JUDGING by the level of interest shown at December’s Railtex exhi- bition in London, seating suppliers are very interested in the British market, where there are prospects for substantial new train orders as the franchise renegotiation process moves ahead. Low weight, vandal resistance and low life-cycle costs are sought-after characteristics.
Compin is supplying its Phoenix suburban and regional seat to equip Juniper electric multiple-units built by Alstom, providing standard class seats for the Class 458 ordered by South West Trains, the Class 460 for Gatwick Express and the Class 334 for ScotRail. First class seating in the Class 458 comes from the Sirius range, offering a pitch of 850mm and depth of 650mm compared with 795mm and 635mm for the Phoenix. On Gatwick Express, first class customers will be treated to the reclining Atlas seat which measures 500mm between armrests, is 710mm deep and has a normal pitch of 948mm. Compin has produced a similar, rotating design for South Korea’s KTX high speed trains (p83) and is supplying the seats for the 12 units being built in France. Seats for the 34 trainsets being manufactured in South Korea will be wholly sourced from a local partner.
The reclining CR2.X seat is a recent addition to the Chapman range, designed to offer a high level of comfort for longer journeys while meeting the seat pitches of ex-British Rail inter-city rolling stock. This design has been supplied for first class seating in eight Class 170/2 DMUs built by Adtranz for Anglia Railways, which use Chapman’s SC3.X seat in standard class. Also supplied for ScotRail’s Class 170/4s, the SC3.X has been developed from the modular SC1.X to provide enhanced comfort for longer journeys, featuring built-in headrests and modified seat cushions. Recent applications of the SC1.X, featuring a lightweight one-piece polycarbonate shell and optional tables, armrests and grab handles, include the Adtranz Class 357 EMUs for LTS Rail and refurbished Class 317 EMUs for West Anglia Great Northern.
Vogel has developed the lightweight Pino seat for applications such as light rail and regional trains. Formed of front and back shells without a frame, a pair of seats weighs 13 kg. As well as the basic version, the Pino range includes models with seat and back cushions. Vogel’s wood-based Wing range includes the CityWing for urban applications available with or without cushions and a graffiti-resistant varnish. The fully-upholstered RegioWing with headrest is available with a variety of armrests and an optional fold-up table. For first class, the adjustable SilverWing is capable of being fitted with passenger entertainment systems. The luxurious InnoWing in wood and leather will feature in the lounge section of DB’s Innovation Train, equipped with a flexible reading light and an audio entertainment system.
MTB is supplying seating that meets the latest flame retardancy specifications for Northern Spirit’s Class 333 trains, shortly to be delivered from Spain. MTB has also provided seats for refurbished Mk II inter-city coaches for First Great Western and for West Anglia Great Northern’s Class 313 suburban EMUs.
At Railtex Grammer was seeking feedback on a seat design it had developed for a bid to fit the Pendolino trains now under construction for Britain’sWest Coast Main Line. For inter-city trains, it would like to offer the seats fitted to the ICE3 and ICT trains in Germany, but may be unable to do so because of DB licence provisions. Grammer has already supplied a Lazzerini design for Turbostar DMUs for two British operators.
Richmond Ergonomic Developments has developed the Navigator range of seats for DMU and EMUs, and obtained orders for 12000 seats of this type in five months last year. It is available in Standard, Premier, Compact and Tip-Up versions. The aluminium-framed design can be supplied with fold-down seatback tables, which collapse in a controlled manner if excess pressure is applied. The company also supplies luggage racks and other fittings.
Georg Eknes Industrier of Norway has obtained contracts to furnish Hispek 30 and Hispek 50 seating models for First North Western and First Great Western DMUs. Dux has developed the Pascal System of elastic steel springs in non-woven fabric to replace traditional squab padding, and this has been fitted to new seating for Swedish State Railways’ X2000 trains and to seats supplied by Ring Mekanikk for the Gardermoen airport line trains in Norway.
Finnish Railways chose Rica Seats to equip its 10 Fiat-built SM4 EMUs for Helsinki commuter services. Using a stainless steel bucket design with a modular structure, 184 seats per unit can be fitted in 5 h. Rica is also providing 20000 seats for refurbishment of VR’s existing SM1 and SM2 units.
CAPTION: Above: X2000 seat with Pascal springs by Dux (left) and the previous design (right )
Above left: Chapman’s CR2.X first class seats for Anglia Turbostar DMUs
CAPTION: Left: TGV Korea’s first class seats from Compin
CAPTION: Below left: Vogel’s Silverwing
Below: Rica seats for Finnish SM4 EMUs
Reader Enquiry Numbers
Compin 121
Chapman Seating Ltd 122
Vogel Industrie GmbH 123
MTB 124
Grammer 125
Lazzerini 126
Richmond Ergonomic Developments 127
Georg Eknes Industrier 128
Pascal International 129
Rica Seats 130
