A RAIL operator has become the latest to scrap first-class carriages as it looks to cut costs.
It comes as the Department for Transport orders companies to cut costs due to a low demand post-pandemic.
The decision came after rail chiefs revealed just 28 annual season ticket holders paid for first-class fares.
The nationalised south-east operator, which runs services from Hastings up to Tunbridge Wells and Ashford International, is the latest to ditch commuter first-class tickets.
Great Anglia, West Midlands, East Midlands and the Stansted Express have all phased out first-class seats in recent years.
A DfT spokesman told The Telegraph: “Commuters have often been vocal when forced to stand overlooking empty first-class seats in packed trains.
"Southeastern has taken action to ease crowding and increase comfort.”
The cost of keeping rail services running during the pandemic cost taxpayers more than £16 billion.
Southeastern runs more than 1,500 services from Sussex and Kent into London every day.
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