Upgrade your journey to Standard Plus
Travelling long distance? Standard Plus is coming soon to selected London Northwestern Railway services. Enjoy a dedicated onboard area, available exclusively to Standard Plus ticket holders.
Standard Plus tickets will be available for purchase later in the autumn on a trial basis and will remain available until Wednesday 31 March 2027.
Standard Plus onboard features
Enjoy a more comfortable journey with extra space to relax, enhanced seating and a quieter environment away from the busiest parts of the train.
Depending on the train you're travelling on, Standard Plus may also include:
- More spacious seating with additional cushioning
- Reclining seats on selected services
- Power sockets and USB charging
- Individual reading lights
- Customer information screens
- Additional luggage space
Please note, features vary by train and route. Standard Plus area does not provide space for wheelchair users. Dedicated wheelchair spaces are available elsewhere on the train. If you need assistance during your journey, see Accessibility and Passenger Assist.
Where is Standard Plus available?
Standard Plus will be available on the following London Northwestern Railway routes:
- Birmingham to London
- Northampton to London
- Birmingham to Liverpool
- Crewe to London via Lichfield Trent Valley
The Standard Plus carriage will be clearly marked with onboard signage. Its position within the train may vary depending on the train type operating your service.
Standard Plus is not available on the Marston Vale Line (Bedford – Bletchley) or on West Midlands Railway trains.
What Standard Plus tickets are available?
When Standard Plus tickets go on sale later this autumn, the following ticket types are available for Standard Plus:
- Advance – our cheapest tickets
- Off-Peak – for travel outside of morning and evening rush hours
- Anytime – our most flexible ticket
Save money with a railcard
While Standard Plus offers enhanced comfort onboard, you could also save up to 1/3 on eligible train fares with a Railcard.
Whether you're travelling regularly, aged 16-25, travelling as a couple or eligible for a Senior Railcard, there may be an option that helps you save on future journeys.
How to book a Standard Plus ticket
Standard Plus tickets are not yet available for purchase. Tickets will be available later in the autumn as part of a trial running until 31 March 2027. Once available, customers will be able to purchase Standard Plus through:
- Online with our journey planner
- App - download our app from Google Play or Apple App Store
- Visit us at a staffed station, and our friendly team will help you out
- Call us if you prefer on 0333 311 0006 - we can help you find the right price and train
- Other rail ticketing retailers
Accessibility and Passenger Assist
The Standard Plus area does not provide space for wheelchair users. Dedicated wheelchair spaces are available elsewhere on the train.
If you would like assistance when travelling, you can arrange Passenger Assist through our Accessibility page before you travel or by visiting https://passengerassistance.com/
Already booked but can't use Standard Plus because of an accessibility need? You can claim a refund for the Standard Plus upgrade via our customer relations team.
Frequently asked questions
Standard Plus is a new product for London Northwestern Railway customers, offering access to an exclusive area of the train for a low upgrade cost on a normal ticket.
Standard Plus tickets will be available for purchase later in the autumn on a trial basis and will remain available until Wednesday 31 March 2027.
Standard Plus tickets entitle the holder to use any seat within the dedicated Standard Plus carriage. It is not possible to reserve a specific individual seat.
Standard Plus carriages will be clearly marked with prominent signage. Their position in the train will vary depending on the type of train being used on a given route.
Standard Plus tickets will be available to purchase online, ticket offices and from Senior Conductors on board the train. It will generally be cheaper to buy your ticket in advance with the upgrade included.
On some services, Standard Plus is in a dedicated compartment with features such as reclining seats, power and USB charging at every seat.
On other services, Standard Plus offers larger seats with extra personal space, leather headrests and reading lights.
Our Class 350 fleet and Class 730/2 fleet will offer Standard Plus seats.
Standard Plus will be available on all LNR routes served by our Class 350 and Class 730/2 fleets, which is the majority of routes. Standard Plus will not be available on the Marston Vale Line, which is exclusively served by our Class 150 fleet.
No. Standard Plus is only available on London Northwestern Railway services.
Look out for Standard Plus signage on the platform and train. The location of the Standard Plus area may vary depending on the train operating your service.
You can claim a refund for the Standard Plus upgrade if:
- the Standard Plus area isn’t accessible for your needs
- your train didn’t have a Standard Plus area, for example because a different train was used
- the Standard Plus area was opened to all passengers due to disruption
To claim, contact our customer relations team within 30 days of your journey.
Upgrade your next journey
Whether you're travelling for work, a day out or a longer trip, Standard Plus offers an easy way to enjoy a more comfortable journey on selected London Northwestern Railway services.
Check back soon for ticket availability, pricing and launch updates.