Like most things they are designed by people who don't use the trains, probably some overpaid consultancy!
They might look good on paper, but in reality they aren't at all practical.
I regularly get a Northern train to Liverpool Lime Street and 9 times out of 10 it is a 156 which is sufficient for the number of people who are travelling who are mainly commuters.
But when you see a 150 appear in the distance you can hear a collective groan from everyone on the platform because some people know that they will end up standing.
Someone commented earlier on about the 3 seats across configuration. Most people would rather stand than squeeze themselves into the middle seat.
And as for the lighting - whose bright idea was that!?
A lot of the upholstered seats are already covered in food, drink and god know what else stains, and I've given up telling people to get their feet off the seats. Well, apart from a couple of weeks ago on a rather hot day when a middle-aged woman, who looked like she should have known better, had taken off her sandals and put her bare, sweaty feet up on the seat opposite her.
"I might have to sit there tomorrow!" I barked at her.