In rail terminology, a through coach is a passenger car (coach) that is re-marshalled during the course of its journey. It begins the journey attached to one train, and arrives at its destination attached to another train.[1][2]

A Paris–Algeciras through coach (at right) being shunted at Irun railway station, Spain, 1993.
A Paris–Algeciras through coach (at right) being shunted for bogie exchange at Irun railway station, Spain, 1993.

Through coaches save their transit passengers the need to change trains themselves.[1] They also increase the number of direct links offered by the train operator(s).[2]

Most frequently in the form of sleeping or couchette cars, through coaches have commonly been used for long-distance journeys, especially in continental Europe, although they are much less common now than they were in the early 1970s.[2]

Example

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In 2010 and 2011, the BaselMoscow sleeping car (2,856 km or 1,775 mi in 37 hours and 11 minutes) was attached successively to the following trains:[3][4]

  • from Basel SBB to Hannover Hbf: CNL 472 Basel SBB – Copenhagen;
  • from Hannover Hbf to Warszawa Wschodnia: EN 447 Amsterdam – Warszawa Wschodnia;
  • from Warszawa Wschodnia to Brest: 405 Bohumin – Brest; with bogie exchange at the international border because of a break of gauge from 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge to 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 2732 in) gauge
  • from Brest to Moscow: D 22 Brest – Moscow.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Railway Operations - I: Train Services – Q. What are 'slip coaches' and 'through coaches'?". irfca.org. IRFCA.org. 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Gardner, Nicky; Kries, Susanne (30 June 2011). "Letter from Europe: Train services of yesteryear". hiddeneurope.co.uk. hidden europe. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  3. ^ DBAG Reservation List[dead link][permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Train timetable". RW.by. Retrieved 13 March 2017.