Should we abolish First Class?
Watchdog publishes survey findings and launches passenger consultation
London TravelWatch has said that First Class carriages in London commuter trains are unnecessary and should be freed up to increase capacity for everyone, especially at peak times.
Sharon Grant, Chair, London TravelWatch said: “We know that capacity is a problem on London’s commuter rail services, and we think that the provision of First Class on short journeys is unnecessary. We know that the majority of users - including those in First Class - believe that First Class is unnecessary on local journeys of an hour or less.”
London TravelWatch was keen to find out what passengers felt about First Class travel and the role it could have in increasing capacity. We conducted an
online survey of rail users in London and the south-east which shows that the length of journey was the main aspect in passengers’ perception of First Class.
“We are calling on rail passengers in London and the Home Counties to tell us their view on this before we discuss this with London’s rail companies: is keeping First Class important, or should we use First Class carriages to increase capacity of Standard Class?"
Passengers wishing to share their views on First Class travel in London and its surrounding areas can e-mail us at info@londontravelwatch.org.uk or write to us at our postal address.
The full Passenger Attitudes to First Class travel survey findings can be downloaded.
For any media requests, please call Jo deBank in the London TravelWatch press office on 020 7726 9953.
The voice of London's transport users
27 July 2010