LNER - Super Off Peak with Mandatory Reservation

[Robbouk]

Hi everyone,

I'm travelling with LNER later today and have a Super Off Peak ticket which I always thought was fine to be used on any train. I've just checked my ticket to make sure it is Super Off Peak and noticed that the reservation section states "Itinerary - Mandatory Reservations 04 October". Is this correct?

Thanks.

 

[jfollows]

LNER makes its trains all “mandatory” reservation, it’s not the ticket. Same as Avanti.

Just take a random train, https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C46954/2024-10-04/detailed#allox_id=0, “Reservations compulsory”.

Neither actually reserves all the seats on the train.

Essentially if you buy online, you’re forced to enter an itinerary for travel and your ticket comes with “mandatory” reservations for the trains you entered, but a ticket like yours remains usable on other trains as always.

For example,

On a 9 car Azuma, one half of carriage C is unreserved

You can also make your own reservation for a different train online, https://www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/make-a-reservation/

 

[westv]

LNER makes its trains all “mandatory” reservation, it’s not the ticket. Same as Avanti.

Just take a random train, https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C46954/2024-10-04/detailed#allox_id=0, “Reservations compulsory”.

Neither actually reserves all the seats on the train.

Essentially if you buy online, you’re forced to enter an itinerary for travel and your ticket comes with “mandatory” reservations for the trains you entered, but a ticket like your remains usable on other trains as always.

For example,

But don't do what I have seen and assume that your reservation applies to any train!

 

[Robbouk]

LNER makes its trains all “mandatory” reservation, it’s not the ticket. Same as Avanti.

Just take a random train, https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C46954/2024-10-04/detailed#allox_id=0, “Reservations compulsory”.

Neither actually reserves all the seats on the train.

Essentially if you buy online, you’re forced to enter an itinerary for travel and your ticket comes with “mandatory” reservations for the trains you entered, but a ticket like your remains usable on other trains as always.

For example,

You can also make your own reservation for a different train online, https://www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/make-a-reservation/

That's useful information - thanks for clarifying.

 

[yorkie]

Hi everyone,

I'm travelling with LNER later today and have a Super Off Peak ticket which I always thought was fine to be used on any train. I've just checked my ticket to make sure it is Super Off Peak and noticed that the reservation section states "Itinerary - Mandatory Reservations 04 October". Is this correct?

Thanks.

It's not correct, however LNER refuse to lift the false 'reservations mandatory' flag from their train.

LNER are government owned but so far there is no sign of the new government intervening to deal with LNER's questionable behaviour (of which this is just one example).

As it's cropped up many times before I will now lock this thread.