show the tickets, so I kept checking every day until they did. I really wouldn't want to travel that far sitting on a suitcase by the toilets.

[Remind]

Yes, quite.

I'm worried the reduced tickets won't be available if I don't book now though. Is it possible to book seats after buying the tickets?

[Bunbaker]

I think you should ring the train company. I just waited until I could book the seats and reserve them at the same time. Luckily they were cheaper.

I think it is ludicrous that train companies don't let you book more than three months ahead.

[traviata]

also try another website.

i can't remember which way round it went, but The Trainline did have seat reservations available and the rail company didn't, or the other way round.

[bullseyebraces]

You can reserve seats once you have bought tickets, although they will only allow a certain number of reserved seats on each train.

The Paddington-Plymouth train is always busy, IME.

[westcountrywoman]

I travel the Plymouth to Paddington route regularly and they quite often don't release the seats until about 8-10 weeks in advance. They release the cheaper "advance" fares at the same time so hang in for a few weeks (check each day) and you'll be able to book seats and save some pennies too!

[spababe]

There should be at least one carriage of unreserved seats. Often, a lot of people get off at Reading as well.
Check the exisiting reservations to see where they are for as they may be for a part of the train journey but not the bit you need eg if the train is Paddington to Plymouth and you are only going to Exeter the reservation might be Exeter to Plymouth then you would be Ok to sit there.
People reserve and don't turn up. Check the reservations after the train has left Paddington.
Finally if you have to sit on the floor make sure you sit in the main carriage and NOT by the loos as the ends of each carriage are the crumple zones.

[Bunbaker]

"Finally if you have to sit on the floor make sure you sit in the main carriage"

I don't think you can do that as you are blocking the way for people walking down the carriage.