Abstract:

In the light of a series of market surveys begun by the SNCF in 1967, there emerged as a common factor: the second- class passengers' deep dissatisfaction with the service provided. Since the SNCF was also facing the prospect of extensive renewal of its rolling stock, anticipated for the period 1975-1980, it was decided to design a new -or entirely renewed- product. Customer reactions were surveyed by means of a prototype made up for the purpose of testing the models submitted by designers before proceeding with mass manufacture. This report contains a description of the testing methods used and the principal results yielded.