Key facts
- All 115 Thameslink trains will have their seats upgraded with new cushions and backrests.
- The upgrade aims to address passenger complaints about the thin and hard 'ironing board' seats.
- The work is scheduled to commence in 2027 and is expected to take two years to complete.
- The trains were built by German manufacturer Siemens following a £1.6bn contract awarded in 2013.
- A passenger campaign group had warned about the seat discomfort in 2014 before the trains entered service.
The 'ironing board' seats on all 115 Thameslink trains are set to be replaced with more comfortable cushions and backrests, according to an announcement by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. This upgrade addresses long-standing passenger complaints about the hard and thinly padded seats, which were a feature of the Class 700 trains rolled out between 2016 and 2019. The Department for Transport (DfT) had awarded a £1.6 billion contract for these trains in 2013, with procurement documents emphasizing high capacity and reduced weight, which some believe led to the uncomfortable seating design. Railfuture, an independent rail passenger campaign group, had warned about the seat discomfort in 2014, urging a redesign before series production, but the seats were not changed. The DfT stated that renegotiating the private sector contract was not possible until public ownership of the railways took effect earlier this year. The work to replace the seats is slated to begin in 2027 and will span two years. John Whitehurst, chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), confirmed that passenger feedback was instrumental in shaping these plans, highlighting that customer comfort is a priority.