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New rail seat designs aim to tackle overcrowding

23 Sep 2016 by Mark Caswell
Priestmangoode Horizon seat

Design consultancy firm Priestman Goode has unveiled new rail seat designs aimed at tackling overcrowding on public transport.

Funded by not-for-profit organisation the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), the project has seen the development of two new seats – Horizon and Island Bay – which Priestman Goode says could increase seating capacity by up to 30 per cent per carriage.

The Horizon seat (pictured above) features a staggered design which “increases shoulder space between passengers, improving the feeling of personal space”.

The seats feature individual luggage storage, bag hooks, foot rests, tables to support a range of tablets and mobile devices, and individual USB charging ports.

The firm says that the Horizon seat “allows between 20-30 per cent more seats per carriage (based on a typical commuter train)”, with the seat designed “to ensure that it offers passengers a fully supported position”.

Priestmangoode Island Bay seat

Meanwhile the Island Bay design is described as “a flexible seating solution that provides regular seats during off-peak, and a higher density configuration during peak hours resulting in 15-20 per cent more seats and increased standing capacity”.

Features include a dual purpose table/window seat, “end of bay” seats with padded back rests giving “standing passengers a more comfortable postion”, wider than average aisles making them accessible for wheelchairs and buggies, and USB ports at every seat.

At present the seats are only at the design concept stage, but according to Priestman Goode they could be installed on new or existing trains or trams, “meaning that it could be just a year away from hitting the market”.

priestmangoode.com

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