Interior of new Class 4000 DMUs contributes to attractive rail service

Rail travel in Northern Ireland is a huge success story. More-and-more people are choosing to take the train following service enhancements in recent years and the introduction of 23 Translink NI Railways Class 3000 trains in 2005. These developments have brought enormous benefits to passengers, greatly improving levels of reliability and comfort. There has been over 60% rail customer growth since 2002 meeting government targets four years early. In May 2011, Translink NI Railways announced that a record 10.4 million passenger journeys were made during 2010/11 – the highest level since the 1960s.

‘New Trains Two’

To date, the ‘New Trains Two’ Programme continues on schedule. Three of the 20 brand new Translink NI Railways Class 4000 DMUs (Diesel Multiple Units) have arrived in Northern Ireland and are currently undergoing intensive testing. The first train is due to enter passenger service in late-2011. All 20 new trains are due to be in service during 2012 when Translink NI Railways will operate an entirely modern fleet on its suburban services, replacing all of its old Class 450 and Class 80 DMUs.

Representing an investment of approxi – mately £100 million funded by Northern Ireland’s Department for Regional Develop – ment, it is expected that these state-of-the-art trains will build on recent success, further boosting customer numbers and making a significant and sustainable contribution to the social, environmental and economic development of the country.

Class 4000 interior concept

When Translink NI Railways’ ‘New Trains Two’ project initiation began in 2006, it was clear from the outset that the new train interior would play a central role in delivering an overall attractive rail service for customers. Translink was also in an excellent position to draw on experience gained through the Class 3000 train project and feed this into the ‘New Trains Two’ design process.

The company had a clear vision of the train aesthetic with an overall emphasis on comfort, safety, performance and accessibility. To achieve this, Translink aimed to successfully develop the already popular ‘tried and tested’ Class 3000 model to create a more modern updated Class 4000 interior design.

Expertise

In 2009, CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) was awarded the contract to manufacture and supply the 20 new Class 4000 trains. Based in Beasain and Zaragoza in Northern Spain, CAF is one of the international market leaders in the design, manufacture, maintenance and supply of railway vehicles, services, equipment and components for railway systems. Specialising in the design and production of rail rolling stock for passenger transport, CAF already has a long and successful working relationship with Translink NI Railways, having previously manufactured the 23 Class 3000 trains.

Translink NI Railways also wanted to draw on the expertise of aesthetic design consultants with a strong understanding of current design trends and expertise in relation to materials and form.

DCA, one of Europe’s leading innovative product design and development consultancies, was appointed to provide the design concept for the train interiors. This covered all features such as: multi-purpose area with vestibule adjacent tip-up seats, partitions and hand rails, interior colours for seat covering, arm rest in-fill, flotex and coral carpets, toilet finishes and flooring, luggage rack edge colour, ramp provision and storage, emergency equipment storage, conductor’s secure cupboard, Persons with Reduced Mobility WC equipment detail as well as general installation, lighting, colours and quality of finish.

A key part of Translink NI Railways’ approach was to set-up an Aesthetic Design Team to direct the overall design process including train livery, front and end design as well as the interior finishes. The team managed the technical specification for aesthetic design, colour definition and ensured that progress continued on schedule.

It comprised key Translink personnel including the ‘New Trains Two’ Programme Manager, Head of Business Development and representatives from the Train Operations, Marketing and Communications divisions. CAF’s Interior Design Engineer and Class 4000 Engineering Project Manager along with a DCA design consultant completed the team. This pool of expertise and ideas was invaluable. The team had the ultimate responsibility for developing design proposals, making necessary adjustments and providing final approvals.

An important consideration throughout the design process was the need for compliance with the Technical Standard for Interoperability (TSI) – Persons of Reduced Mobility (PRM). In particular, this related to wheelchair user accessibility, colour contrasts, the passenger information system, all passenger interfaces and general interior layout.

Class 4000 train ‘mock-ups’ were produced; for example, a section of a Class 3000 train was fitted out in the proposed Class 4000 seat trim and floor sample. This gave the team a good idea of the actual look, feel and practicality of proposed materials.

In this respect, a key challenge faced was in achieving the correct moquette which required a very complex weave. The intricate graphic design was difficult to replicate in the weaving process and required excellent co-operation between both the seat manufacturer Fainsa and the moquette manufacturer Aunde.

Consultation

Translink was able to draw on the popularity of its Class 3000 model to influence the design specification for the Class 4000 DMU. However, it was very important to engage with key stakeholder groups to ensure that proposed features met customer expectations.

A ‘New Trains Two’ public consultation began in April 2008 and received over 1,500 responses. The consultation aimed to build a clear picture of public attitude towards the current Class 3000 fleet and determine what, if any, aspects needed to be enhanced or adjusted. The results of the consultation demonstrated that the public were extremely satisfied with the Class 3000 train and that there was no need for radical change in the new Class 4000 DMU.

With a key emphasis on train accessibility, Translink also developed a close working relationship with the Inclusive Mobility Transport Advisory Council (IMTAC). IMTAC’S role is to advise Government and others in Northern Ireland on issues that affect the mobility of older people and disabled people. Other representative bodies also engaged with included: Shopmobility, Disability Action, The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, RNIB, RNID and Age Sector Platform. Discussions with such groups focused on ensuring that train passenger interfaces were easy to use and that there was clear visibility of displays and colour contrast. Through the consultation process, Translink was able to incorporate public preferences into the new train design. This also ensured that key stakeholder opinions and preferences were valued and acted upon, strengthening company relations with these important groups.

