HAVING been invited by relations in Forres to spend this Christmas with them, I have for some weeks been trying to reserve two seats on a ScotRail service from Larbert to Forres with ScotRail.
Although I could book and pay for two tickets for travel, seat reservations had not yet been opened for travel during the periods quoted, December 24 and 27, so I was required to keep calling back every Friday. Seat reservations are important as I am nearly 70 years of age and have no desire to have to stand for all or part of the journey, indeed we were intending to travel first class as a sort of Christmas treat and are reluctant to buy first class tickets with no guarantee of a seat. I am also aware that one could travel with LNER but its times are not suitable, as it has only one train each day making this journey.
Today (November 29) I called again to inquire whether seat reservations had yet been opened up for the period required only to be told that ScotRail would not be allowing any person to reserve any seat for a period of six months with no reason given ("Disruption fears as Scotrail to scrap seat reservations on inter-city routes", The Herald, November 29). So Christmas at home it is. Thank you, ScotRail.
James Kelly, Larbert.
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