Thameslink plans to replace its widely criticized train seats with more comfortable alternatives, following the recent public ownership takeover of Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR). The upgrade will see enhanced cushioning added to the base and backrests of all 115 Class 700 trains across the network, with the rollout expected to begin next year and take up to two years to complete.

The refurbishment will involve installing over 60,000 cushioned seats and fitting seat-back tables on 70 trains that currently lack them. Siemens, the manufacturer of the trains, is understood to be funding the overhaul. However, legroom will remain unchanged, and no power sockets will be added as part of the upgrade.

Thameslink operates some of the busiest commuter routes into central London, including the morning Bedford to St Pancras service, which recent data identified as the most crowded in the country. The existing seats, installed in 2017 during a £2.8 billion fleet investment, have drawn complaints from passengers who describe them as akin to sitting on ironing boards.

Ahead of the announcement, passengers were shown five potential seat designs at Blackfriars station in London under a nondisclosure agreement. The proposed options included new colors, such as red, and patterns featuring British landmarks. Several customer feedback sessions have been held over recent months, with participants sworn to secrecy.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander hailed the plans as evidence of the benefits of public ownership, noting that the upgrade is among the first improvements since GTR was nationalized in May. “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 our busiest commuter routes,” Alexander said. She also highlighted wider government efforts, including a freeze on rail fares for the first time in three decades and the addition of 76,000 extra seats on the network through publicly owned operators.

The decision to upgrade seats was included in an initial 100-day plan submitted by Thameslink following the change in ownership, reflecting a government priority to improve passenger experience amid ongoing rail reforms. While the current seats were designed to maximize available space on heavily congested trains, industry experts acknowledge that their minimal cushioning has contributed to widespread passenger dissatisfaction.