The familiar rush of anxiety as you watch the platform numbers scroll, hoping yours appears before the throngs of passengers descend – we’ve all been there. It’s a common scenario: you find yourself sprinting through a station, hoping to snag one of the few remaining seats on a packed commuter train, often ending up sweaty and standing for the entire journey. But fret no more, because travel expert Chelsea Dickenson, known online as the Cheap Holiday Expert, has revealed a simple trick to identify carriages with the most available seats, and chances are you’ve never noticed it before.
In a recent video titled ‘I Bet You Didn’t Know This Train Tip’, Chelsea highlights a feature on electronic platform signs that can help you find a less crowded cabin. It’s a seemingly obvious detail that many have overlooked. While waiting for your train, take a closer look at the platform signs that list the stops. Below the destination list, you’ll find a symbol representing a train. This seemingly simple icon holds a wealth of information about the carriage occupancy.
‘The more colored in it is, the more busy and full it is, the more booked seats there are,’ Chelsea explains. ‘And therefore, if you do not have a seat booked, you are best heading to the ones that are not filled in at all.’ This simple tip can make a world of difference when you’re trying to secure a seat on a packed train.
Chelsea also highlights that different colors indicate first-class carriages, usually displayed against an orange background on the platform signs. She emphasizes the importance of checking these signs when traveling without a reserved seat, as it can help you find a less crowded carriage.
While this hack doesn’t reveal the exact number of passengers in each carriage, it provides a useful indicator of where to head. It can be especially helpful for identifying unreserved carriages, which are often the same on every train for specific train companies.
This revelation has sparked a debate among travelers. Some have admitted they were oblivious to this trick, while others have confessed to knowing it for years. One commenter on TikTok exclaimed, ‘Thank you. I never knew that!’ while a follower on Instagram said, ‘I didn’t know that, will be looking out for these when I’m travelling around.’
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a novice commuter, this simple tip could change your train journey for the better. So next time you’re waiting for your train, remember to take a closer look at the platform signs – you might just discover a hidden gem that leads you to a comfortable and less crowded carriage.
