Through coach

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.

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]

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]

  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.