You should grow a beard, then you'll always be the last person people sit next to.
It's really quite a bonus!
I'm quite lucky with my train commuting, it's usually end to end so I'm guaranteed a seat each way and more importantly it's only ever a few days every month!
hi @revisesociology, hmm you might have something there - me with a big bushy beard with a backpack on my back running for the train, ... never mind getting a seat I think I might get the whole carriage to myself ! :-)