This means many commuters will be travelling backwards for the 90-plus minute trip to Sydney.

This information features in confidential government documents released under a freedom of information request.

The government has ordered 512 carriages for the $2.3 billion New Intercity Fleet (NIF) to service the Illawarra, Newcastle and the Blue Mountains.

The Mercury revealed last year that half of the seated passengers on the new intercity fleet would be facing backwards.

However, a Transport for NSW briefing document shows it knew passengers would hate fixed seats but recommended them anyway.

The document states Transport for NSW surveyed users of intercity trains about their seating preferences.

“Many customers have provided feedback indicating that they believe the reversible seating should be a requirement for the NIF train,” the confidential document stated.

The survey found fixed seats were “perceived as a backward step” by commuters, prompting the warning “customer expectations will need to be managed prior to the trains arriving without reversible seating”.

The briefing document to Transport Minister Andrew Constance outlined the reasons for rejecting the wishes of those who would actually use the trains and instead installing fixed seats.

“Although reversible seating is more popular with passengers wishing to face forwards throughout their journey, significant disadvantages of reversible seating such as design complexity, increased weight, vandalism issues, maintenance and safety issues,” the document stated.

Also, planned features like tray tables and phone charger outlets in armrests could not be offered with reversible seats.

Labor spokesman for the Illawarra Ryan Park said fixed seats for those travelling long distances on the South Coast line was a mistake.

“For some passengers who suffer motion sickness, travelling backwards is just not an option,” Mr Park said.

“The journey for some Illawarra passengers can be almost three hours – that’s a long time to sit facing backwards or to be forced to stand.”