Outcry as commuters lose seats to first-class

More rail commuters will have to stand to allow first-class passengers to have seats, it was revealed today.

The move will provoke fury among standard farepayers using the busy lines from Kent into Charing Cross, Cannon Street and Victoria.

It was robustly condemned by Brian Cooke, London's passenger watchdog.

The reduction in standard seating is part of an £8.6million refurbishment package announced by South Eastern Trains for its Networker fleet. The carriages are being rebuilt at a cost of £63,000 each.

Under the old design a four-carriage train had 374 seats but the new arrangement will have only 344. The old Networker carriages had no first-class. The new ones have 24 first-class seats per four-carriage unit.

That brings the number of seats available for standard farepayers down to 320. Mr Cooke said: "It is a real shame that more second-class passengers are going to have to stand to allow first-class users to have seats."

Under the new scheme 10-car Networker trains will replace old 12-carriage slam-door stock.

Mr Cooke added: "More people will have to stand because the trains are shorter. There should be new trains - not rehashed old ones."

South Eastern Trains' Michael Holden said firstclass seating was being provided "in response to passenger demand".