UK: PriestmanGoode has unveiled Green Carriage, a collection of train interior design concepts developed to ’push boundaries for greener systems and processes across the entire interior, rethinking what a future interior can be’.
The transport design consultancy’s ‘reductive, modular and circular’ approach takes a holistic view of passenger travel and is intended to provided flexibility to support evolving patterns of travel.
‘Rail stands to benefit from passengers’ increasing awareness of their carbon footprint when planning journeys. However, there’s a divide in expectations, typically between cost and the experience and this acts as a barrier to more passengers selecting rail’, said Jo Rowan, Associate Director of Strategy.
’What we asked in this project is: what can design do to address these barriers, improve passenger experience and ultimately get more people onboard?
‘We’ve designed a kit of parts that works as a system. This is not only efficient for manufacture and maintenance, it also enables different zones to be created within the train, built from different combinations of the kit. We see a movement from carriages designated by class, to zones that passengers select according to the scenario of their journey or the experience they prefer.’
Seats allow passengers to make the most of their time onboard, whether for work, relaxation or privacy or supporting specific accessibility requirements. The concept also considers what passengers bring onboard, including bikes and scooters for their first and last mile trips.
Another focus is on circularity, using materials that can be recycled infinitely. Lightweight mesh fabrics would be derived from recycled materials, and a sleeve cover concept uses natural and undyed textiles.
The team ‘questioned every detail’ including how branding is applied, avoidance of weight and waste, and how digital technology can incentivise greener behaviours.
‘Whilst acknowledging that fully sustainable materials and processes are at varying stages of readiness today, there’s no time for complacency’, said Rowan. ‘Green Carriage is a set of ideas that create a map for taking the green route, with an emphasis on urgency and the need for close collaboration. In particular, procurement timelines need to allow for development of these new materials and their certification.’
