Double-deck cars from the Tver Carriage Works are planned to be used on Russian railways

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

Russian-made double-deck cars were introduced by the Tver Carriage Works (TVZ) back in 2009. Is it worth reminding readers that new is often forgotten old?

Such cars existed, as it turns out, even before the revolution (Sormovo and Tver production), and in the USSR they were quite common for some time. In the 60s, double-decker passenger cars began to appear, produced in the GDR (they went mainly along the Kovel-Lvov route). However, how could the Soviet Union yield to another, even a friendly country? The great power creates its own double-decker cars (based on those produced in the GDR), plying through the Chelyabinsk region and between Ryazan and Moscow. Judging by the appearance of those trains that we are used to seeing today, innovations on the railwaythe road did not take root. Perhaps it was all about the amenities, or the lack thereof.

What do modern double-decker cars look like, so common in Europe? By the way, there they run mainly at night and are called couchettes (and in our country they are “compartment, with increased capacity”).

So, the new double-decker car is designed for eight compartments on the first floor and eight on the second. Accordingly, the capacity is doubled, as is the total weight of the car. To reduce the severity, we decided to “cut off” the space a little (due to the ceiling), abandon the luggage compartments at the top (on each floor) and install ordinary ones instead of transformer shelves. As a result, the total weight of the car exceeded the previous one by only 10% (about 65 tons). The length of the giant is 26.2 m, the height is 5.25.

The corridors of the floors run on different sides, but the windows of the upper level end rather low. Therefore, if you want to admire the scenery, you will have to bend down or sit down. A similar problem “smiles” at passengers seated on the upper shelves - the windows in the compartment are also low. Manufacturers promise to correct the shortcomings in the future.

The new double-decker car has only one door. In order to get to your place, you have to go down (or, conversely, go up) the stairs. This is also not very convenient. The opposite end of the car (also "middle level") is equipped with three toilets. The possibility of using showers (their installation was planned) is still questionable.

I must say that passengers will now be relieved of noise from neighboring compartments, constantly burning lights at night and other inconveniences associated with "reserved seat". The atmosphere will now become similar to the compartment. Thanks to the through corridor, ventilation will improve, and the ability to lock the door will to some extent increase the security of both the passengers themselves and their luggage.

Couchette cars will most likely be used on night routes when the minimum comfort offered is enough for passengers.

The timing of the mass appearance of "giants" on the railway is still vague. Russian Railways has already expressed its approval, and tests will show whether it is advisable to put double-deck cars into operation. They may be most in demand on routes from Moscow to St. Petersburg, Minsk, Kyiv, Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Kostroma, Novgorod, Kazan.