Thameslink seats likened to “ironing boards” will be upgraded to comfier alternatives across all of its trains, the Department of Transport (DfT) has said.
More than 60,000 standard class seat base cushions in all 115 Thameslink trains will be replaced, along with improved backrests, from next year.
First class seats will keep their existing backrest design but their seat base cushions will be upgraded under the proposed changes which will be gradually rolled out over two years.
Under the plans, seat back tables will be installed on the 70 Thameslink trains currently not fitted with them, the DfT said.
Thameslink is owned by Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) which was brought into public ownership at the end of May.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “This is what public ownership looks like in action.
“Less than 100 days since GTR transferred into public control, we’re delivering on the improvements commuters have been asking for.
“From next year, we’ll start getting rid of the dreaded ironing board seats so passengers can enjoy comfier, more pleasant journeys on some of Britain’s busiest commuter routes.
“We know fixing Britain’s railway is more than a refurb job and moves like this are just the start of putting our railway back on the right track.
“We’ve frozen fares for the first time in 30 years and publicly owned operators have added 76,000 extra seats on to the network.
“Once established, Great British Railways will focus relentlessly on delivering a reliable, modern service that puts passenger experience at the heart of everything it does.”
Thameslink operates busy commuter routes that travel through central London, and serves stations including London St Pancras, Brighton, Cambridge and Sevenoaks.
John Whitehurst, chief executive at GTR, said: “Our customers tell us that comfort matters, which is why we’ve been working on plans to improve seating on Thameslink services and give the millions of people who use our extensive network a better experience.
“Through customer research with everyday commuters, we’ve gathered valuable insight to help us shape the best possible solution for cushion comfort onboard our high-capacity trains. We’re pleased to move forward with plans and bring about those much-expected improvements.”
