Through coach

A Paris–Algeciras through coach (at right) being shunted at Irun railway station, Spain, 1993.
A Paris–Algeciras through coach (at right) being shunted at Irun railway station, Spain, 1993.

In rail terminology, a through coach is a passenger car (coach) that is remarshalled during the course of its journey. It begins the journey attached to one train, and arrives at its destination attached to another train.[1][2]

Through coaches save their transit passengers the need to change trains themselves.[1] They also increase the number of direct links offered by the train operator(s).[2]

Most frequently in the form of sleeping or couchette cars, through coaches have commonly been used for long distance journeys, especially in continental Europe, although they are much less common now than they were in the early 1970s.[2]

Example

In 2010 and 2011, the BaselMoscow sleeping car (2,856 km (1,775 mi) in 37 hours and 11 minutes) was attached successively to the following trains:[3]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Railway Operations - I: Train Services – Q. What are 'slip coaches' and 'through coaches'?". IRFCA website. IRFCA.org. 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Gardner, Nicky; Kries, Susanne (30 June 2011). "Letter from Europe: Train services of yesteryear". Hidden Europe website. hidden europe. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  3. DBAG Reservation List

This article is based upon a translation of the French language version as at February 2013.