Commuters on Chiltern Railways could travel to work in style, as the rail operator is reintroducing first-class carriages.
The upgraded train class will offer ‘spacious seats and improved connectivity for business and leisure travellers.’
It’s a big shake-up for Chiltern, as first-class seating hasn’t be available in more than a decade.
This is likely because their services, which connect London toBuckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands, are used by regular commuters, rather than passengers treating themselves on longer journeys.
But while it sounds boujee, you’ll still need to bring snacks, as this first-class offering doesn’t include any food or drink, unlike those found on LNER and Avanti West Coast routes.
While it might sound stingey, a spokesperson for Chiltern Railways told Metro that they ‘don’t believe that the market warrants a full catered offering at this point in time’.
But added: ‘There is a demand, especially in the leisure market, for greater differentiation in products.’
However, not all experts agree, and there are concerns that the move to first-class echoes the snooty heyday of premium travel.
Rail historian Christian Wolmar’s said first-class is ‘an outdated concept from the days of bowler-hatted gentlemen in their first-class compartment while their secretaries sat in second.’
‘That era has gone. I think for those sort of services, there are very few people who would really want to pay for a premium,’ he told the The Independent.
More upgrades to Chiltern trains
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The introduction of a first-class carriage isn’t the only way Chiltern trains are being upgraded.
Some of the trains still have carriages that date back to the 1970s. These will be swapped out to newer models, which will include:
- plug sockets and USB ports at every seat
- faster internet access
- digital information screens
- air conditioning
- improved luggage and bike storage facilities
- fully accessible toilets
Chiltern passengers have long been calling for improvements to the services, as over on the r/uktrains Subreddit, @Head_Praline_5193 previously asked: ‘Will Chiltern ever get any better?’
‘Chiltern trains are frequently overcrowded on all routes…it seems poorly served compared to just about every other mainline,’ they penned.
Tripadvisor reveals similar views, with one scathing one-star review from MixalisK142 describing their experience as ‘awful.’
‘I have never found a seat on this railway. I have to pay almost £40 every time to stand for an hour and a half. There are always more than 10 people standing in each coach,’ they argued, while @davidpC9073NE concluded that their journey was ‘poor.’
‘If I had a choice, I would never travel using this railway again.’
Meanwhile, Chiltern told Metro that they ‘look forward to offering an enhanced offering for all our customers.’
The UK’s busiest commuter trains
According to data released in 2024 by the Department for Transport, Chiltern runs the second busiest train route in England and Wales: the 7.46am service from Princes Risborough to London Marylebone.
The maximum load factor was calculated by dividing the passenger load of the carriages (excluding first-class) by the total capacity, and this popular commuter service had a rating of 165%. It was only topped by the 7.33am Thameslink service from Bedford to Three Bridges, at 204%.
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