TGV
The TGV is a super high-speed train that connects cities throughout France and abroad, operated by SNCF since 1981. A design project was undertaken for the interior and exterior of the new fifth generation of TGV.
The project was started in 2018. The design was based around a unique double-decker carriage that travels at a maximum speed of over 300 km/h, newly developed by the co-developer ALSTOM. Not only are they environmentally friendly and highly energy-efficient, but also feature a high capacity of up to 650 seats with 1st-class and bar carriages, and up to 740 seats in 2nd-class-only train configurations.
Given how a train, unlike a free-moving vehicle or airplane, flows over the tracks along vast terrain, “a flowing river” was chosen as the concept, which is expressed in various motifs such as smooth flow and depth of the river, soft pebbles in the riverbed, and even floaty and bubbly surface of the water.
The exterior design features semi-circles in white and gray colors on the warm gray background, abstractly representing a wave, softly harmonizing with the surrounding environment. Horizontal lines in dark gray color painted on the upper and lower parts of the body make inspection ports, exhaust ports, and dirt less noticeable. A strong contrast created by the use of Bordeaux, the brand’s color, on the doors of the train, is visually-impaired-friendly. The front part of the body including windows and headlights are all colored in black.
Similar to the exterior, seats are well integrated into the interior space by the horizontal color split aligned on the seat and the interior wall at the same height, adding a sense of expansiveness and integration within the space. The seats in the 1st class are colored in a warm palette combining Bordeaux and dusky brick red with mustard yellow accents. For 2nd-class seating, the base color navy is combined with several different tones of blue-gray, accented with Bordeaux. The colors of both seats are gradated to be darker toward the bottom and lighter toward the top, as if to represent the depth of the river.
In a shell structure that envelops passengers when seated, the main body of the seat is equipped with a vertically adjustable headrest and lumbar support both with a soft pebble-inspired shape. As for the seat upholstery, Octaspring, an octagonal structured 3D knitted fabric is used, which is durable, thin, lightweight, and provides optimal cushioning. The tables can be adjusted from a compact size suitable for smartphones and drinks to a size available for meals and desk work. Furthermore, the folding footrests and armrests provide wheelchair access during boarding and disembarking. Accessories such as reading lights, coat hooks, and assist grips were also unified in a soft, pebble-like form. Three types of lighting include a tall model that does not interfere with folding tables, a short model for the bar carriage, and a wall-mounted model for common-area corridors, all sharing the same lamp shade. The overhead luggage rack with built-in lighting has a similarly soft shape, and the anti-falling bars are designed as if they were touching each other gently to emphasize the sense of floating.
The double-decker bar carriage consists of a café-bar serving snacks and beverages on the lower deck, and a lounge area on the upper deck with space to enjoy food and drink. The cafe area on the first floor is similarly colored to the interior of the passenger cabin, with a horizontal color split, and the floaty appearance expressed by the softly shaped counters and shelving details. Second-floor lounge area features randomly placed benches and cushions of different sizes in various orientations, just like pebbles in a riverbed. The train offers a variety of ways to spend time and communicate in the car, whether in a comfortable calm environment or a more casual environment for groups. Perforated metal sheets used in each car for entrance luggage racks and vent covers are designed to emphasize the sense of floating.
The comfortable and soft space, created by all these details inspired by a flowing river, is considered to ultimately bring about a pleasant travel experience.
