Bilevels

[oltmannd]

Those nifty bilevel coaches I rode in Belgium month ago...

Some info.  They cost 128M Euro for 72 of them in 2008.  (about $2.7M each in 2014).  They are good for 120 mph.  They seat 140.  They run them in six car sets with one Seimens Sprinter locomotive per set.  Some trains run double sets for capacity.  Looks like current track speed on the route I rode is 100 mph.

[schlimm]

oltmannd

Those nifty bilevel coaches I rode in Belgium month ago...

Some info.  They cost 128M Euro for 72 of them in 2008.  (about $2.7M each in 2014).  They are good for 120 mph.  They seat 140.  They run them in six car sets with one Seimens Sprinter locomotive per set.  Some trains run double sets for capacity.  Looks like current track speed on the route I rode is 100 mph.

Those would be the M6s.  

"The M6 cars will operate as 35 six-car sets, each with four 140-seat second class coaches, a 124-seat first class vehicle and a multi-functional coach. This has 55 seats for smokers on the upper deck, while the lower deck combines luggage racks and a conductor's office with wheelchair positions and a toilet for mobility-impaired passengers, plus tip-up seats leaving space for bicycles. Total capacity is 786 per set, or 1572 for a 12-car train compared to 920 in a 12-car set of the latest I11 single-deck stock.

Based on Alstom's Coradia Duplex modular design, the M6 cars are slightly larger than SNCB's earlier M5 double-deckers, making full use of the UIC B loading gauge. Headroom for both decks is 2m, and the seating is less cramped than the much-criticised M5s. One innovative design feature is the offsetting of face-to-face seating bays on each side of the coach, with matching changes to the window positions (Fig 1). Each vehicle weighs 49·7 tonnes.

The sets are designed for push-pull operation, although no driving vehicles are included. The cars have full air-conditioning, and air suspension. Axle-mounted brake discs are augmented by magnetic rail brakes. LED interior and exterior passenger information displays are provided.

Retention toilets are fitted at one end of each coach, as well as the disabled-accessible module on the lower level of the multi-functional car. This car also has a low-level doorway in addition to the standard mid-height end vestibules which have a floor level 1190mm above rail. Double swing-plug doors give an entrance width of 1880mm. SNCB is investing €210·75m in the M6 fleet, and expects to place a follow-on order as part of its 2001-12 investment plan authorised last year (RG 5.01 p292). This allocates €3·84bn for rolling stock out of a total spend of €16bn. Almost €3·5bn will go on new stock, and a further €361m on refurbishment."

And a newer design is on the way:

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/sncb-issues-tender-for-200km-h-double-deck-trains.html?channel=537

Various sorts of double decker designs have and continue to be used on Deutsche Bahn Regional Trains (RB) and Regional Express.  Some are loco-hauled, push-pull, while some are Triebwagen, mostly electric.  They are comfortable, smooth-riding, hi-capcity with large windows and seem to be able to manage 100 mph, depending on the route.