Seating innovation to help RECARO enter the long-distance rail market
Already established as a market leader in the aviation and automotive industries, RECARO aimed for a strategic move into the international rail sector. They sought experienced seating innovation partners to create a ‘step change’ in customer experience within the rail seating market. Choosing tangerine as their collaborative partner, the project included developing new seating concepts for Standard, First, and Premium train classes, suitable for long-distance travel on inter-city and high-speed routes. A ‘ground-up’ design approach was required for the seat structure, comfort system, and all associated features to meet the price constraints of the rail sector.
Services
- Product Innovation
- Industrial Design
- Design Identity
- Design Strategy
- CMF Design
- Design Engineering
- Human Factors & Ergonomics
Learning
For RECARO to successfully enter the rail market, a strategy was devised to position its products within the competitive rail seating landscape. RECARO identified an opportunity to respond to the trend of longer-distance travel, with operators needing to provide greater seat comfort. A rigorous evaluation of the business landscape was conducted, focusing on what this could mean for target operators. Strategic considerations included the types of layouts operators might adopt, target seat pitch, density, ergonomics, and necessary features.
Leaping
We developed a range of concepts, balancing innovative design with business suitability. Iterations ensured compliance with European standards and assessed compatibility with various vehicle sizes, carriage widths, accessibility, and certification requirements. As the concepts for each class developed, the designs were refined to maximise passenger space, define seat recline, and optimise carriage configurations.
Landing
RECARO’s multi-class rail seating concept offers enhanced comfort and service for OEMs and international rail operators across Standard, First, and Premium classes. Advanced ergonomics, human factors, and engineering modelling techniques ensure maximum comfort.
We worked with RECARO and engineering partners to design a recline mechanism that angles the seat pan, cradles the passenger as they move into a recline position, and uses a gas spring to return them upright.
The modular seat structure reduces production costs by sharing components between Standard and First Class. The First Class seat adds an upper shell and privacy divider, increasing shoulder space and enhancing comfort and privacy. Seatbacks have a minimal, slim design with integrated features such as flip-down tables, veneer inlays, and concealed stowage straps.
Premium Class seats offer airline-style lie-flat or deep recline options. The angled seat layout allows seats to face in either direction through 90-degree rotation, enabling an always-forward travel operation or facing pairs to create social spaces in the carriage.
