Conclusion
When this project was commissioned, its objectives were to:
» Define minimum (baseline) requirements for train seat
comfort;
» Create a seat comfort test methodology with scoring system
that allows TOCs, ROSCOs, seat manufacturers and seat
suppliers to test and score a range of seats for comfort;
» Test and validate the requirements;
» Improve seat comfort on UK trains.
In addition, the seat comfort specifications, testing and
scoring methodology had to be robust and credible and to be
accepted by the rail and train seating industry. The requirement
is not intended to be a barrier to new innovative seating
solutions, but to promote it.
Many were sceptical that objective criteria for seat comfort
could be set, and it is laudable that a practical system has been
developed in a little under over a year. It remains to be seen
how well this works in practice, but any reasonable review of
the requirements shows that some significant improvements
will be made if the requirements are indeed incorporated
into the Key Train Requirements document and hence into
contracts.
Your writer wonders, however, whether any operator would
have the courage to specify seat comfort values at the bottom
end of the ranges suggested for the various duties and, indeed,
whether some of the minimum dimensions specified spell the
end of 3+2 seating on future UK size rolling stock?
Further, do these requirements help resolve the situation where
legroom is compromised because body side heaters encroach into
the space of window seats?PHOTO: FISAFE ATURE 27