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ACP Rail

  • September 23, 2025
  • 6 replies
  • 95 views

I have tried to book seat reservations on ACP Rail.  Every time I try to pay it gets refused.  Even if my card provider has confirmed and approved payment.  Totally mystified

Best answer by eurocity101

Just don’t use ACP rail at all. They take too much money for reservations which are actually free of charge (assuming you try to make reservations for trains in GB).

Use this guide instead: https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm

6 replies

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  • Railly clever
  • Answer
  • September 23, 2025

Just don’t use ACP rail at all. They take too much money for reservations which are actually free of charge (assuming you try to make reservations for trains in GB).

Use this guide instead: https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm


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  • Railly clever
  • September 23, 2025

Don't pay for any reservations in the UK, except for reservations on night trains. All UK day train reservations are free of charge. 


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  • Full steam ahead
  • April 4, 2026

I’m trying to use ACP to check if there are seats to London-Birmingham-leg (and others as well). The site is super slow and stops working after a few tries. Is it always like this?

It was advised to look other possibilities at Seat61, which advises to use Transpennine Express site to book seats. But that doesn’t work either or it doesn’t offert seats to the trains I want. Any tips? How to book seats in UK trains?


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  • Railmaster
  • April 4, 2026

I’m trying to use ACP to check if there are seats to London-Birmingham-leg (and others as well). The site is super slow and stops working after a few tries. Is it always like this?

It was advised to look other possibilities at Seat61, which advises to use Transpennine Express site to book seats. But that doesn’t work either or it doesn’t offert seats to the trains I want. Any tips? How to book seats in UK trains?

Forget about ACP. they charge money for free reservations. In addition, if TPE can't book a seat, ACP won't be able to either.

Also take into account that reservations normally open around 12 weeks in advance. If it's less than 12 weeks then please mention date and departure time.


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  • Full steam ahead
  • April 5, 2026

Thank you for your answer. Yes, it's more than 12 weeks away. I'm looking for an example 7th July from London Euston to Birmingham New Street at 8.10. PM. Interrail Planner says I can't book seats through interrail.eu and that I should use ACP. And the ACP site is so slow it's practically impossible to use. 

So should I just wait? Or are there any other ways to secure seats in UK trains if it's not the interrail.eu site?


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  • Full steam ahead
  • April 5, 2026

As ​@rvdborgt  said, do not use ACP, they charge for reservations that should be free.

Either use Transpennine express closer to the date, wait and go to a booking office in GB or just don’t reserve at all, a 20.10 on a Tuesday will not be particularly busy, there will be plenty of seats.

Despite what the planner says reservations are not compulsory on any British domestic trains except sleepers, Avanti have fully unreserved coaches C and U in 2nd class.