Travelling back from London Paddington to Carmarthen I was told my seat reservation wasn't valid as it was in the dining car. This was the normal first class carriage with several extra staff standing around.

Couple of thoughts...firstly why book me a seat reservation that I can't use? Normally on this route the reservations don't download or you're in the wrong half of the train so this was a new one for me. Doubly annoying as the inward journey saw us all turfed off at Swansea for an unknown reason so another lost reservation.

And secondly it wasn't exactly well advertised. Didn't see anything when I booked the ticket or even at Paddington when boarding. I don't think I saw anyone eating just a number of people being told they couldn't have their seat and to look elsewhere. I can't see this being a great money spinner for GWR  without promotion and a relatively short route. All its done for me is reinforce my not very positive view of GWR.

 
Which service (time) was that?

 
The 17:48 from London Paddington to Carmarthen normally has a Pullman service on it.   As a rule this is served in the first class coach at the London end of the train.    This means it is in the five car set which is uncoupled at Swansea and goes to west Wales.

Normally the reservation system doesn't book seats where a Pullman is scheduled to be - but then I have frequently seen the system struggle with the South Wales services.   Frequently it announces "the front portion will detach at Swansea and then call at Llanelli etc" when in reality it means the rear portion.     It gets really confused with the summer service to Pembroke Dock where the train reverses twice!

Looking at tomorrow night's service it seems it has allowed five more reservations than there are spaces in that coach, so I assume they will have to lay-up some tables in the adjoining first class coach.

 
Interesting. I've been a regular 'commuter' on that service and never noticed or heard an announcement for the dining service. Is it relatively new or a summer only service? It's probably something I would have taken advantage of if I knew about it.

Of course having just looked at booking a ticket for next week there's now a pop up for Pullman dining which I haven't seen before.

And yes the reservations on this train a routinely wrong/missing which probably added to my frustration.

 
Probably best not to discuss this within hearing range of member 'broadgage'. 

 

I cannot remember exactly when an evening one was introduced but I think it was as restaurant services resumed after the pandemic.  Hitherto there was a breakfast service to London and a brunch service back.

 

Not easy to hide it