Why do we need first class seats anyway? QR and Westrail abandoned it
years ago, and QR is resurrecting it only for the flashy new tilt train.
I once made the argument that VR should have abandoned first class for
most services in 1981. Seating should have become standard facing 2+3
seats for commuter services (classed "B" as was economy class) and
rotating 2+2 for InterCity (classed "A" as was first class). A basic
commuter set would have been BN-BN-BCN (approx 240 seats) and an InterCity
set would have been AN-ARN-ACN (approx 180 seats).
Cheers
David