Joost Van der Made
THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT
NS is also looking at providing real-time information on
seat availability, via a smartphone app. “We’re looking
at providing information such as where to stand on
the platform to be closer to the door that leads to your
compartment or seat preference,” explains Joost Van
der Made. “It’s also so that passengers know ahead
of time there will be a space. It’s not just a matter of
physical design. You need proper real-time information
working with smart devices.”
view. The windows on NS trains have a
square shape with rounded corners, and are
a cherished design feature.
Room with a view
“People really put very high value on being able
to look out of the window and experience the
environment,” says Van der Made. “Together
with the architects, we looked at flexible office
bar seats, which are preferred by a lot of
people. When you are on your own, it’s very
easy to sit in an informal way. It’s a good office
setup. It’s a more condensed space and yet
you gain higher customer appreciation. People
associate bar seats with freedom, even though
they get less space. They have power sockets,
reading lights and privacy walls.”
Customer feedback indicated that both
first class and bar tables were associated
with working. “As such, implementing bar
tables in the first-class section saved space
and increased capacity, while
passengers still concluded that
the design felt like a first-class
cabin,” says Van der Made.
Double duty
Another interesting part of
the concept is the yellow
perch that extends the
seat. “In the Netherlands,
trains can be very crowded
during rush hour, but at other
times we have excess capacity,”
says Van der Made. “These perch
seats are handy during peak times, even at
the expense of a bit of comfort. The yellow
extensions also serve as more informal seat
positions during off-peak times.”
There are
also bar seats
in second class,
but the first-class
versions have
more space and
amenities
The seat extensions provide support and
even a USB power socket. Off-peak they can
be claimed by the people sitting in the full seat
as extra space to stretch out.
“We have developed this further as
putting the yellow part in the walkways
could deteriorate safety and introduce an
obstruction,” says Van der Made.
He adds that most people board at the
front or the end cars of the train, where the
staircases bring them onto the platform.
Railway Interiors International ANNUAL SHOWCASE 2019 34
These sections of the trains are
designed like lobbies, are easily
accessible and feature more
of the perch seats than
other parts of the train do.
“Deeper down in the
train people will find more
space and more specific
facilities,” says Van der
Made. “When you are
travelling for a little longer,
it will hopefully motivate you
to move further in.”
Virtual reality
The design team has conducted two years of
research, including time spent with customers
trialling the space in the NS virtual reality (VR)
lab. “We are about to conclude a request for
consultation with the largest rail manufacturers
to research the concept’s feasibility,” says Van
der Made. “We also conducted more research
in our VR lab. We created virtual passengers
and asked 100 individual customers wearing
BELOW: The
design took
inspiration from
modern, flexible
office spaces