Are you thinking of upgrading to a South Western Railway First Class ticket on your next journey? Our comprehensive guide is here to help you decide, with everything you need to know about whether a South Western Railway First Class upgrade is worth your extra cash.
Photo by Peter Skuce
What is included with South Western Railway First Class?
When choosing whether to upgrade, you’re sure to be wondering what extras you get with a South Western Railway First Class ticket. Travelling with South Western Railway is all about comfort and convenience and a First Class upgrade will get you:
- Extra comfort with wider, genuine leather seats*
- Plenty of room to stretch out with the extra legroom
- Large tables, ideal for working on the go
- At-seat wireless charging*, the convenient way to keep your devices charged
*Available on many but not all services.
Please note that currently wheelchair spaces are only available in Standard Class.
Does South Western Railway provide food in First Class?
South Western Railway does not offer onboard catering services so there is no complimentary South Western Railway First Class food or drinks included with your First Class ticket. Make sure to pack your own snacks whichever ticket you opt for!
South Western Railway First Class seating plan
There are eight different types of train in South Western Railway’s fleet, with four of these featuring First Class seating. The company’s website provides comprehensive information about each type of train including seating plans. Check out our summary below SB1 of where to find South Western Railway First Class and which journeys each First Class seating plan applies to.
| Train type | Routes between | Where to find First Class |
| Class 158 “Express Sprinter” | London Waterloo and Exeter London Waterloo and Salisbury Salisbury and Romsey (via Southampton Central and Eastleigh) | At the far end of the 2nd carriage. Check door signs for details, as these often operate ‘in multiple’. |
| Class 159 “South Western Turbo” | London Waterloo and Exeter London Waterloo and Salisbury | At the far end of the 3rd carriage. Check door signs for details, as these often operate ‘in multiple’ |
| Class 444 “Desiro” | London Waterloo and Weymouth London Waterloo and Poole London Waterloo and Porstmouth (via Eastleigh and via Guildford) | At the far end of the 5th carriage. Check door signs for details, as these often operate ‘in multiple’. |
| Class 450 “Desiro” | London Waterloo and Alton London Waterloo and Basingstoke London Waterloo and Portsmouth (via Eastleigh) London Waterloo and Poole Portsmouth and Southampton Guildford and Farnham Aldershot and Ascot Brockenhurst and Lymington | At either end of the four-carriage train. Check door signs for details, as these often operate ‘in multiple’. |
Note that where First Class is at one of end of the carriages, this may be the front or back depending on the direction of travel. Check for signage by the door or with train staff if you’re not sure.
Each train type has a slightly different seating configuration, which generally includes four-seater tables, two-seater tables, and two seats side-by-side.
Can you upgrade to First Class on South Western Railway?
Using our journey planner is a simple way to book a South Western Railway First Class ticket. All you need to do is decide your preferred route and travel time, click on the journey that best matches your plans and then before proceeding to payment, select ‘View 1st Class & More Tickets,’ to view the First Class fares available.
Already booked a Standard Class ticket but now want to enjoy the comfort and convenience of First Class? On weekdays, head to the ticket office before you start your journey and if there’s availability, you’ll simply need to pay the difference in the fares.
On weekends and public holidays, South Western Railway First Class upgrades can start from as little as £5 depending on the zones covered and are available from the guard, subject to availability.
South Western Railway First Class is available on routes between London Waterloo and the following stations:
Photo by Geof Sheppard
South Western Railway First Class lounges
Unfortunately, there are currently no South Western Railway First Class lounges and a South Western Railway First Class ticket doesn’t grant access to First Class lounges run by other operators.
Is South Western Railway First Class worth it?
A South Western Railway First Class ticket offers extra space and comfort for your journey. Whether it’s worth it for you will completely depend on your travel plans, priorities and the cost of an upgrade. The extra perks don’t come with all the bells and whistles of some providers such as complimentary refreshments or First Class lounges, but with upgrades costing as little as £5 at the weekend, why not treat yourself?
Remember, for the most affordable prices, it’s well worth booking advance and travelling off-peak if you can. If there’s flexibility to your travel plans, be sure to look at the different options available to see if a different time might offer a lower cost fare so you get the best price possible for a touch of added luxury.