Shower, toilet queues and surveillance: what innovative couchette cars have become

Moscow municipal deputy Yakov Yakubovich managed to ride in an ultra-modern, hyper-innovative new generation лаplatzkart carriage, a sample of which is exhibited at Moscow's Paveletsky railway station. Such cars produced by the Tver Carriage Works are included in the Volgograd - Moscow train. The MP shares his impressions on his blog:

“I do not know what motivated the customer, the designer and the designer, but it seems to me and I am sure that I will not be mistaken, none of them has either never traveled in a reserved seat, or has a bad memory or observation.

If someone of you remembers the last time you traveled in a reserved seat carriage, you will surely feel an indescribable atmosphere with the smells of cucumbers, eggs, bread and chicken. Of course, riding in the reserved seat was not pleasant even then. But now we are deprived of even those small conveniences and opportunities that were previously.

First, the "rear vestibule" disappeared. Where earlier it was possible to smoke, communicate when night fell and young people woke up. Also in the vestibule it was possible to change clothes or talk on the phone, so as not to disturb other passengers. All these functions have obviously been lost.

Secondly, the ventilated space between the carriages has disappeared, in which it was possible to change clothes or, if you really wanted to, then smoke or give a pee to a child who cannot stand standing in line to the toilet. Good or bad - decide for yourself.

Thirdly, the convenience of civilization appeared... Shower. Yes Yes. A shower, moreover, combined with one of the toilets (there are still two of them) for 54 passengers. It is not surprising to imagine what was happening at the entrance to the terminal station. Although it’s nothing out of the ordinary, it’s likely that it dawned on people that if they used the shower they would be cursed. Therefore, the queue for the toilet was, of course, longer than usual (now there is no vestibule and there is nowhere to change). But not fatal, because, most likely, no one used the shower.

Fourthly, now the whole car is covered with CCTV cameras, which makes it impossible to find a "personal" space in the car, which would not be viewed by cameras, except for your own place. If you, for example, want to drink vodka with a neighbor or just a can of beer at night, you won't be able to. The conductor / head of the train will come and stop the flagrant violation of the rules of travel on long-distance trains.

The bottom line. Innovation is innovation:

1) The queues for the toilet have grown due to the increase in the time for changing clothes and (theoretically) for taking a shower (which in fact no one uses, most likely).

2) Passengers lost their "personal space" in the car, except for the toilet and their own place, where besides them there were 6 more people because of the cameras stuck everywhere and the elimination of vestibules.

3) Smoking is allowed only at the station and only when parked for more than 10 minutes, and that is not allowed. There are no urns on the platforms and all the cigarette butts are flying on the way.

4) Alcohol can not be consumed either according to the rules or physically because of the same CCTV cameras and "evil guides".

5) The shower, due to its combination with one of the toilets, is non-functional due to the fact that it can be used only "not during rush hour". Thus, it is needed only for long-distance destinations, lasting more than 2-3 days. For distances that take less than a day, this innovation is meaningless.

Summary:

Innovation is far from the people, as well as the people from innovation. Therefore, no diffusion of innovations should be expected..."

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In the comments to this post, readers largely disagreed with the author's position:

- Actually, almost everything that you described should not exist. No smoking on the train. Those who do not smoke should not suffer from your habit. It might make sense to create a separate smoking room, but according to the rules, you cannot smoke on public transport.

There is nothing good in this rumbling vestibule, where "children are taken to pee." The very topic "pee outside the toilet" should not be.

Drinking vodka is also nifiga not a wonderful occupation in transport where women and children travel. If you want a cultural drink, pour it into a mug from a bottle in a bag, but so that no one can see that it is a drink. And the camera is not a hindrance to you.

The only thing I agree with is that there should be so many toilets to be enough for everyone. And the shower should not be a replacement, but a plus to the toilets.

I prefer to ride these new trains, rather than the ancient rumbling and smelly outhouse.

- A reserved seat is a cheap type of transport, economy class, in which fifty corresponding passengers travel very crowded. It is required to be cheap (that is, not break down and easy to maintain), safe and hygienic. Ventilation, toilets, easy-to-clean materials, luggage space are what you need.

- Four years ago, I went to Tambov for the first time in my life on the upper side shelf at the end of the carriage due to an urgent need. I thought I would die from a lack of oxygen in this filthy place. I have no words!

- To write about a reserved seat without mentioning socks in the aisle - you need to have special delicacy.

- For me, the two main problems in the reserved seat were stuffiness and the length of the shelves. And not only the side ones: at some point, some weirdos got into the habit of making upper brackets for the upper shelves, which shortened the shelf by 20 centimeters. Well, plus the unforgettable "viper, you evil viper", which poured all the speakers. But the radio, it seems, was stopped by 2010, so this problem has been removed.