The Daily Mail goes with this on the front page, to tie in with news that rail fares have risen again - and that there are to be protests at King's Cross later today.
Seems to talk mostly about FGW, but suggests this is somehow going to happen
everywhere (well the headline certainly does). Obviously no attempt to mention why first class can still be a good thing to have, or that the higher fares can subsidise other fares - thus the Government having to consider how to compensate operators because it will cut revenues.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sters-pay-train-firms-away-premium-seats.html
Train firms are to be paid millions by the Government to convert first class carriages for use by standard ticket holders to ease overcrowding.
First class carriages will become a rarity as a result of the move designed to placate passengers angry at being packed into increasingly congested standard class carriages on busy routes.
As commuters returning to work after the Christmas and New Year break are hit by another punishing round of fare rises, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin is preparing to pay train companies to do away with first class seats that are left empty, Government sources say.
Some of the comments so far:
jacob, Edinburgh., moments ago
Shaking my head in disbelief , someone should've suggested more carriages to the In touch minister .... :-/ is the whole govt full of idiots ?
avfc1982, Birmingham, UK, moments ago
I don't want to be sitting with the cattle class!
Tony Margiocchi, luton, United Kingdom, moments ago
To be fair, it is unreasonable to expect a fare paying commuter to stand when there are empty seats. Surely it would also put them at risk if the train suddenly stopped. A good move but one the government should not pay for as the customer and his/her safety should be uppermost in the rail company's mind.
Cyberpup, Gillingham, United Kingdom, 5 minutes ago
I always travel first class as I like the privacy & extra space. Nobody in second class has the right to complain about empty first class seats cos they bought second!
Kev Smith, NORTHAMPTON, United Kingdom, 6 minutes ago
please understand Minister it does not cost MILLIONS to remove the first class stickers off the sides of and the interiors of coaches, it can be done during overnight maintenance, the seating can be changed at the next scheduled overhaul. I think you need to understand this...the TOCS are supposed to PAY YOU and the treasury, not the other way around, thats why the railways were privatised in the first place to save the country some cash, not cost it MORE....OR AM I MISSING THE POINT....
angela, llandudno, United Kingdom, 6 minutes ago
About time
devils advocate, manchester, 7 minutes ago
Why not remove premium seating on all transport? No premium, no upper class, god forbid no first class. How will the well heeled go to work or on holiday.....in cattle class....don't hold ones breath.
Iyionic, Whereimmeanttobe, 7 minutes ago
Thank god!
honi soit qui mal y pense, Avalon, 7 minutes ago
Long overdue. Empty first class carriages are the equivalent of the towels on unoccupied sun loungers. Let the glitterati and demigods hire a chauffeured limo to get about and leave some room on the train for the mere mortals.
buster, Bristol, United Kingdom, 8 minutes ago
I use the Paddington to Taunton line multiple tines at short notice and can never get a seat so I stand in the buffet car every time . The first class carriages are nearly all empty makes sense to replace them