Innovative concepts for the interiors of rail vehicles dedicated to the transport of passengers on long distances provide a flexible share to the comfort standard and category of the rolling stock that runs during daytime, at the same time favouring the level of acceptability in very crowded vehicles.
Experts believe that a second condition for improving the passengers’ level of comfort is the combined operation of vehicles, day and night, providing enough seats for daytime transport and comfortable places for rail night ser-
vices. A more flexible use of rolling stock on long distances can generate significant improvements in terms of efficiency thus leading to a most cost-efficient and more competitive rail passenger transport.
New interior design concepts are needed to be able to use passenger coaches in a more flexible way and to make sure that this flexibility does not interfere with the attractiveness of vehicles in different market segments. The purpose of innovative comfort concepts for rail vehicles is to improve the competitiveness of rail long distance transport as compared to short-distance air transport. Currently, there are new opportunities for a holistic approach of the cars designed for specific systems. The design of coaches in rail transport meets several important functions, including the aesthetic, comfort and energy-efficiency functions. The materials traditionally used in the construction of coaches are also selected wisely in order to have a positive answer to fire standard tests. Considering the results of these tests, new approaches can provide additional opportunities for the railway safety as well as a competitive advantage.
By providing innovating solutions for the interior design (flexible plans for class I and II seats and efficient plans for the conversion of sleeping coach seats into regular coach seats), the performance and competitiveness of long-distance rail transport will be improved compared to short-distance air transport.
At European level, the inter-regional long-distance transport segment is prioritized as the European policy has to be focused on territorial cohesion, domestic market and connectivity of community regions. That is why, when it comes for building passenger transport coaches, the rail industry stresses the development of new concepts that will focus the attention of the passenger customer towards railway transport. Recent Eurostat data show that in seven European Union member states long-distance transport represents almost 20% of the total passenger/km segment.
To maximize the potential of high speed, long-distance rail travel, operators need innovative rail equipment that meets new requirements for interoperability, economy, reliability, energy efficiency and the ability to ride both dedicated and non-dedicated tracks.
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