During this busy holiday period, as the trains fill with travelling families enjoying their half-term break, I'm wondering if it's time for the train companies to go back to having three different classes and have a business class, like long-distance airlines do.
One or more carriages on long-distance trains would be designated business class coaches and it'd cost a premium to sit there, though not as much as first class.
These coaches would have a few soundproofed booths from which businesspeople could make calls on their mobile phones. The rest of the coach would be "quiet" with no use of mobile phones allowed, enabling businesspeople to work or read in peace.
And "quiet" would mean "quiet". So families, stag and hen parties, and other "noisy" groups wouldn't be allowed to sit in business class (unless the alternative was sitting in the corridor because the train was packed to the rafters - but business class would be "declassified" officially in these situations, as first class is).
At-seat tea and coffee would be served, but it would cost, not be free as it is in first class.
And the WiFi service would be cheaper than in standard class, but again, not free.
I wonder... will any train companies think of doing that? I would certainly pay extra to travel in those conditions.
And while they're at it, the train companies could put on a family coach too. Maybe even with space for children to play, and at-seat TVs.
I would gladly pay a small fee (couple of £) to have a truly quiet 'quiet coach' where they would really throw noisy families out.
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