uk commuter train brings back first-class travel for first time in 10 years

One busy commuter route is finally getting an upgrade (Picture: Chris Roberts)

London commuters,we bring good news.

If you’re based outside of the city and travel into work using Chiltern Railways,you’ll now be able to travel in style – and that’s because the rail operator has reintroduced first-class carriages.

The upgraded train class is now rolling out ‘spacious seats and improved connectivity for business and leisure travellers.’

10,000 additional seats across all classes are being delivered each day from December 2026,and this week marked the rollout of its first new trains,which are being named the ‘Chiltern Explorers.’

It’s a big shake-up for Chiltern,as first-class seating hasn’t been available in more than a decade.

This is likely because their services,which connect London to Buckinghamshire,Oxfordshire,Warwickshire and the West Midlands,are used by regular commuters,rather than passengers treating themselves on longer journeys.

But while it sounds boujee,you’ll still need to bring snacks,as this first-class offering doesn’t include any food or drink,unlike those found on LNER and Avanti West Coast routes.

The new trains will have faster internet access and USB ports (Picture: Chris Roberts)

It might sound stingy,but as a spokesperson for Chiltern Railways previously told Metro,they ‘don’t believe that the market warrants a full catered offering at this point in time’.

They added: ‘There is a demand,especially in the leisure market,for greater differentiation in products.’

However,not all experts agree,and there are concerns that the move to first-class echoes the snooty heyday of premium travel.

Rail historian Christian Wolmar said first-class is ‘an outdated concept from the days of bowler-hatted gentlemen in their first-class compartment while their secretaries sat in second.’

‘That era has gone. I think for those sort of services,there are very few people who would really want to pay for a premium,’ he previously told The Independent.

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A version of this article was first published on August 6,2025.

The UK's busiest commuter trains

According to data released in 2024 by the Department for Transport,Chiltern runs the second busiest train route in England and Wales: the 7.46am service from Princes Risborough to London Marylebone.The maximum load factor was calculated by dividing the passenger load of the carriages (excluding first-class) by the total capacity,and this popular commuter service had a rating of 165%.It was only topped by the 7.33am Thameslink service from Bedford to Three Bridges,at 204%.Do you have a story to share?