How is train travel working these days?

[BrassicaBabe]

So, I tried to book a return ticket from my home town into London. I could book pretty much any outward journey that I wanted. But ALL of the return journeys were showing as unavailable. I could see the train journey, but not book any tickets.

So I called trainline thinking there must be some kind of error. 20 mins of my life I'm never getting back. All he could say that the tickets were always booked. Social distancing etc.

Ok, I get that social distancing has reduced the tickets available, but ALL of the return journeys not being available doesn't add up.

Anyway, he could offer me an open return. But how does that work these days? In the old days we'd all just bundle on, grab any free seat or stand in the corridor if no seats available. What happens now? Why would I buy a ticket if on the face of things all the seats are booked.

Confused

The trains from where I live int London do not enforce social distancing. They couldn’t in away as if everyone was supposed to spred out the train would be full after 2 stops. Makes no sense

On other hand London buses, refuse to stop when they are technically full.

What date is it? Some of the lines into London are closed for works 05/09 and 06/09.

DS (who commutes by train) reports everything running as usual other than passenger numbers are down. He has no issues getting a weekly season.

My DS was in a similar position with a ticket back from London to the Midlands but said the train was virtually empty and it was easy to find a seat. I went home to Yorkshire on the east coast mainline with a reserved seat the same weekend and the 50% seats that are used seemed to be all reserved with announcements about not travelling without a seat reservation.

Running normally where I am but no onboard food and drink available. They're still fairly quiet, I travel off peak.

Thanks. The trains are definitely running. I just can't buy a specific ticket. Worried a little about buying an open ticket then finding that it was actually fully booked. But sounds like sod all has changed. So I'll wing it!