More than 60,000 "ironing board" seats on Thameslink trains are set to be replaced, according to BBC News, as Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) announced a fleet-wide upgrade less than 100 days after the operator came under public ownership. All 115 Thameslink trains will receive new seat cushions and backrests, the company said.
Context and timeline
GTR came into public ownership in May 2026, and the seat replacement announcement was made less than 100 days later, according to BBC News. The work is expected to begin in 2027 and take place over a two-year period, BBC News reported. The seat upgrades are part of wider improvements planned for the Thameslink network after GTR came into public ownership.
Scope of the seat replacement programme
The replacement programme covers all 115 Thameslink trains, according to GTR. Specific measures include:
- New seat cushions and backrests on all trains, replacing the much-criticised seats dubbed "ironing boards" by passengers.
- Upgraded seat cushions for first-class seats.
- Seat-back tables installed on the 70 trains that do not currently have them.
GTR said passenger feedback had played a key role in shaping the plans. "Our customers told us that comfort matters, which was why we'd been working on plans to improve seating on Thameslink services," said John Whitehurst, chief executive of GTR, as reported by BBC News.
Wider network improvements
Alongside the seat work, GTR said other measures include an increase in Gatwick Express services from December and a programme to refurbish train toilets and remove graffiti across the fleet. Thameslink operates services across the South East of England, including Sussex, Surrey and some areas of Kent, according to BBC News.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander commented on the programme:
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.
Alexander, as reported by BBC News, said wider rail reforms would continue under the planned Great British Railways organisation, which is intended to oversee rail services across England.
Upgrade summary
| Upgrade element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Seat cushions and backrests | All 115 trains, replacing "ironing board" seats |
| First-class seating | Upgraded seat cushions |
| Seat-back tables | Installed on the 70 trains currently lacking them |
| Gatwick Express services | Increased from December |
| Toilet refurbishment | Programme across the fleet |
| Graffiti removal | Programme across the fleet |
Watch list
- 2027: Start of the two-year seat replacement programme across all 115 Thameslink trains.
- December: Increase in Gatwick Express services, announced by GTR.
- Great British Railways: Planned organisation intended to oversee rail services across England, according to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
Sources:
