Possibly a stupid question about train journey

[TellerTuesday]

At the weekend I went via train from York to Kings Cross.

Now I don't travel by train very often but I have given far too much headspace to this and I still don't understand at all so wondered if someone could enlighten me.

There were 3 of us travelling. On the outward journey person A sat travelling forwards and B & C (me) sat travelling backwards. We sat at a table on the right hand side of the carriage and saw various other trains on travelling in the opposite direction through the window on that side.

On the return journey we travelled in the same direction, same layout of seats and I just don't understand how that is possible.

I always book a set seat for free through Trainline.

Hang on, you were leaving from Kings Cross? Which is the start/end of the line? So it's obvious before you set off which seats will be facing the direction of travel because the trains can only go one way out of the station. So I am confused why you only realised when you set off.

Trains are designed to run in both directions without having to turn around. Most long-distance trains, especially those traveling on main routes like York to Kings Cross, have what's called a "push-pull" system. This means the train can be controlled from either end, so instead of turning the entire train around at the destination, they just switch which end is leading.
How it works:

• On the outward journey, the engine or powered unit is pulling the train (leading from the front), and you experienced the layout in a particular way.
• On the return journey, instead of turning the train around, the powered unit on the other end might take over (now pulling from what was previously the rear). However, the layout inside the train remains the same.

Because your seats were at a table with forward-facing and backward-facing arrangements, and the train itself didn’t turn around, the experience of sitting forwards or backwards for each traveler would have felt similar both ways. This is a common design for modern trains, and that’s why it seemed like you were travelling the same way even though you were going in the opposite direction!

By Jove! I knew about this before. (I was in Government, don't you know.)

You have clearly found a 'warp' in the time vortex continuum. Please call the POLICE immediately ( but make sure that you family are in a safe place first) and grab a roll of tin foil.

Hang on, that doesn't make sense as they don't go up the aisle together 🙂 But same principle. (I am giving this far too much head space.)

Yep I think this explains it. Hopefully the OP understands now as I am, struggling to work out how to explain it more simply.

On the train back from King's Cross, when you got on the train how did you choose your seats? Were they reserved or did you choose them yourself? And if you chose them, how did you choose?

If you had stayed in your seat at Kings Cross and not got off the train, you would then have been facing forward on the return journey.

If you were facing backwards on the return journey that means the seats must have been different from those you travelled down on, regardless of the numbering.

but must have been on the other side of the aisle that time, making it feel the same.

Yep, A B and C didn't need to change how they sat so that C had window to the right and aisle to the left, because they were sitting the other side of the aisle, which thanks to the train not turning round has the same effect.

So I think (but please others correct me if I am wrong) I my awful diagram OP and friends were sitting in table 1 on the way to King's Cross, and table 2 on the way back.

If you'd sat in table 1 for the return journey, B and C would have needed to sit with the window on their right to ensure they went backwards. But sitting the other side of the aisle in table 2 this isn't necessary. (I tihnk I put B and C the wrong way round but you get the idea hopefully)

This is like a philosopher's question.

I can imagine bearded men sitting around a marble table, debating it for days

To be fair I do get your question. Basically seat A was forward facing on the outward journey and you’d expect it to be backward facing on the way back

except it wasn’t

the only explanation is that one way it was a reverse configuration train.

our London train carriages are A-K with A at the front going to Manchester and K at the front going to London. But occasionally they put on a “reverse configuration train” which confuses everyone especially the first class folks (coaches G-K) who suddenly have a long walk when they get to London. The configuration inside is the opposite of the usual set up. I think it happens when some random diversion has happened and it’s just too complicated to “invert” the direction of the train.

I checked with my son who often travels on LNER and they don't have electronic seat numbers (though they have electronic reservations). So that isn't the answer.

I think it's the reverse configuration thing - I've seen it happen on Paddington-bound trains (and those leaving Paddington) as well.