HS2 has recently unveiled test designs for their upcoming high-speed trains, aiming to introduce the most comfortable seats ever seen on a UK rail service. The standard class seats on these trains will boast a generous 87cm of legroom, setting a new standard for comfort in rail travel. These full-size concepts were showcased at Alstom’s factory in Derby.
The new seats will feature airline-style amenities such as a large fold-down table, a shelf for electronic devices, a reading light with adjustable brightness settings, a coat hook, a USB-C socket, and two three-pin plug sockets. One innovative feature of the seats is the ability for the bottom part to slide forward, allowing passengers to recline without invading the space of the person behind them.
Complaints about uncomfortable seating on existing trains, particularly due to thin padding, have been common among passengers of services like Thameslink and Great Western Railway. To address these concerns, HS2 Ltd’s senior rolling stock engineer, James Dawson, has expressed the ambition for HS2 trains to offer “the most comfortable seat on trains in the UK.”
The West Coast Partnership Development’s rolling stock director, Simon Aslett, acknowledged the industry’s past shortcomings in seat design and expressed confidence in the improvements made for the upcoming HS2 trains. Aslett highlighted the challenge of designing seats that cater to the diverse comfort preferences of passengers.
The design process for HS2 carriages began in 2022 with a contract awarded to an Alstom-Hitachi joint venture to build and maintain 54 high-speed trains. Feedback from over 100 individuals with varying needs has informed the design process, leading to the creation of mock-ups of train carriage sections. Further testing and passenger insights from existing train journeys will guide final tweaks before the official design is finalised in early 2026.
Onboard facilities on HS2 trains will also undergo significant improvements, with features such as ergonomically designed toilets, information screens displaying station arrival times, and dedicated spaces for bicycles, wheelchairs, and pushchairs. The aim is to create a comfortable and inclusive travel experience for all passengers.
The meticulous design process taking into account diverse passenger needs reflects a commitment to providing a first-class travel experience on the forthcoming HS2 trains. The focus on comfort, convenience, and accessibility underscores HS2’s dedication to setting new standards in the realm of rail travel in the UK.