In first class, we would like more privacy, while in second class, we would like more room for groups. There are calls from all sides for more space for luggage and bicycles. Well, all commuters’ wishes are about to be granted by…the end of the 2030s.
The SBB presented its trains of the future on Tuesday, installing visitors in a life-size wooden model. They were able to test the new seats and soak up the atmosphere of the carriages of tomorrow thanks to a virtual reality headset. “Every traveler has specific expectations when it comes to comfort. We want to satisfy all our customers,” explained Christian Frisch, head of rolling stock development. To carry out their interior renovation, the CFF relied on the results of a survey carried out among 1,500 people to better understand needs.
And what does that give? First, no more facing seats, whose “layout no longer meets current needs”. We would prefer more convivial “meeting points”, where the seats would be constructed like sofas, articulated around a table. “It will particularly appeal to groups of two or three people,” rejoices Christian Frisch. On the first class side, some seats could be equipped with sliding doors for more discretion.
Spaces for bicycles will be redesigned, as will those for luggage. And, icing on the cake, it may definitely be the end of unbearable sockets above the seats: “It’s true that having a cable hanging in front of your face all the time is not ideal », concedes Christian Frisch. We just have to wait a few years to put all these new features to the test.
Fewer seats for bikes?
“Customers need to transport their bikes or their climbing mat. We must ensure that the trains correspond to these varied needs,” explains Christian Frisch at the RTS microphone. But this flexibility of spaces in the wagons could well encroach on the number of seats available. The development manager nevertheless wants to be reassuring: “If we don’t provide dedicated spaces for luggage, customers will take seats for their belongings. We will not offer fewer seats, we will ensure that these seats are not cluttered with suitcases and bicycles.
