The USSR was a great railway power. Huge spaces intersected in all directions with steel highways, on which wagons with goods and passengers raced day and night. The titanic-scale rail transportation system began to be created even under the kings, and received a tremendous development during the communist rule. It was inherited by the Russian Federation and other countries formed after 1991. A reserved seat car, a unique invention of transport-economists who disappeared from the political map of the world of a huge country, became one of the symbols of Soviet-era passenger traffic.
Economic background
Passenger traffic in the USSR did not pay for itself. The cost of Aeroflot flights, sea, river and rail trips exceeded the total cash flow from ticket sales. However, the salaries of Soviet workers did not allow the establishment of transport tariffs even at the level of self-sufficiency, they would have been too high for most citizens. Therefore, such an important sector of the national economy as passenger transportation was subsidized by the state. And since the economy as a whole was also not highly efficient, it was not easy to do.
So this car appeared. The reserved seat became the optimal solution to such a problem as increasing the capacity of ordinary rolling stock, the ability to accommodate more passengers, while retaining the ability to sleep, eat and cope with other needs on a long journey. After all, we are not Poland, and not Belgium, where you can drive all the way while sitting.
Carriage classes in a classless society
Despite the declared universal equality, the railroad nevertheless left some scope for the stratification of the Soviet people according to the degree of material prosperity. The pinnacle of comfort - CB with single, double and triple coupes of increased convenience. Leaders and other important people traveled in them, who could not get tired on the road. They thought about the "main"! Ordinary citizens drove into the compartment, whose salary allowed them to buy these tickets, or sent by reputable enterprises. In nine compartments, separated from the corridor by roller doors, four people were quite comfortable, they could stretch their legs, and if they were lucky with their neighbors (quiet, non-drinkers and not snoring), then the time on the road could be considered a good time. The next class was a car - reserved seat, the most popular and popular. And already at the very bottom of the comfort rating - overall, almost the same, only worse.
Scheme of a reserved seat car
So, in each compartment, conditionally fenced off one from another, and there are nine of them, six people go. It is easy to calculate that the total capacity is 54 passengers with baggage, for which, in addition to the space under the lower seats, additional third shelves are installed. Naturally, such a seal affected the space allocated for sleep. Approximately 1 meter 70 centimeters - this is the length that a traveler can count on when deciding which way to stretch his legs. Otherwise, they will stick out in the aisle, creating inconvenience for those who need to go to the toilet or time to go out.
Lateral places in a reserved seat car are considered the most uncomfortable, although, in general, there is not much difference. Experienced passengers ask for lower shelves, although the upper ones also have advantages, it’s calmer there. It’s good when the toilet is not nearby, and then the door is rattling, and smells ...
Romance of wanderings
And yet, despite the inconvenience and acoustic unity of the interior space, a reserved seat car is very popular. The main reason, of course, is economic. But if the conditions were really unbearable, the passengers would, of course, find some money to pay extra for comfort and ride in a compartment. In fact, it is in such a car that the long journey is not so noticeable, people get the opportunity to chat and even help each other (for example, to give the best place to an elderly person or lady). In the end, we were brought up by collectivists.
The management of Russian Railways announced the soon cancellation of all reserved seats. Perhaps we will miss them ...