In order to be “competitive” as a railway, operating efficiency counts as an important imperative. In the context of railway carriage interior planning this is often made subordinate to other substantial aspects such as for example, expediency. This leads in practice to the opposite wished for result. Misunderstood operating efficiency concepts such as a maximal utilization of space for seating can in reality lead to a decline in operating efficiency, operational problems and in incidents to serious safety risks.

railway interiors, passenger needs, efficiency