So some of Japan's trains have airline style windows lining up perfectly with the seating. Any reason why we can't have this?
I think you could have an arrangement where the window is long enough for two airline seats. Both seats would get a window view, although the rear one would be slightly deeper.
Could the pillars between the windows be made narrower or fewer in number using modern materials?
Possible 'trivia' question: what modern main line train design, anywhere in the world, has the widest windows?
The key is having the spacing the same as a Standard class bay (or pair of airline seats). The original Class 158 layout is just about perfect. This has a bay alternating with a pair of airline seats, all fully aligned. Replace 2 bays with 3 rows of airline seats for priority seating.
Indeed. I suppose that the trick is to have two airline seats take up the same length as a single facing bay, then you can have more or less any configuration of airline and facing seating desired.
Surely, the 170’s have the biggest windows due to have thin pillars.
Actually, the Class 158 layout is cleverer than that. It recognises that due to the lack of wasted space between seat backs (don't say "luggage", nobody ever puts it there) that two rows of airline seats take up slightly less space than one table bay. So the windows are slightly smaller or closer together than they would be for a purely tables layout, and the table bay takes up a window width plus both pillars, and the pair of airline rows just the window width.
This could be one of your winners, if not the winner, with 50 % of glazing per side (french Z 50000):
View attachment 68016
View attachment 68017
Those seats look very unforgiving on soft posteriors !
We french have less sensitive arses than British folk, and have understood that soft seats are bad for long-term back health, so we prefer seats to be designed in shape rather than in texture. Still confortable and healthier.
We french have less sensitive arses than British folk, and have understood that soft seats are bad for long-term back health, so we prefer seats to be designed in shape rather than in texture. Still confortable and healthier.
Great open airy feeling to it. Are they UV lamps underneath the seats? Perhaps they're there to reduce bacteria and odours?
The French interior looks interesting.
Great open airy feeling to it. Are they UV lamps underneath the seats? Perhaps they're there to reduce bacteria and odours?
The fixed armrests are a good idea. Helps to keep people in their seat and not spreading themselves onto the adjacent person.
Hard seats aren't a problem as long as they're ergonomic so to speak.
All your body needs support. Soft cushioned seats don’t give you enough.
The French interior looks interesting.
Great open airy feeling to it. Are they UV lamps underneath the seats? Perhaps they're there to reduce bacteria and odours?
You feel fine now, you’ll see in a few years or decades on the long-term.
Rather racist or stereotypical
I'm intrigued as to why people seem to love a layout which is 3+2 with narrow seats and fixed armrests!?