Train tiks conundrum

[Chewsday]

So I am trying to book train travel for me and children, with friends joining us a few stops along and travelling together the next two hours to the same destination. Am I being stupid or is there no way to actually choose seat reservations, and thus no way to actually sit together? If I buy all the tickets from my stop to the end destination and then send the relevant e tickets to my friend will that work for them joining part way? Or will that not work. Brain frazzled too easily today. Gah!

If you book on lner you can select your seats before you pay for them. If you both book at the same time you can discuss and select seats so you're all together. Don't know if other services do similar.

Used to be you could go into a manned station and book train seats in person but with the advent of advanced tickets I don't think you can any more

Ooo good idea. Just had a look and that works for LNER but bloody GWR (who we’re travelling with) don’t do the same thing - you can only give preferences eg table/aisle. And if you book with LNER and you’re travelling with another operator you only get the preferences too. Bother! Thought you had cracked it there for a moment! Thank you anyway 🙏

I’d be very careful around the buying tickets from your station & your friend getting on later - the e-ticket’s unlikely to let her through the barrier & then she’s depending on the train staff to let her through, so you want to be certain it’s allowed.