Train hack lets you sit in declassified first-class carriage at rear of Thameslink service

Commuters can "permanently" travel in first class for the same price as standard on a Thameslink service after a clever "hack" was revealed.

Eagle-eared commuter Tom Ballard took to Twitter after he overheard a conversation that the first class carriage at the back of the early-morning Bedford to Brighton service was "always" declassified - meaning standard ticket-holders can sit there.

He tweeted to Thameslink: "Morning. On 0600 train from Bedford to Brighton and overheard that the first class portion at the back of the train is always declassified. Is this true?"

Thameslink replied: "Hi, the rear 1st class (in the direction of travel) is permanently declassified on all our services."

Although the first class carriages of trains are sometimes declassified to ease overcrowding in standard seating areas, a permanent exclusion is rare.

Some commuters complained that having a first-class carriage declassified without widely advertising the fact was "illogical".

One man wrote: "Making it up as they go along... coming up with illogical rules... and not bothering to communicate changes to customers. What a way to run a railway."

A spokesman for Thameslink however denied that the declassification was a "secret".

He said: "This is no secret. It's been in place since the [new Class 700] trains were first introduced, in June 2016, and is announced on the passenger information display panel on board."