It's not an awful decision for the majority travelling Standard who now have a slightly improved chance if a seat...
I find the only solution is to get on at Charing Cross or Cannon Street. Getting on at London Bridge can be a bit of a lottery (and seems to be busier than all the other stations now).
Which matches with the official statement of 'due to changes in travel patterns post-pandemic'.
Dft first proposed total removal of Southeastern first class in the Dec 2017 franchise ITT, (although IIRC that competition petered out eventually), so the writing was already on the wall.
I'm surprised it lasted on most commuter trains as long as it has.
At least some people do generally (or at least did, pre-COVID) seem to be prepared to pay the premium for first class for a guaranteed seat, and when enough people are its worthwhile selling first class seasons why turn away extra money (though presumably in this case the cost of enforcing it enough to make it worthwhile existing was presumably judged to be too high)
Was it always guaranteed? Particularly when many TOCs reduced the number if First Class seats, plus you have of course the issue of those travelling in 1st without the appropriate ticket, either deliberately or otherwise.
I agree on both points
Ideally the change will reduce instances of that, at least slightly.
It's certainly a problem
Unlikely.
Yes. High Speed and Metro services are already standard class only so the change is only for the Mainline services. A few Metro services use class 465/9 but the first class areas can be used by standard class ticket holders.
Actually, one of my guilty pleasures in life was to travel on the Mid-Sussex between Horsham and Arundel in one of the few first class compartments (class377/4?) at Sunset admiring the South Downs whilst drinking a (or two) glass of wine.
Timetables on their website?
You'd think. But on Southern's website, Live Departures doesn't show it, nor do the timetables (I've not checked every one, but it's not given in the key to the chart). But you can buy first class tickets for flexible fares on any train.
You can look up which trains are advertised as having first class on sites such as Real Time Trains, which use the timetable data published on behalf of GTR.
Where would you be travelling to/from using Southern's services? Looks like most of their trains on the East Coastway line towards London Victoria (via Gatwick Airport) has first class accommodation.
Let's say Streatham Common to West Croydon or Brighton.
Yes for Streatham Common to West Croydon.
It’s clearly shown in the online Southern “mainline” timetables I’ve just checked, ie for the longer distance routes where first normally is available. Also shown on the Watford Junction timetable although it’s in the “metro” list.
www.southernrailway.com
Used Watford Junction as having FC because they have to use /2s which are primarily used on Watfords but are equipped with FC for those journeys where it operates elsewhere on the Southeen Network
Do they announce at the station the first class is not in use or on the train? Some people posting here are of the opinion if it says standard class in the timetable and the train has first class unless told otherwise or you ask the guard, you shouldn't sit in first class.
I use Real Time Trains and one Sunday I was surprised to find that trains from Epsom Downs contained first class. Surprising as trains during the week from Dorking and Horsham didn't.
There are plenty of Southern branded trains running with first class in them and the timetable saying standard class only. Working to Victoria is a common route.Every single Southern Mainline train towards the south coast via Croydon and Gatwick and Redhill all have first class.
Some metro services (5 coaches) do not have first class I believe and if one has purchased a first class ticket and had found that FC is non existent or is full or declassified, they can go to Southerns website and apply for the difference between a standard ticket and a first ticket at:
Southern - First Class claim form
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Used Watford Junction as having FC because they have to use /2s which are primarily used on Watfords but are equipped with FC for those journeys where it operates elsewhere on the Southeen Network
OP does somehow seemingly with no regret!
