Bedford commuters travelling south on the Thameslink line will see the back of the much-criticised ‘ironing-board’ seats from next year.
Publicly owned operator GTR has partnered with Siemens Mobility to install memory foam cushions across all 115 trains in the fleet.
Seat upgrades
The rollout of more than 60,000 new seat cushions includes improved winged backrests to provide better shoulder and head support.
These changes come at no additional cost to taxpayers, as the work was agreed under a pre-existing contract between GTR and Siemens Mobility.
Installation begins in 2027 and will be phased over two years as part of an 11-year fleet overhaul to avoid disrupting services on the network.
First class seats will receive the same updated cushions, and seat-back tables are being added to the 69 trains that currently lack them.
Public ownership
Read: Bedford’s Thameslink trains to lose ‘ironing board’ seats as part of railway renationalisation
The announcement coincides with the 100-day milestone of GTR returning to public ownership. Over £3.6 million is being spent to revamp exteriors and refresh onboard facilities across the network.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Just 100 days since GTR’s services transferred into public control, we’re delivering the improvements commuters have been asking for – this is what public ownership looks like in action.
“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. We’ve frozen fares for the first time in 30 years and publicly owned operators have added 76,000 extra seats onto the network.
“Great British Railways will focus relentlessly on delivering a reliable, modern service that puts a better experience at the heart of everything it does for passengers.”
Passenger feedback
The redesigned standard class cushion provides up to 57% more give than the current seat, achieving higher compression rates under industry testing.
John Whitehurst, CEO of GTR, added, “Today is a brilliant milestone for GTR and our customers. Just 100 days since coming into public ownership, we’re showing how listening to passengers can deliver real, practical improvements.
“I’m delighted that passengers have helped us shape this new Thameslink seat cushion and backrest. By testing comfort options with the people who use our trains every day, we’ve chosen a cushion that will make journeys more comfortable across our network.
“I’m really pleased for our customers and look forward to seeing the new seats come on board from 2027.”
Meanwhile, Aglaja Schneider, joint CEO and managing director of rolling stock and customer services at Siemens Mobility UK&I, said: “This project is about more than refurbishment.
“It is about listening to passengers and making tangible upgrades that enhance comfort on one of Britain’s busiest rail networks.
“By introducing upgraded seat cushions, redesigned backrests and new seat back tables across the Class 700 fleet, we are improving the experience of the millions of people who rely on Thameslink services every year.
“I’m proud of our Siemens Mobility teams who maintain this fleet and keep passengers moving every day.
“This investment reflects our commitment to a modern railway focused on the passenger, and we look forward to seeing these enhancements make a real difference to journeys across the network.”
