Could first class rail travel be about to hit the buffers?

A major commuter train operator has announced that it will scrap first class on its trains linking Kent and East Sussex with London.

Southeastern says making its trains one-class-only from December 2022 onwards will allow it to add more standard class seats.

Could the move signal the wholesale removal of first class?

The Independent has conducted a wide-ranging survey of the posh seats.

A brief history of class distinction on the railways

Since passenger rail travel became established nearly two centuries ago, wealthier travellers have been willing and able to pay extra for greater comfort. Different grades of seating have been common in the UK, Continental Europe and worldwide.

Until the late 19th/early 20th century, dividing train accommodation into first, second and third class was common. The mid-range second class started to be abolished around 1900.

For half a century the choice for rail travellers in the UK was between first and third class. In 1956 everyone in the cheap seats got a sort-of upgrade when third class was rebranded as second.

In 1988, another rebrand turned the cheap seats into a unified “standard” class.

What do you get in first class that you don’t get in standard?

The quality of first class now varies dramatically from one train firm to another.

On commuter routes, sometimes all you get is the prospect of a less crowded carriage and perhaps a headrest cover. On Southeastern and other operators of “outer suburban” services there is no significant difference.

But for longer-distance services, the first class premium buys extra space and comfort – particularly valued by those who need to work.

At best you can expect an at-seat meal service with a choice of dishes and complementary alcohol. This is preserve of long-distance operators, particularly Avanti West Coast and LNER on their links from London to northern England and Scotland.

How how much extra does first class cost?

The premium is highly variable. The very cheapest I have found is just £1.30 extra for the 10-minute journey from Wigan to Warrington on Avanti West Coast. Anyone travelling between the two towns and who wants a cup of tea on the brief journey would be better paying the extra (a 22 per cent rise on the basic £6 anytime single) rather than buying one from the standard class buffet.

This is an unrepresentative of the usual cost. Between Inverness and Edinburgh, a standard anytime ticket is £50 one way, with first at £75. That is 50 per cent more – which also…