The only train I’ve ridden backwards is the high speed line right outside Philly which has half the seats facing one way and half facing the other, because they can only turn the cars around at 69th St Transportation Center but not on the other end of the line.
I guess Amtrak always turns them around, unless I’ve just gotten lucky every time.
What is the reason for wanting seats facing the direction of travel? In case the train has to do an emergency break, I guess?
In Hungary we have trains dating back to prehistoric times, and we’re still buying ones not of this century. The seats were carved in stone, and I fear the man who can move them.
Eyeballs in is always preferable in a sudden stop. But mostly here it’s that people want to choose if they have 2 seats for privacy or 4 seats to sit with friends.
you get 2 extra social options this way: 1) face yourself towards someone you know when there isn’t room on the train to do so otherwise. 2) turn away from someone making uncomfortable amounts of creepy eye contact, or ogling too much, or general discomfort in one direction versus the other.
The only train I’ve ridden backwards is the high speed line right outside Philly which has half the seats facing one way and half facing the other, because they can only turn the cars around at 69th St Transportation Center but not on the other end of the line.
I guess Amtrak always turns them around, unless I’ve just gotten lucky every time.
This post was definitely not inspired by a recent Amtrak experience with backwards seats
What is the reason for wanting seats facing the direction of travel? In case the train has to do an emergency break, I guess?
In Hungary we have trains dating back to prehistoric times, and we’re still buying ones not of this century. The seats were carved in stone, and I fear the man who can move them.
Rear facing seats are actually safer. The issue with rear facing is motion sickness.
okay, but on the other hand i don’t think regular trains can stop fast enough for safety to be a problem, or they certainly don’t usually do
but it’s good for group rides so you can face the homies
Except when we’re talking safety, it includes crashes. Which is when Trains do stop very abruptly.
Eyeballs in is always preferable in a sudden stop. But mostly here it’s that people want to choose if they have 2 seats for privacy or 4 seats to sit with friends.
you get 2 extra social options this way: 1) face yourself towards someone you know when there isn’t room on the train to do so otherwise. 2) turn away from someone making uncomfortable amounts of creepy eye contact, or ogling too much, or general discomfort in one direction versus the other.