Train coaches overcrowded

Anyone here work on the trains and can explain why coaches always seem to be overcrowded pease?

The last few train journeys I've made have been a nightmare with overcrowded coaches, standing room only and arguments over reserved seats. ;ve experienced this on routes from Sheffield to York & Leeds (which I think is the Bristol to Edinburgh line?) etc.

When the train pulls into the station all the seats are full, a few passengers get off but even more get on. Standing room only with passengers stood down the main aisles of the coaches. When the train makes a stop, a few get off, those standing rush for the few seats that have become vacant, more passengers get on etc. It all makes for a tense and uncomfortable passenger experience.

I realise the train companies don't know when open day tickets holders will choose to ride, but this seems common place with recent train journeys I've made.

Is all this because it's impossible for the train companies to predict how many passengers they are going to have on any given day, or are they purposely not putting enough coaches on the trains, or purposely over selling tickets to maximise sales income?

I guess the train could be full with people with open tickets so the operator wouldn't know which time of train they were getting on. However I think the overcrowded train I was on last was the Edinburgh to Bristol service where due to the distance you'd think they c/would have more than 3 coaches.

Yes, I've just checked and the trains running at the times I used them were CrossCountry.

I've only recently realised you can check when booking which train operator your train is run by, but it seems the CrossCountry service is the only one that runs direct between Sheffield & York. In future I might try and choose an alternative operator for other destinations.

My worry with making changes like that are if my train is late and misses the connecting train, or the connecting train is late, or doesn't arrive, hence why I always go the direct route if possible.

When you reserve a seat (I've never done it) do you only discover where your seat is upon boarding? Also, do you often find someone already sat in it?

When 'Reserved' cards used to get placed on the backs of seats it was easy to see which seats were reserved, but this seems to have been replaced by a tiny digital screen above each seat informing if it is available or not. To be honest I never think to look and have sometimes been asked to vacate my seat by a frustrated passenger who has reserved it. I also see other people doing the same. Seems, like me, nobody bothers to look?

Thanks. So is there a way of knowing where in the carriage the reserved seat will be, are their seating plans etc to view? For your example would I just have to Google search 'TransPennine Express coach E seat 21' for example?

On your first point I agree, but I'm the one sat in the aisle seat as I'm a big bloke and if I sat in the window seat then anyone sitting next to me would be partly hanging off their aisle seat. Therefore I sit in that seat leaving the window seat free for anyone who wants it, that way I move over a little giving then the full seat whilst I uncomfortably hang off my seat. But I do realise some might be intimidated or put off by the thought of sitting between the window and someone else. Me being big and ugly doesn't help them ether!

And just a few hours after booking my tickets they announce train strikes that same week!!

4th Dec isn't affected, but I know the disruption from the strikes that week will put 4th Dec in turmoil, with everyone disrupted and clambering on trains on that day and the operator network massively disrupted. Looks like I may have to try and change my ticket date if that's possible.

I never remember to look at the tiny screen above the seat to see if it's reserved, i'm normally too pleased to have found an empty seat I just jump in it. Then I realise I haven't checked and often have to do the 'standing up of shame' to check.

Occasionally the screens aren't working and then it's a gamble if your sat in someones seat.

When it used to be the paper ticket stuck into the top of each reserved seat it was much more obvious. But then I used to choose the seat I want, and move the reserved ticket onto another seat.

I upgraded to first class recently on my return train from Londinium to Sheffield. Enjoyable enough, though the coach was almost full. The trolley came down the coach with sandwiches, drinks, snacks etc. Then later on it came down again so I grabbed more.

The only problem was that I couldn't be arsed to leave my seat to inspect the cattle class coaches to see if they were overcrowded, which I really ought to have done as that could have provided even more satisfaction