ÖBB will introduce capsule carriages
Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) intends to introduce the next generation of sleeping carriages. Instead of conventional compartments, they have capsules for private accommodation of passengers. The new coaches will be entered service starting from 2022.
ÖBB will use the capsule carriages for its Nightjet trains. They were developed taking into account customer feedback. Three years ago, the company has demonstrated the mockups of compartments at Vienna Main station. Last week, ÖBB has unveiled the final digital design of the coaches. In 2022, the passengers will be able to use the innovative carriages manufactured by Siemens Mobility. They will form 13 seven-car Nightjet trainsets.
Private accommodation
The key feature of the new sleeping carriages is the accommodation of passengers in capsules known as MiniSuites instead of ordinary compartments. Each capsule has sliding doors to provide a high level of privacy. It is also equipped with a monitor, reading lamp, charging facilities, coat hook and a pocket for storing personal belongings to offer a comfortable trip.
There are four capsules per each compartment located on two floors, each floor has a folding table. The capsules on the same floor could be paired by opening a sliding roller at the head. Each compartment has a special area to store outer clothing and baggage. Besides the four-berth compartments, ÖBB has shown the two-berth non-capsule ones. They will provide higher service for passengers.
