Commuters travelling through London on Thameslink are set to get comfier journeys as the train operator prepares to replace seats which have been nicknamed “ironing boards”.
More than 60,000 standard class seat base cushions will be swapped out on all 115 Thameslink trains, with improved backrests also part of the upgrade.
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."
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First class seat bases will also be upgraded, though their backrests will remain unchanged.
Seat back tables will be installed on 70 Thameslink trains not currently equipped with them.
Thameslink, now under public ownership after the transfer of Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) at the end of May, operates busy commuter routes that travel through central London.
It serves routes through central London and beyond.
Stations along the route include 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."
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