Cross country trains?

[notenoughtogoround]

Hello, has anyone been on a cross country (eg Manchester to London) train recently? I wasn’t sure if they leave seats free next to reserved seats etc.? Overall, did it feel safe? Thank you!

I haven't been on a train but my niece is going on a train at the end of May with a school friend and her family. They have 4 reserved seats in four separate airline rows, so I guess it is every other seat. They couldn't even have seats as the three family members.

Not recently but I used them a few times in the autumn. All bookings are for reserved seats, but at least once someone was booked opposite me at a table seat, so you might be better off at a non-table seat. Very few people travelling overall though, despite fewer trains, but that may change now more people are vaccinated and feel confident about travel/being called back to office?

You need to book and there are very limited bookings available, so there are free seats around you.

One journey last summer I had a 4-table to myself and someone tried to sit opposite me and not in their booked seat, the ticket examiners were being very vigilant with moving people about.

Depends on the route but some trains are increasingly busy. It is not mandatory to leave a seat free but people are encouraged to socially. This is not always possible if the train is busy. Commuter trains in my area are back to pre pandemic busy but this is exacerbated by a reduction in the timetable.