Joe wrote:
The refurbed SWT 455s are 2+2 with more standing space, the Southern
ones are still 3+2. The problem with 3+2 is that the middle seat only
provides theoretical extra seating capacity. Unless one happens to be
on a train full of children or under-fed midgets the middle seat is
all but unusable. Many people would rather have decent standing room
than cramped standing space and a view of half a seat just visible
between the two seated passengers!


I have heard a lot of people saying this, but in my Experience of
Silverlink (County), Chiltern Railways & c2c, I have never seen people
standing when there is a middle seat avaliable.

I think commuters are much more willing to ask people to let them sit in
a middle seat than leisure passengers - so it varies depending on the
time of day. Either that, or a certain critical mass of passengers is
required before people resort to middle seats...

--
Dave Arquati
Imperial College, SW7
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London