Seat reservations

Having a reservation on a long train journey can help you to relax before you travel, knowing that your seat is booked. It can also make a real difference to the train journey itself, particularly if you’re travelling during peak times.

Seat reservations can be requested on many routes, often with a choice of standard (known as ‘airline style’) or table seats, facing forwards or backwards. There are many benefits now offered to rail passengers by UK train operating companies; many have introduced WiFi provision, power sockets, catering and other in-coach facilities to make your journey more enjoyable.

Seat reservations are mandatory when you book Advance train tickets online – an Advance ticket is not valid without this reservation. If you are asked to present your ticket on the train and you do not have both the ticket and the reservation, you may be charged for a new ticket.

Seat reservations are not mandatory for Off-Peak or Anytime tickets, and are therefore not available on all routes.

You can reserve your seat on many routes with MyTrainTicket as part of the booking process; simply indicate your preferences by checking the appropriate boxes when you book your cheap train tickets. Find out more about the choices you can make by clicking on the ‘More information about seat reservation options’.

MyTrainTicket, like all train operating companies, depends upon the National Reservation System for its seat reservations. Seat allocations are subject to availability and whilst we cannot guarantee that your preferences can be met, we do ask for all details.

Don’t worry if you forget to request seat reservations. Most trains will have a coach without reservable seats for passengers who have purchased online but have not reserved seats, and for those who buy train tickets direct from the railway station.

Please don’t forget to take your reservation details with you when you travel!