Double-deck Railway Car with Intermediate Platforms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Railway passenger transport vehicles with two superimposed floors face challenges in passenger circulation, embarkation, and disembarkation efficiency, as well as providing ergonomic and comfortable interior layouts while maximizing passenger capacity.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a railway car with a central passenger compartment featuring a lower floor, upper floor, and intermediate platforms connected by descending and ascending passages, with distinct seating arrangements on each level tailored to different journey durations and comfort needs, along with wide gangways for easy movement and visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a two-level railway car is used to increase passenger capacity, then the number of passengers increases, but passenger circulation and embarkation/disembarkation speed deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger capacityVSAvoidpassenger circulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The railway car is divided into two distinct levels (upper and lower floors) with separate circulation paths. Each level has its own access doors and seating areas, allowing passengers to be segmented into different groups that can move independently, thereby maintaining circulation efficiency while increasing overall capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-level to a two-level configuration, adding a vertical dimension to the passenger space. This dimensional change doubles the effective passenger capacity while preserving horizontal circulation paths on each level, and provides multiple access points for embarkation and disembarkation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If a two-level railway car is used to increase passenger capacity, then the number of passengers increases, but embarkation and disembarkation speed deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger capacityVSAvoidembarkation and disembarkation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Access doors are provided on both the upper and lower floors, segmenting the embarkation and disembarkation process into parallel channels. Passengers can board and alight simultaneously at multiple levels, reducing the total time required for these operations while accommodating more passengers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By utilizing the vertical dimension with two levels, the system creates multiple simultaneous access points for embarkation and disembarkation. This allows parallel processing of passenger flow, reducing the time loss associated with these operations while increasing overall capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If seats are arranged along side faces on intermediate platforms for short journey passengers, then ergonomic comfort improves, but passenger circulation space may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveergonomic comfortVSAvoidpassenger circulation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Different seating arrangements are provided for different levels: intermediate platforms have longitudinal seats along side faces optimized for short journeys, while upper and lower floors have transverse seats optimized for longer journeys. Each local area is optimized for its specific use case, providing ergonomic comfort without compromising overall circulation space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3031692B1Double-deck railway car for passenger transport and train comprising such a car
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECH SAS
  • EP3031692B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3031692B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The railway car comprises a passenger compartment (6) having, in a central section of the compartment, a superimposed lower floor (14) and upper floor (16) defining respectively a lower level (18) and an upper level (20), and, in end sections of the compartment, two platforms (22) each connected to the lower floor (14) by a descending passage (24) and to the upper floor (16) by an ascending passage (26). At least one platform (22) is equipped with at least one row of longitudinal seats facing a side of the railway car (2).