Thameslink unveils 'blissful' new seats

Thameslink has unveiled new seating it says will mean "blissful journeys" for commuters.

Chief executive officer John Whitehurst said the existing "ironing board seats" will be replaced by a "pocket-sprung foam mattress wingback chair".

"They will be a lot springier," he said. "We've optimised the design to support your back, shoulders and head."

Whitehurst added the "memory foam apparently heats up as you sit on it - you will sink into the chair and have a blissful journey."

The seat upgrades are part of wider improvements planned for the Thameslink network after Greater Thameslink Railway came into public ownership in May 2026.

However, some have criticised the Department for Transport awarding a £1.6bn contract for the trains in the first place - despite being warned of the seat discomfort.

Whitehurst said previous seating was designed more than a decade ago when technology wasn't as advanced as it is now.

But he added: "I've travelled on these trains for 10 years so I know how hard and uncomfortable [they are] if you travel for a long time".

The seating overhaul - which is set to begin in 2027 and last two years - was not costing taxpayers "a penny" as it was included in the company's contract with Siemens, Whitehurst continued.

Royal Holloway student Tabitha Knight said the new seats had "much more cushioning".

The 20-year-old, who was at a event revealing the new seating, added she was 100% a fan.

Another attendee, Vincent Simon, said the old seats "feel like sitting on a piece of wood".

Charles Greenway, from the consultancy Atlantic Design, said the new seats "won't suit everybody because we're all different shapes and sizes".

"But we've done our best to try and hit the median line between all user groups."

Heidi Alexander announced that more than 60,000 seats on all 115 Thameslink trains would get revamped in August.

Other measures included an increase in Gatwick Express services from December and a programme to refurbish train toilets and remove graffiti across the fleet.

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