Compartment car. How to find your place?

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Modern transport systems provide many opportunities to quickly and comfortably overcome tens of kilometers of ground space. By plane, you can fly from one end of the country to the other in a matter of hours, or you can travel the same distance in a comfortable bus along convenient modern roads.

One of the most enjoyable ways to travel is by rail. Anyone who has ever visited a compartment car is familiar with the sound of wheels, tea in a glass with a glass holder and unhurried conversations with fellow travelers. However, few people are familiar with its history and some interesting features. Moreover, not everyone can even find their own seats in a compartment car without the help of a conductor.

The well-known model

Familiar to all of us from childhood, the all-metal compartment car began to be produced at the Ammendorf plant in the GDR specifically for the needs of the USSR. Its manufacture and supply began in the 60s and continued until the mid-80s. This wagon production was the largest everthe history of the railroad. In total, more than 30 thousand were produced.

At the moment, this type of vehicle is being actively written off in all CIS countries. This situation is also happening at the Russian Railways. A compartment car made in Ammendorf, although familiar to our fellow citizens, does not meet modern requirements for the transportation of passengers.

Scheme of the compartment car

Ticket in hand, but where to go with it - is it a familiar situation? To avoid such questions, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the layout of the compartment car in detail.

Let's start by deciphering the concept of "coupe". It is a type of second class sleeping passenger car. In terms of convenience, it is much better than a reserved seat, but less comfortable than a suite or SV. Depending on the type, compartment cars are divided into 9 or 10 hotel compartments. Each of them is closed by a sliding door and is designed to accommodate four people. It has a folding table, hanger, luggage racks and drawers. There is a mirror on the door. The modern model compartment car is usually equipped with air conditioning.

All compartment cars are necessarily equipped with titanium for heating hot water, a compartment for the conductor's rest, a working area for the conductors, two bathrooms and vestibules.

In total there are 36 or 40 seats in compartment cars. Moreover, they are numbered according to the following principle: all odd places are lower, and all even ones are upper. Seat numbering starts from the conductor's compartment.

Comfort compartment car

Price for a ticket in carriagesSV and deluxe at least twice the cost of a regular compartment. Why such a difference?

The scheme of the extra-comfort car is not much different from the second class we have already studied. But only one or two passengers are accommodated in the NE. All shelves in the car are lower. At the same time, the number of compartments remains the same, that is, there are at least half as many passengers, respectively, there is less noise, fuss and unforeseen situations caused by the human factor.

For the convenience of passengers, each compartment of the first-class carriage is additionally equipped with a wardrobe and a TV. Shelves are softer, always with backs for sitting.

Since there are no upper shelves in this type of carriage, additional luggage compartments are located in their place.

The interior of the car is also somewhat different from its second-class counterparts. It contains, albeit minor, but on the whole ennobling details of the minimalist design. And finishing materials are mostly of higher quality.

The best seat in the car

It seems that all the seats of the compartment car are the same. However, among them you can find the best and worst. For example, few people like place number 36, since this is the topmost shelf by the toilet. Its main disadvantage is the constant noise in the corridor, fuss behind the wall and an unpleasant smell.

Also, seasoned travelers do not recommend purchasing seats in compartments closest to the conductor. Luggage compartments in them can be occupied by blankets, parcels with gear and other things. If notif you are lucky and such a situation will happen, it will be completely pointless to argue and swear - there is not enough space on the train, and all this goodness still needs to be stored somewhere.

According to most, the best seats in a compartment car are 9, 11, 13 and 15. Titanium, conductor, toilet and vestibule (this is important for smokers) are nearby. And at the same time, they are far enough away not to smell from the toilet and smoke from cigarettes.

Safety or fresh air

Before you start choosing tickets, you need to know about another catch of sleeping passenger cars. In compartments numbered 3 and 6, the windows do not open. And not only in the compartment car. The situation is similar in SV and reserved seat.

It is not possible to open the windows due to the special design of the frames, since it is through these compartments that passengers are supposed to be evacuated in the event of an accident. It is believed that a half-covered window can become a serious obstacle on the way.

So if you like fresh air, these places are not for you.