Most comfortable seats you have tried in a train?

[Wardog]

I guess for me it would be in our IC3 trains, although the seats could still be much better. http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/IC3

It seems that first class on some Malaysian coaches and Shinkansen trains, have super comfortable reclining seats. Some of these can even be turned 180 degrees, in order to face the driving direction.

Left picture is from Shinkansen, and the right one is from Malaysia. Very smart, and I have never seen such fancy stuff here in Europe.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, the IC3s are lovely. Very BR in interior appearance, too, with the coach end murals. There is one unit named after a BR designer and themed on the BR look, notably.

The Malaysian one shown is First Class and is decidedly average (I've been on it) - no better or worse than any UK 2+1 First Class.

Don't travel First very often, though, and I've found all 2+1 types I've encountered equally comfortable, so I'll be controversial - my favourite UK Standard rail seat is the very high backed type used by First Great Western. Very comfortable, and as I'm tall my head actually rests on the headrest rather than the back of my shoulders. Second favourite is the 2+2 Desiro seat found in 185s and 350s.

The worst is East Coast, with the seat base that slopes the wrong way. Utterly awful. I'd rather travel in the middle seat of a 3 in a 150/2.

Neil

 

[Taunton]

Mark 1 first class compartment stock. Probably amazingly cheap in comparison to modern stuff as well. Shows the benefit of designs done in the days before ergonomics were discovered.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Maybe the most comfortable seats are those that you don't notice - it's only really when you get uncomfortable that you take any heed of the seats.
While we're on international stuff, I think the Swiss loco-hauled hauled IC stock that I caught between Cologne and Basel falls into that category - nearly 5 hours on the train, and I didn't notice the seats at all.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Maybe the most comfortable seats are those that you don't notice - it's only really when you get uncomfortable that you take any heed of the seats.
While we're on international stuff, I think the Swiss loco-hauled hauled IC stock that I caught between Cologne and Basel falls into that category - nearly 5 hours on the train, and I didn't notice the seats at all.

They're fine if you don't have someone next to you, but less comfortable if you do, as there is no central armrest.

OTOH the First Class is quite uncomfortable - very soft and unsupportive.

Neil

 

[AM9]

Class 387s are quite comfortable as the posture is just right. This may come as a surprise to some who have not experienced them and a few who have, but the firmness actually helps. Also, this question should be considered in the context of how much use the seat has had since installation/refurbishment.

 

[eastwestdivide]

.... Also, this question should be considered in the context of how much use the seat has had since installation/refurbishment.

Good point - some of the Mk1s which had literally had the stuffing knocked out of them could be pretty dire.

And on the Swiss IC coaches...

They're fine if you don't have someone next to you, but less comfortable if you do, as there is no central armrest.

OTOH the First Class is quite uncomfortable - very soft and unsupportive.

Neil

We must have had different ones then - mine were like those at the top of http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/CH/SBB_Bpm.php with fold-down armrests between

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ah, those are the EC coaches I think (the driving trailers are also similar). Most of them are like these:

http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/CH/SBB_B-EWIV.php

I dislike the double deckers, incidentally, as the seats are way too narrow.

As for seat-torture try these:

http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/CH/SBB_B-EWI.php

Made for dwarves with a horribly shaped back. To think they used to be IC coaches!

Neil

 

[Wardog]

Yes, the IC3s are lovely. Very BR in interior appearance, too, with the coach end murals. There is one unit named after a BR designer and themed on the BR look, notably.

The Malaysian one shown is First Class and is decidedly average (I've been on it) - no better or worse than any UK 2+1 First Class.

Don't travel First very often, though, and I've found all 2+1 types I've encountered equally comfortable, so I'll be controversial - my favourite UK Standard rail seat is the very high backed type used by First Great Western. Very comfortable, and as I'm tall my head actually rests on the headrest rather than the back of my shoulders. Second favourite is the 2+2 Desiro seat found in 185s and 350s.

The worst is East Coast, with the seat base that slopes the wrong way. Utterly awful. I'd rather travel in the middle seat of a 3 in a 150/2.

Neil

Have you experienced reclining seats with footrests that can be turned 180 degrees in UK?

 

[SS4]

Back here at home I've found the seats in Chiltern's Business Class to be the most comfortable although I am yet to use the service in summer so I am yet to see the effect of poor weather on them

 

[30907]

Have you experienced reclining seats with footrests that can be turned 180 degrees in UK?[/QUOTE

No, though I believe one or two special vehicles may have had them. One of the problems is our restricted width. Only ones I van recall were on NSB.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Have you experienced reclining seats with footrests that can be turned 180 degrees in UK?

I've experienced reclining, wide seats. I don't care much for footrests, always found the floor adequate. Rotating seats are all very well but they just get broken.

Neil

 

[317666]

NMBS I10 coaches: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/NMBS_I10-B11_Interior_second_class.JPG The same seats are also in the middle coach and in first class of unrefurbished MS80s.

In the UK it's either the original 317 seats (as still fitted to the /1s, /5s and /8s), or 175/180 seats.

 

[Blindtraveler]

The orrigional BR Seating in the 158s wins my vote - fit these to almost any post privatisation stock and your winning.

 

[Trenitalia]

I find unconfortable seats (Level service: prima) on Italo trains in Italy, Freccciarossa's seats are more confortable, especially in Business class. Confortable also seats onto Frecciargento and Frecciabianca trains (First class).

 

[Ash Bridge]

Have you experienced reclining seats with footrests that can be turned 180 degrees in UK?

Have you experienced reclining seats with footrests that can be turned 180 degrees in UK?[/QUOTE

No, though I believe one or two special vehicles may have had them. One of the problems is our restricted width. Only ones I van recall were on NSB.

I think two of these mk1 based coaches were built by the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. Around 1957. This one (3083) I travelled on is preserved at the Severn Valley Railway, 1st. class open 2+1 reclining 180 degree seating very comfortable and to top it off Deltic D9000 on the front of the train

 

[upnorth71]

Gran Class on E7 high speed trainsets (also on E5), rode Tokyo to Nagano. Expensive though.

They rotate 180 degrees as do all seats on shinkansen and limited express trains. Reliablity is rock solid, which is a given, albeit we don't have the same levels of anti-social behavior that exist in other countries- some commuter trains even use plush felt seat cushions made of angora wool, probably wouldn't last the day in a U.S. system.

http://www.hitachi.com/rev/pdf/2013/r2013_05_102.pdf

 

[Wardog]

Gran Class on E7 high speed trainsets (also on E5), rode Tokyo to Nagano. Expensive though.

They rotate 180 degrees as do all seats on shinkansen and limited express trains. Reliablity is rock solid, which is a given, albeit we don't have the same levels of anti-social behavior that exist in other countries- some commuter trains even use plush felt seat cushions made of angora wool, probably wouldn't last the day in a U.S. system.

http://www.hitachi.com/rev/pdf/2013/r2013_05_102.pdf

Very nice, Im so envious!

How do you rotate the seats (foot pedal perhaps?) and are passengers allowed to do it themselves?

Does all first class seats in Shinkansen have reclining with leg rests as well?

 

[tony_mac]

Railjet business class?

They have some different seats you can try at Shildon - it always strikes me that the old ones are so much more comfortable than most modern seats.