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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/shortcuts/2012/nov/14/will-railways-bring-back-third-class
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| Will the railways bring back third-class carriages? | Will the railways bring back third-class carriages? |
| (8 days later) | |
| It sounds as if it could be the ideal solution for George Osborne. The chancellor was recently accused of sitting in a first-class train carriage, but only wanting to pay for a standard ticket. He may soon have another option, if three classes of carriage return to British trains. | It sounds as if it could be the ideal solution for George Osborne. The chancellor was recently accused of sitting in a first-class train carriage, but only wanting to pay for a standard ticket. He may soon have another option, if three classes of carriage return to British trains. |
| According to information revealed in the House of Lords last week, train operators can propose the introduction of "a third passenger class" under the current franchising agreement. Labour minister Lord Myners was reported to be outraged, suggesting this meant: "There could be a cattle-class carriage at the back, or one for toffs at the front." And rail union boss Bob Crow accused the government of winding back the clock 50 years in an attempt to "bring third-class travel back in through the back door for the masses" | According to information revealed in the House of Lords last week, train operators can propose the introduction of "a third passenger class" under the current franchising agreement. Labour minister Lord Myners was reported to be outraged, suggesting this meant: "There could be a cattle-class carriage at the back, or one for toffs at the front." And rail union boss Bob Crow accused the government of winding back the clock 50 years in an attempt to "bring third-class travel back in through the back door for the masses" |
| The Department for Transport insists this is misleading. It will not consider proposals for anything below the current standard class, and the "third class" being talked about would slot between first and standard class, it says, similar to the "premium economy" offered by some airlines or Eurostar. | The Department for Transport insists this is misleading. It will not consider proposals for anything below the current standard class, and the "third class" being talked about would slot between first and standard class, it says, similar to the "premium economy" offered by some airlines or Eurostar. |
| The three classes of rail ticket began to disappear in the late 19th century, when Midlands Railway realised it couldn't compete with its rivals because its trains took a slow, circuitous route, explains Russell Hollowood at the National Railway Museum. "So it called its railway 'The comfortable way to travel'," and scrapped second-class tickets, effectively giving third-class customers an upgrade. | The three classes of rail ticket began to disappear in the late 19th century, when Midlands Railway realised it couldn't compete with its rivals because its trains took a slow, circuitous route, explains Russell Hollowood at the National Railway Museum. "So it called its railway 'The comfortable way to travel'," and scrapped second-class tickets, effectively giving third-class customers an upgrade. |
| In the 1950s, third class was renamed second class, finally becoming "standard" class in the 60s. But one thing hasn't changed, he notes: "Most people have always travelled third class." | In the 1950s, third class was renamed second class, finally becoming "standard" class in the 60s. But one thing hasn't changed, he notes: "Most people have always travelled third class." |
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