SLEEP IN MOTION

What it does

proposal interior layout of a night train. Comfortable carriage interiors often require more space than efficient ones. The innovative layout increases passenger capacity and still offers more comfort thanks to the geometry of the couchette.

Your inspiration

Many train journeys and extensive research into long-distance travel made the night train the focus of my interest. The efficient transportation on rails, the use of existing infrastructure and the bridging of the long travel time during sleep make the concept a sustainable alternative to air travel. Nevertheless, the night train seems to have fallen out of time and old equipment makes the operation unattractive and expensive. My motivation is to meet today's demands for travel comfort and thus re-establish the night train as a modern and inexpensive alternative to air travel.

How it works

The geometry of the sleeping areas in this layout is not based on a division into rectangles, but on the search for shapes that bring space efficiency and sleeping comfort closer together. In this layout, all sleeping areas are accessed via a central aisle, which means that no additional space is required for access. In addition, the mattress bases have a constriction in the leg area, which benefits the upper body area in the next mattress base. The space gained allows the bunks to be longer, wider and higher than previously available solutions. Luggage is stowed in separately lockable compartments at floor level, and hand luggage can also be stored in the bunk.

Design process

A comprehensive search was made for historical wagon material in literature and on the Internet, and a patent search offered an even more complete view of which ideas had already been pursued. Before designing my own layout, I gained an overview of realistic carriage dimensions, some of which had to be calculated. Furthermore, I immediately checked the comfort of layout designs by trying out possible sleeping positions on 1:1 cardboard mock-ups. As far as possible, I involved fellow students to evaluate the possibilities and produced a three-dimensional mockup of the most promising solution to get a better idea of the feeling of space. The findings were incorporated into further adjustments to the design and, at the same time, I created the first 3D models in CAD to make the entire layout tangible and check its plausibility. At the end of the semester, I presented the work to a rail vehicle manufacturer, who has since followed up on the concept and filed a patent application.

How it is different

The feeling of space in the individual cabins is one of the major advantages. Unlike rectangular loungers, this geometry creates a less cramped spatial experience as the room opens up towards the window. Several reclining positions are also possible and the view out of the window is unobstructed. The unusual geometry is the result of the interplay between the demands of sleeping comfort and the attempt to create an efficient and appealing interior design. The geometry also offers the advantage of being very stable thanks to the curved shapes and easy to manufacture thanks to the purely two-dimensional parts.

Future plans

Marketing to operators at trade fairs and participating in tenders are the most important ways of pursuing the concept further. The soon to be granted patent and a professional mock-up will lay the foundation for this. We are pursuing this approach together with the company where I work. If an order is placed, the rail vehicle manufacturer will be in a position to develop and realize the concept from its current state.

Awards

The German Designer Club (DDC) recognized the project as a winner in the product category in last year's "What's Good?" competition. Skoda Transportation in the Czech Republic also presented the concept with the group-wide Innovation Award.