Could Irizar seats be used for trains?

[matacaster]

Whilst on holiday, I've been on a coach today with seats made by Spanish company irizar. Take a look at their website www.irizar.com. The seats are comfortable and have decent padded cushions. Why on earth can't these or similar typed of seat be specified for rail use instead of bone hard ones intended (cynics might suspect) to deter rail use?

 

[JonathanH]

Why on earth can't these or similar typed of seat be specified for rail use instead of bone hard ones intended (cynics might suspect) to deter rail use?

The question is really why trains can't have deeper cushions rather than why coach seats can't be specified.

The frames of coach seats tend not to be as robust as train seats so may well not stand up well to the kind of use that train seats get. On the other hand it seems that a deeper cushion could be fitted to the existing train seat frames which would be more comfortable.

 

[Anonymous10]

The question is really why trains can't have deeper cushions rather than why coach seats can't be specified.

The frames of coach seats tend not to be as robust as train seats so may well not stand up well to the kind of use that train seats get. On the other hand it seems that a deeper cushion could be fitted to the existing train seat frames which would be more comfortable.

For example the 197s having the same seats as the 80x and yet thanks to public demand they were species with a thicker cushion thus making them much more comfortable for prolonged journeys.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The question is really why trains can't have deeper cushions rather than why coach seats can't be specified.

The answer is they can but it costs so they don't.

Though there are other factors. Thick back cushions mean poor legroom (legroom is notoriously bad on coaches). So it's the base we want to make thicker like TfW did.

 

[JonathanH]

So it's the base we want to make thicker like TfW did.

Yes, I agree that it is the base which matters more.

 

[Bill57p9]

Modern short haul economy seats are slimline, yet deliver deceptively acceptable levels of comfort even after 5 hours (having sampled Jet2 to and from Cyprus). To remove one excuse, I would be absolutely staggered if modern airline seating didn’t meet railway fire regulations.

I can’t see why so many modern train seats are so uninviting when there are evidently options out there in other modes of transport.

 

[JonathanH]

I think that there is a difference connected to seat belts. Passengers in cars, coaches and aircraft wear seat belts so the seat is intended to deform slightly in an emergency. Passengers in trains do not wear seatbelts, so seats have become progressively more robust in order to protect passengers in an emergency. I dont think anyone wants passengers in trains to have to wear seat belts if it can be avoided.

Can anyone point to a place where coach and aircraft seats are actually used in trains?

 

[Bill57p9]

That is a good point.
Obviously Pacers were originally fitted with bus bench seats though I can't think of other crossover applications.

 

[87015]

I think that there is a difference connected to seat belts. Passengers in cars, coaches and aircraft wear seat belts so the seat is intended to deform slightly in an emergency. Passengers in trains do not wear seatbelts, so seats have become progressively more robust in order to protect passengers in an emergency. I dont think anyone wants passengers in trains to have to wear seat belts if it can be avoided.

Can anyone point to a place where coach and aircraft seats are actually used in trains?

Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria certainly seem to, sure there will be more. Think some of the Polish opens do too.

 

[AY1975]

That is a good point.
Obviously Pacers were originally fitted with bus bench seats though I can't think of other crossover applications.

As I recall the Class 309 Clacton EMUs were fitted with coach seats when they were refurbished in the mid to late 1980s.