"Dreaded ironing board seats" on a busy commuter rail line will be made more comfortable.
Train operator Thameslink is set to upgrade its notoriously uncomfortable train seats, the Department of Transport (DfT) has said.
More than 60,000 standard-class seat base cushions will be replaced across all 115 Thameslink trains, along with improved backrests.
The improvements are due to start next year as part of a two-year upgrade programme.
Heidi Alexander, transport secretary, said: "This is what public ownership looks like in action.
"Less than 100 days since GTR transferred into public control, we’re delivering on the improvements commuters have been asking for.
"From next year, we’ll start getting rid of the dreaded ironing board seats so passengers can enjoy comfier, more pleasant journeys on some of Britain’s busiest commuter routes."
The upgrades will also see first-class seat base cushions upgraded, though existing backrests will remain.
Seat-back tables will be added to 70 trains currently without them.
Thameslink is owned by Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR), which was brought into public ownership at the end of May.
Thameslink operates busy commuter routes that travel through central London, and serves stations including London St Pancras, Brighton, Cambridge and Sevenoaks.
Ms Alexander said the changes reflect broader efforts to improve the rail network.
She said: "We know fixing Britain’s railway is more than a refurb job and moves like this are just the start of putting our railway back on the right track.
"We’ve frozen fares for the first time in 30 years and publicly owned operators have added 76,000 extra seats on to the network.
"Once established, Great British Railways will focus relentlessly on delivering a reliable, modern service that puts passenger experience at the heart of everything it does."
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John Whitehurst, chief executive of GTR, said:
"Our customers tell us that comfort matters, which is why we’ve been working on plans to improve seating on Thameslink services and give the millions of people who use our extensive network a better experience.
"Through customer research with everyday commuters, we’ve gathered valuable insight to help us shape the best possible solution for cushion comfort onboard our high-capacity trains."
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