RUSSIA: Federal Passenger Co’s first double-deck seating cars are scheduled to enter service on July 31, on the Moscow – Voronezh route which has a journey time of 6 h 35 min.
The double-deck cars were ordered from Transmashholding’s Tver Carriage Works in August 2013 and delivered in June. Tver has previously supplied double-deck sleeping cars which entered service with RZD in November 2013, but these are its first modern seating cars for daytime services.
The semi-permanently coupled 15-car set is designed for electric locomotive haulage at speeds up to 160 km/h. The five business class cars have 60 rotating seats arranged in a 2+1 layout and a two-seat VIP compartment, while the 10 economy class cars have 102 seats arranged 2+2.
The interior was developed by Tver and Italian industrial design company Italdesign Giugiaro. The coaches have heating and air-conditioning, electronic information screens and retention toilets, as well as coat and baggage storage areas. Each seat has a folding table, lamp and electrical socket. Water coolers are provided, and there is a hot drinks and snack machine.
Tver says the coaches have 90% domestic content.
