In an effort to persuade the UK Government to move forward with the project as soon as possible, design studio, Pristmanngoode, has unveiled its high speed train concept, the Mercury. The company has previously worked with Chinese rolling stock manufacturer, Sifang, to design high speed trains for China and other parts of the world and now believes that a new high speed train is vital for the future of Britain. Perhaps taking London’s famous buses as an example, the Mercury is a double-decker train that incorporates a flexible, open plan design that Priestmanngoode says allows passengers to interact without compromising privacy.
To persuade people to travel by train the Mercury sees traditional commuter seats that are designed to incorporate in-transit entertainment systems placed alongside private booths intended for families, private parties or business meetings, echoing the nostalgia of compartmental train travel. The train would also include a children’s play area, while a luxury first class section with luxury lounge and bar would mirror the choice offered to air travelers.
In an effort to create a design as immediately recognizable as Concorde, the exterior of the train would be 400m (1,312 ft) long with an extended nose section that would be one of the most extreme in the world. A feature the designers say is vitally important for the aerodynamics of a train which will travel at 225mph (362km/h).
The images of the interior and exterior of the train that Priestmanngoode has provided certainly look like it would appeal to passengers, but whether it’s enough to convince the UK Government to invest in the concept remains to be seen.
