What? All of it?

[Edwards80]

I got on a train coming back from Bristol a few years ago and went to find my seat, I found it and there was a soldier (wearing full kit) sat in my seat. I started to ask him to move and then noticed that half of the train carriage was full of squaddies.

They all laughed at me when I stopped mid sentence and looked around, then the guy got up for me. Bloomin glad I was polite! Was a fun journey after that

People usually move when you ask when they have your seat, but there is usually a huff or a roll of the eyes to go with it.

As for bikes, the Manchester - Chester train can be crammed with them - usually travelling to Delamere forest. The guards don't seem to mind.

 

[BrumJim]

I've only ever had one person get huffy as I turfed them out of my reserved seat, and it was a well-dressed middle-aged couple who should know better.
Mind you, it was off-peak. They seem to be much politer on peak services.

 

[martint235]

My mother and father had reserved seats in a train to Manchester. There was a chap sat in their seat and he refused to move, they stood for 40 miles. They were in their seventies then.

Me and SWMBO caught a train from Preston to London a few years back and there were people sat in our reserved seats. The lady explained that as the train had been delayed leaving Glasgow, Virgin had done their usual trick of cancelling all seat reservations.We managed to find two seats, one behind the other, and took those. I tend to read and SWMBO listens to her ipod while travelling so no great loss.

At Wigan, a couple of blokes got on. We're not talking thugs or even well built but middle aged type guys. Anyway someone was sat in their seats and again the story was told about all seat reservations being cancelled. Well one of these blokes wasn't having any of it. He demanded to see the train manager who duly turned up and said there was nothing he could do and disappeared again. The guy continued to kick off until he uttered those fateful words "What is it with you Scottish people? Are you too stupid to read a seat reservation?". At this point a very big bloke stood up about half way down the carriage and made his way down. He explained in that soft Glaswegian brogue that at least half of the carriage were from Glasgow and that the man, in the interests of his health should probably start to be quiet. Now when you're reading this I imagine you're thinking I've paraphrased what he said to make it more palatable to a family audience but I haven't. That is close to word for word.

I thought it was hilarious!!! Needless to say the two gentlemen disappeared into the next carriage never to be seen again.

 

[Tynan]

Me: (my standard approach) "Excuse me I need to get my bike in there"

I'd have asked if he would mind moving to another seat so i could use the cycle storage area

There's no harm starting off polite before getting more formal