Final specification

While DCA led the design process, it was very much a team approach involving Translink NI Railways and CAF. The final agreed Class 4000 interior specification combines both comfort and efficiency; maximising onboard capacity while maintaining safety and accessibility standards to deliver an overall enjoyable passenger journey experience.

Each Class 4000 DMU has been manufactured to the latest industry standards. Translink NI Railways has a Resident Engineer on site in Zaragoza not only to monitor progress but also to ensure the highest standards of quality are maintained. Class 4000 DMUs comprise three motor car units and are mainly designed for commuter services. While there are some similar facilities and features to the Class 3000 DMU – keeping passenger and train crew interfaces as familiar as possible – Translink wanted to move the design forward and many features have been enhanced:

Class 4000 interior enhancements compared to Class 3000

The following interior characteristics are what differentiate the new Class 4000 trains to the Class 3000:

• Enhanced Passenger Information System to meet latest European Standards including larger passenger information displays
• Saloon lighting with energy efficient LEDs compared to halogen previously
• New updated interior colours – all colours reviewed and new complementary scheme agreed
• Gangway and toilet doors powered by electric rather than air for smoother more responsive performance
• One fully accessible toilet instead of two providing more space for passengers. The toilet module is based in the intermediate car and is TSI PRM compliant
• New interior layout with optimised seating for commuters, while still retaining a number of four-seater table bays
• Multi-purpose areas adjacent to one vestibule in each car – suitable for parents with buggies. Vestibule partition width reduced to create multi-purpose area. This adjustment also opens up vestibule area to encourage passenger movement down the train and maximise standing capacity
• 212 seats compared to 200 – 179 fixed seats and 33 tip-ups
• Bicycle/multi-purpose areas now duplicated in driving cars increasing capacity from four to eight bicycles
• Accessibility: built to the Persons of Reduced Mobility regulations latest European standards instead of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (Northern Ireland)
• Window design updated to improve passenger safety
• Cab design – based on Class 3000 model to keep driver interfaces similar but introducing new Passenger Information System (PIS) / Passenger Alarm System (PAS) / Public Address (PA) – all supplied by Televic
• Additional hand-holds and stanchions.

Similarities with existing Class 3000 trains

• Automatic Opening Doors at 1/3 and 2/3 intervals
• Adjustable armrests
• Priority seats
• Wheelchair access with dedicated accommodation for two wheelchairs and companion seats
• Carpeted floors
• Air conditioning – independent saloon and cab air conditioning systems
• Baby changing facilities
• Digital CCTV
• Tinted and laminated glass windows
• Ergonomic cab design
• Overhead luggage racks
• Fire detection and control system
• Range of passenger safety features
• Signage in Braille and embossed lettering
• Litter bins
• PA System
• Sliding plug doors
• Selective door operation
• Seat back tables.

Key interior accessibility features of the new Class 4000 train

Throughout the train saloon:

• Uncluttered vestibule entrance areas where handrails are on door uprights
• Priority seating with additional leg-room near vestibules
• Braille signage positioned by toilets, above train doors and at emergency/safety notices
• Visual Passenger Information System
• Grab handles that are easy to hold on the top of some seats
• Handrails in a strong colour to contrast with seating and are therefore easy to locate
• Colour contrast in carpeting that readily identifies the vestibule entrance area
• ‘Call for Aid’ devices at each wheelchair position and in the toilet compartment
• Each train features dedicated space for two wheelchairs and companion seats and one fully accessible toilet.

Employee training

Class 4000 employee training programmes are currently underway for Translink NI Railways train drivers and conductors. Due to the train featuring similar features as the previous Class 3000 DMU, this ‘upgrade’ training mainly focuses on the differences between each model. The Translink NI Railways training team worked closely once more with CAF to develop an appropriate training package and associated documentation for the train crew. A key tool for driver training was Translink’s state-of-the-art Rail Operations Training Academy (ROTA) where train simulation equipment was upgraded to ‘dual’ mode to make it suitable for both Class 3000 and Class 4000 training.

Results

The success of the Class 4000 interior design process reflects the strong working relationship between Translink, its suppliers and design consultants. From the outset, all groups had a shared vision and clear understanding of the design rationale. They understood what was achievable and realistic on a practical level, especially when it came to material durability and maintenance.

With all this expertise under the steer of the Translink Aesthetic Design Team, the overall design process was driven forward on budget and on schedule. At times it was a reiterative and exacting process to ensure the quality of finish required. Consultation was also essential to fully understand customer preferences and meet their expectations.

Trains continue to arrive on schedule and enter into on-track testing. In terms of train features and interior design, positive and supportive feedback has been received from both Translink employees and key stakeholders during a series of special Class 4000 Train Preview events.

A visiting European delegation from the SusStation ‘Achieving Sustainable Stations’ Project and a group from UITP (International Association of Public Transport) have also climbed onboard the new trains to view them first-hand. Following this early initial endorsement, Translink NI Railways is now looking forward to welcoming its first passengers onboard this autumn.

About the Author

James Erwin has 30 years experience as a professional Engineer in public transport. This includes road and rail vehicle engineering in technical and management roles. He was Project Manager for the successful Class 3000 project from tender stage through design, production, testing, passenger service and technical support. As ‘New Trains Two’ Programme Manager, James is responsible for the delivery of the new Class 4000 trains and for co-ordination of the critical associated projects. This role involves managing the supply contract (CAF as supplier) on behalf of Translink NI Railways. His role also requires close interaction with the other Translink NI Railways project managers and stakeholders to ensure that the New Trains Two Programme is delivered.