Train passengers refusing to move

[HolyGuac]

Well, I'm really disappointed in the general public. AIBU to be shocked at the hard faced people in our sets refusing to move?

I booked train tickets and reserved seats about three months ago as we are having a special pre Christmas Day out with my two kids and husband.

Get on the train and the seat reservation numbers above the seats (the digital display ones are on the blink), it says from Euston...we are going to Euston, there are people in our seats who are refusing to move.

One said there's plenty of other seats, there are other seats but not in a table which is what i had booked.

We moved on found separate seats (two two's behind each other) I've been back to ask them nicely if they could move as there are no other table seats, this is a special trip etc etc they've flat out refused.
One said someone took Her seat which is why she moved to our seats, I asked why she couldn't have asked for them to move and got some blather about just taking any seat as the displays are not working!

I'm really disappointed by people today, what a bunch of arses. They are sat there knowing it's not their booked seats.
I would never take someone's seat like that.

There's highly unlikely to be a vacant unreserved table available. Ask the conductor what his plan is when the people who have reserved this theoretical spare table turn up wanting you to move?!

He can make the people sat in the table sealers reserved seats move too, while he's on a roll.

Happily settled in first class now, the seats did show reserved so when they sat in them they knew they were reserved it was just backwards. From Euston not to.
I don't see the point of making a reservation if this happens often, but mostly they were really rude and complete arses. It was two different couples. They had the table seat and refused to move. People should just be decent, there were other places they could have sat and they were not a group together.
The hardfaced attitude it what really annoys me as they were in the wrong and didn't care that it put someone else out.
Anyway we are settled and will enjoy the rest of the journey.

£2.50 extra you paid for a reserved seat which you didn't get, I suppose.

It's normally free to reserve seats, but that isn't the point. OP had planned a special day and had got the table so she could keep her DC amused.

ReanimatedSGB Reservations are free in the UK. OP can complain to the train company that their reservations weren’t working and thus missed out on her seats that she’d chosen for a specific reason.

I hope the ticket conductor booted them out!

Ah, cross-post! Good update, OP. Glad it was sorted.

What rude twats, but there's no deterrent to this kind of behaviour if the guard won't do anything. I like the idea of sitting on the table, or putting your luggage on the table, waiting to see if one of them gets up for the loo etc and taking the seat .... not with your kids there though! I guess if this happened to me now I would demand to go in first class if the train company employee can't or won't do anything.

Ha you got upgraded! Make sure you tell them when you get off the train

This sort of attitude does worry me. My elderly parents are due to make a 5 hour train journey in a few weeks - they've reserved seats but I keep worrying about what will happen if some arsehole won't let them sit down. My dad is partially sighted and my mum has limited mobility, so they can't stand easily for that length of time.

the seats did show reserved so when they sat in them they knew they were reserved it was just backwards. From Euston not to.

If they were showing 'from' they hadn't been updated from the journey up, therefore every reservation would be wrong.

Glad it's sorted. Was going to suggest you stand close but with your back to them, until you feel a fart coming along.

I imagine the train staff must come across this more and more often, it's just bad behaviour on behalf of the complete stars that won't move. I asked straight out "so you won't move?" I just got a no back. Hard faced and rude they were. We shall enjoy the rest of our journey anyway.

Result OP! Hope you enjoy the rest of the trip out.

Make sure you wave at the asshats who stole your original seats - let them know you've been reclining in first class thanks to them.

I'd get their stuff and throw it away so they have to retrieve it and sit down. Then ignore them the whole journey.

I travelled via Euston this week with DS, and we found someone in our reserved seats. They moved without any fuss at all, thank god, because as PP says, don't know what I'd have done - you can't physically drag them out of the seats.

Very unreasonable of people not to move from reserved seats - but don't let it put a crimp on your day out OP.

That happened when I first took my youngest, adult child with obvious SN, to Manchester. The lovely conductor took us to first class and there were only two other travellers. It really is so lovely compared to cattle class. 🧐 😁

The scumbags have done you a huge favour, OP. It’s an even nicer start to your break.

Happily settled in first class now

Result!

screamingvalenta surely to god no-one would sit on their arse watching an elderly and infirm couple struggle to stand on a long journey?

I hope you said very loudly you were off to first class! What dicks

Why are you posting on here instead of just asking the conductor/train guard to come and move them?

Unless there’s been an announcement saying all reservations are cancelled (in my experience only done if previous trains delayed/cancelled or they’re a carriage + short) if there’s been no announcements your reservations are valid and the conductor will swop them seats.

Great update OP!

There must be a way you can let CFs know they’ve managed to get you a First Class seat through their CFkery!

Good result. Just to rub it in I’d walk though their carriage and make sure I’m on my mobile, Dom jolly style saying “sorry the phone is breaking up, let me get back to my first class carriage where I will get a better reception”

All you keyboard heros who would start grabbing other people's belongings or trying to sit on their laps - really? And if they either punch you or decide to press charges (you are not 'within your rights' to touch or manhandle other people or their belongings, even if they are sitting in 'your' seat) how is that going to make things better? And do you want your DC to learn that it's OK to escalate to getting physical first, just because you're 'right'?

My elderly parents are due to make a 5 hour train journey in a few weeks - they've reserved seats but I keep worrying about what will happen if some arsehole won't let them sit down. My dad is partially sighted and my mum has limited mobility, so they can't stand easily for that length of time.

The rail system is terrible for people in that situation. I have a similar situation with my elderly parents. A while ago they booked advance (and therefore reasonably priced) seats on a Crosscountry train, but then the train was cancelled. They couldn't simply get on the next train because they then had no seat reservations and can't stand for four hours. They had to give up and cancel their trip.