Seat reservations depend on where you are travelling and the type of ticket you have.
Choose your region below for more details.
Travelling in the UK
Advance tickets
If you booked an Advance Single, the seat you were assigned cannot be changed.
Flexible tickets (Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak, Anytime)
These ticket types allow seat changes.
How to amend your seat
Log in to your Trainline account
Open the booking you want to change
Tap Change date/time
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When searching:
choose the same date/time if you only want to change your seat
choose a different time if you want to change your train
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Look for the Reserve button
If it’s missing, the service is non-reservable or fully booked
Group seat reservations
For group bookings:
Our system selects the best available seats together
Seat numbers may seem spread out, but may be around a table
Many long-distance trains have unreserved carriages, making it easier to sit together on the day
Travelling in Mainland Europe
Seat reservation availability varies by train operator.
During booking, we show the reservation options for the train you select.
1. Free seat reservation (included)
Some carriers automatically assign seats.
You can usually add seating preferences during checkout.
2. Paid seat reservation (optional)
Some carriers let you purchase a seat reservation.
You’ll see this option under the comfort / reservation menu during booking.
3. Premium seat upgrade
Some services offer an upgrade to a Premium seat, which can include:
roomier seats
quieter carriages
snacks or drinks
Wi-Fi or newspapers (varies by carrier)
4. Non-reservable trains
Common on regional and commuter routes.
You can sit in any available seat in your ticketed class.
Amending seat reservations (Europe)
Once booked, we cannot change a European seat reservation.
Buying a seat reservation after booking
Some carriers allow reservations to be added later.
To do this, visit the operator’s website and enter your journey details.
Useful links:
SBB / CFF – seat reservations available directly on their website
Deutsche Bahn – seat reservations available on DB’s website