rail travel-Euston-Edinbu rgh Aggressive Travellers

where was the guard; presumably unable to proceed along the train.
how can anyone expect people to stand while they take up a seat with luggage.
never heard of buying a ticket for the luggage.
did that really happen. what was the cost.
no wonder there were protests.

It sounds dreadful.
A complete shambles.

But what a way to have to travel, and pay exorbitant fares too, for a degrading and thoroughly unpleasant experience. Not surprising Bea65 won’t be taking the train again any time soon.

Delila

“They thought they were doing the correct thing buying 2 seats” & “ I had also bought extra seat for my luggage”.

Sorry, missed that.
Perhaps Bea65 moved her luggage so someone could sit down?

Delila

Bea65 says she and the other two women all paid for 2 seats each in order to keep their luggage close to them.

No, Bea65 said two separate women, whom she presumably did not know, had bought two seats each and were being harangued by three men and she felt bad for not standing up for these women.

Bea65 you did the right thing staying out of it in these trying circumstances.

Who was in the right?
The women had paid for an extra seat for their luggage.
The men had paid for a seat but had to stand.

I couldn't let someone stand if they had paid for a ticket.

However, the train company was at fault.

I never travel on a train without headphones. I don't want to hear or get involved in other people's conversations or unpleasant discussions.
I once forgot them, and broke my journey to go and buy a cheap pair, begging the ticket person to let me out the station for ten minutes as I felt ill.

Put the luggage where the person was standing and then the person could sit down. I would never force someone to stand all the way to Edinburgh while my case occupied a seat.

“They thought they were doing the correct thing buying 2 seats” & “ I had also bought extra seat for my luggage”.

Delila

Bea65 says she and the other two women all paid for 2 seats each in order to keep their luggage close to them.

I very much doubt they did....would have cost a fortune....and OP doesn't say that on her post

Bea65 says she and the other two women all paid for 2 seats each in order to keep their luggage close to them.

You do not pay extra to book a seat. You would need to buy an actual journey ticket ie another persons fare. I very much doubt folk would do that as tickets already cost a fortune. At least long distance trains still have guards - it would be much worse when it is driver only trains.

I used to travel from London to Wales every Christmas on the train and it was always overcrowded and a really miserable journey. I usually had to sit on the floor, or on my suitcase with people trying to push past me. Going back to London was slightly better depending on when I travelled, but close to New Year would also be too crowded.

On such a stressful journey I imagine the luggage on seats, even though paid for, was like a red rag to a bull, and manners and reason flew out of the window.

If you complain re the overcrowding I'd be interested in any response you receive.

The trains are so crowded. I have had some truly awful journeys to my DD in Cheshire ..... crammed in the little place by the toilets, sitting on the drop down seat with 10 others rammed in the space and my face against someone's arse. I complained and got some money back. But it was madness ... no-one could get to the loo.

I'm sorry that you had such an unsatisfactory journey Bea65.

But I think we pay for the journey, not for the seat. I think I'd be very put out if the train was full and someone thought it was fairer for their suitcase to take up a seat, rather than me.

I've never heard of it either....you don't pay extra to book even 1 seat

[Nana3] believe its because there is not enough luggage space and people buy the extra seat as there are airport stops @Bham International and know they can't keep an eye on their luggage in the small space provided..this was a really overpacked train and no-one could use facilities and to get off train you had to ask people to move so you could get off and then they got back on ..it was truly awful and no Rail transport officer in sight until you off train..

I've never heard of people buying a seat for their luggage. Sorry you had such a terrible journey.
I'm certainly put off travelling by train, they are often overcrowded.