ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY OF COMFORT LEVEL OF PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SLEEPING CARS

Purpose. The work is aimed to develop the method of objective assessment of passenger transportation comfort and use convenience of passenger sleeping car of locomotive traction or train sets. Indeed, modern compartment sleeping cars of various models of European and other manufacturers are distinguished by many dimensional parameters, the capacity and equipment of passenger compartments and service accommodations, the presence of shower in the restrooms, etc. They provide passengers with proper level of use convenience and a different level of transportation comfort. When designing new perspective and competitive sleeping cars it is also expedient to have such a methodology for the development of their layout diagrams and designing and for the optimum choice of one or another size parameters of cars and, in particular case, passenger compartments. Methodology. Based on the analysis of the layout diagrams and designing of existing compartment sleeping cars of various European manufacturers, their dimensional parameters and equipment, dimensions and equipment of passenger compartments, criteria for comfort evaluating of compartment sleeping cars of three groups – dimensional parameters, capacity and equipment are determined. Findings. Several indicators of the convenience and comfort of passenger and service rooms of compartment sleeping cars and formulas for their calculation are proposed. An expression for determining a generalized indicator of the comfort of compartment sleeping cars and the convenience of using them is also proposed. Originality. For the first time a method of objective assessment of the comfort of passenger compartment sleeping cars and the convenience of using them by passengers is proposed. Practical value. The proposed indicators for evaluating the comfort of passenger compartment sleeping cars and formulas for their calculation can be used at the stages of development and selection of draft offers or outline designs of new promising competitive cars in order to ensure their maximum convenience and comfort. The methodology may also be useful for evaluating tenders for the purchase of compartment sleeping cars.