Comfortably in new double-deck sleeping cars!

Several small improvements have been made to the new sleeping cars to increase passenger travel comfort. For instance, sound proofing has been improved and small tables have been added to the lower deck compartments. Compartments for the disabled have two power sockets of which one is an uninterruptible power supply for a breathing machine.

The exterior of the new sleeping cars conforms to VR's green corporate image. Owls in a nocturnal Finnish landscape adorn the sides of the sleeping cars.

Onboard services in double-deck sleeping cars

The new sleeping-cars are designed to meet the needs of as many passenger categories as possible. The cars have a wide variety of services for all types of passengers:

• Double compartments, also available as single compartments.
• Some lower-deck compartments are interconnectible so as to serve families or groups of passengers.
• The upper level compartments have a toilet and shower, while the middle deck and lower level passengers have to share one toilet and shower on the mezzanine floor
• The lower level features facilities for the disabled and a same level access from the station platforms.
• The car is air-conditioned and each compartment its own control panel.
• Mobile phone signal amplifier, audio and video system, wake-up system.

The common premises of the car have 6 info monitors showing a video on the services provided aboard. The sleeping-cars and sleeping-compartments also have passenger address loudspeakers.

The sleeping-cars are non-smoking. The day-car adjacent to the restaurant-car has a smoking room.

Allergic passengers are welcome to all compartments of the car. In the car end opposite to the accompanying pet compartment, there is a compartment specially designed for allergic passengers.

Upper deck

The upper level of the sleeping-car has 8 double compartments with toilet and shower. Luggage may be kept under the berths and in the end compartments (sleeping berths 201/202 and 215/216), in a separate luggage niche. The end compartments also provide ski fixing straps.

Lower deck

The lower level of the sleeping-car has 11 double compartments with the one closest to the entrance being a compartment for the disabled. Some of the compartments are interconnectible. The compartments have a wash basin, while a shower and a toilet are located on the middle deck of the car. Luggage may be kept under the berths and in the end compartments (sleeping berths 101/102), in a separate luggage niche. The end compartments also provide ski fixing straps.

Onboard services

Disabled passengers

Persons with reduced mobility

In the design of the new sleeping-car, the moving about of physically disabled passengers has been specially considered. In fact disabled persons' unions have participated in the planning of the premises used by disabled passengers.

On the lower level close to the entrance door, a specially dimensioned double compartment has been designed and equipped for wheelchair passengers. The toilet for the disabled is also located near-by. The facilities provided in the compartment include:

• handles
• table and wash basin accessible by wheelchair
• facilities for fastening of wheelchair
• SOS press button
• press buttons and air conditioning control panel at an appropriate height
• mechanically operated compartment door.

The toilet for the disabled has turning handles on both sides of the toilet seat, and the wash basin is also turning. Whenever wished, in-compartment restaurant services are ensured jointly by the conductor and the restaurant-car personnel.

Physically disabled passengers have an easy access to the low-floor car by using a wheelchair ramp provided. Should the departure or arrival station fail to feature a raised station platform, an extra ramp kept in the car vestibule may be used. On request, the conductor is ready to fix the ramp appropriately.

Facilities and services for visually impaired passengers

In the planning of the car, visually impaired passengers have been considered, e.g. by the following measures:

• The car entrance door distinguishable from the exterior wall by its colour; door operation buttons on white background; the interior exit door painted aniline red.
• Seat numbers in the compartments and indications in toilet printed in Braille and berth numbers given in big embossed letters.
• The grey stairs of the staircase having black safety edges; staircases and corridors equipped with railings.

Passengers accompanied by pets

The accompanying pet compartment is on the mezzanine floor of the car. The partition in the compartment has a cavity under the stairs where, e.g. a pet basket may be placed. The compartment has a special fastening hook for a leash and a separate air outlet installation.

Carrying of luggage

As a rule luggage may be carried in sleeping-compartments and placed under the berths. The end compartments have special luggage niches and in the wall, ski fixing straps.

Big-size items, such as bicycles, are best forwarded in the luggage van of the train. The luggage van is between the restaurant car and the double-deck sleeping-cars.

Technical specifications of the sleeping-car