Why no first class on commuter trains, generally

In consuming Patrick Dorin's fine book, "Commuter Railroads", I learned that commuter railroads have almost never had first class cars on them, even before public ownership of them.

Why not? These days, I can see that NY-area commuter railroads have so much demand that they try to cram in as many people as possible and there is no space for lower-density first class seating, but elsewhere in the US, commuter trains often have space to add more cars. Further, when commuter trains were privately operated, why didn't private railroads try first class seating? European commuter trains often have 2 classes of service.

Thanks.

SouthernRailway wrote:In consuming Patrick Dorin's fine book, "Commuter Railroads", I learned that commuter railroads have almost never had first class cars on them, even before public ownership of them.

Why not? These days, I can see that NY-area commuter railroads have so much demand that they try to cram in as many people as possible and there is no space for lower-density first class seating, but elsewhere in the US, commuter trains often have space to add more cars. Further, when commuter trains were privately operated, why didn't private railroads try first class seating? European commuter trains often have 2 classes of service.

Thanks.

Interestingly, when the London Underground began operations, the first carriages had different classes of accommodation. I think that some Amtrak Clockers towed private club cars.

Germany had many commuter trains (RB, SB, etc.) that had two classes. Recently dropped most of them and now mostly only 2nd class.

SouthernRailway wrote:In consuming Patrick Dorin's fine book, "Commuter Railroads", I learned that commuter railroads have almost never had first class cars on them, even before public ownership of them.

Why not? These days, I can see that NY-area commuter railroads have so much demand that they try to cram in as many people as possible and there is no space for lower-density first class seating, but elsewhere in the US, commuter trains often have space to add more cars. Further, when commuter trains were privately operated, why didn't private railroads try first class seating? European commuter trains often have 2 classes of service.

Thanks.

The Lackawanna Railroad had some electric MU cars called "subscription cars" that were first class, and the Central Railroad of New Jersey had a number of club cars as well. These were in essence, first class cars in commuter service.

SouthernRailway wrote:In consuming Patrick Dorin's fine book, "Commuter Railroads", I learned that commuter railroads have almost never had first class cars on them, even before public ownership of them.

Why not? These days, I can see that NY-area commuter railroads have so much demand that they try to cram in as many people as possible and there is no space for lower-density first class seating, but elsewhere in the US, commuter trains often have space to add more cars. Further, when commuter trains were privately operated, why didn't private railroads try first class seating? European commuter trains often have 2 classes of service.

Thanks.

America and Europe have always been different socially at their roots. Americans believe that all men were created equally. America doesn't have Lords and Ladies, those with higher social standings due to birth or titles. So the demand for separate first clas facilities wasn't as high. But that's not suggesting there wasn't racism in the past where there was separate facilities due to the color of skin in some areas. American social standings were basically set by money. If you were rich enough to want first class, you leased an entire private car or booked a Pullman cabin. There were private club cars on some commuter railroads, otherwise you rode the trains with everyone else in a single class.

It's state-run railroads in Europe- under the direction of often socialistic elected governments (under a figurehead king/queen)- that have had first class on them.

Well, it was more of an "uber" first class, but I recall that the Long Island Rail Road had private club cars at the rear of many of its commuter trains plying the Oyster Bay branch. This would have been 1950's, 1960's, up to whenever. Lots of old money on the North Shore of Long Island, and these patrician boys liked their club cars for which, I'm sure, they paid lots of bucks.

Until the coming of the M-1's & M-2's on the future MN services out of GCT, we had at least 1 private club car on the Hudson Line and (IIRC) 2 on the NH side.

All were MU's equipped with parlor car type seating and an attendant.

It was decreed that none of the new cars would be provided for club services even though the groups requested it.

Chicago had private club cars as well, on the Chicago & North Western up until METRA standardized equipment.

Private club cars are really not equivalent to European first class; you had to be a member, and the car ran only in one designated pair of trains. If you were late leaving the office you rode coach with the hoi polloi on a later train. European railroads having first class had it on all trains on a given line, and those offering it still do. From what I have read and observed, the distinction was social rather than financial as suggested by electricron above. Particularly when compartments were customary, it was reassuring to know that you wouldn't be sharing a compartment with people of a higher or lower social class that you wouldn't feel comfortable with. Someone of a certain social or hierarchical position might not even want to be seen by acquaintances to be traveling in a lower class than appropriate to his standing.

Regarding first class commuter service today, it's called "limo carpool service." More flexible, more personalized, and no need to gather an entire rail car of subscribers at a particular time.