High speed rail seating vision

DCA supported Proxima in the development of their procurement strategy for a new fleet of 12 high-speed trains that will introduce more than 10 million additional passenger seats annually across the French rail network when they enter service in 2028.

As part of this support work, DCA proposed a seat platform strategy for the new service, looking to define the optimal balance between passenger comfort, operational performance, cost, and programme risk. 

One option within that strategy was to develop a fully bespoke next-generation seat tailored specifically for the European high-speed rail market. In exploring this option, DCA created a highly distinctive First and Standard Class seating concept vision, combining elevated comfort with a refined visual identity and memorable passenger-focused detailing.

The proposed feature set focused on the elements with the greatest impact on usability and the passenger’s long-distance travel experience, including an enhanced recline mechanism, enlarged seat-back table, integrated tablet and phone holder, dedicated power provision, passenger occupancy indicators, and integrated seat lighting.

The concept also explored innovative lightweight construction strategies to reduce overall seat mass while maintaining durability and passenger comfort.

Enhanced ergonomic performance supported longer journey durations, while sustainable material and engineering approaches contributed to improved environmental performance and whole-life cost efficiency.

The resulting seat concept vision focused on the features that deliver the greatest impact on passenger satisfaction, improving comfort, usability, and the overall quality of the customer’s journey experience while clearly expressing the operator’s strategic brand ambitions in a tangible and accessible way.

To maximise development efficiency across First and Standard Class products, both seat variants were designed around a shared feature strategy wherever possible, with the aim of reducing development complexity and helping to mitigate programme investment.

Both class variants were developed as part of a cohesive design family, with a consistent visual language and detailing approach that strengthened brand recognition and created a unified onboard passenger experience.