When you book your advance tickets for intercity train travel in Britain, you are automatically given seat reservations without charge. Consequently, when Shirley and I boarded our London-bound train we headed straight to Coach C and successfully found our seats there. The train was full and following some hold-ups and a cancellation, it became even more full by the time we reached Derby. The guard came over the tannoy, announcing that all reservations were now cancelled in order to accommodate the extra passengers. It was now standing room only. Further down the track, we arrived in the city of Leicester where plenty more travellers were waiting on the platform. Our carriage was pretty quiet so all could hear the conversation between a young woman who had just boarded and an older woman who was sitting in the window seat across the aisle from me. YOUNG WOMAN Excuse me. You are sitting in my seat. OLDER WOMAN All seat reservations have been cancelled. The guar...