Chiltern Railways is to introduce an airline-style “premium economy” class on services linking the UK’s two biggest cities.

But executives using the firm’s new business zone will still have to pay for their food and drink, as well as forking out an extra £20 for travelling in a special 30-seat carriage.

Featuring large tables, wide seats and wi-fi connection, the new service will start on Monday on Chiltern’s London to Birmingham route.

The company’s trains stop at county stations including Bicester North, Thame and Banbury.

A standard anytime return on this route currently costs £75. If travellers want to pay the extra £20 for the new service for both legs of the journey, it will cost them £115.

Chiltern’s marketing director Thomas Ableman said: “Businesses told us that space to work and a decent internet connection were absolutely essential.

“They also told us that additional privacy at key times for increased productivity was valuable.”