Those who travel often, most likely, have already encountered such a classification: CB car, coupe, reserved seat and common car. And if there is no confusion with the first three names, the latter option still raises questions and requires clarification, especially for people who travel outside the city not so often.
What should you expect when, at the box office, they suddenly offer you a common car? It looks like an ordinary carriage, which is part of trains (passenger), not following long distances. There may be another option: the car is attached to long-distance trains, but already at the very end of the train (due to the frequent "transfer").
Tickets for a common Russian Railways wagon are always much cheaper, because a person will not be able to use the services that are provided in reserved seat category wagons, let alone a coupe or SV, that is, comfort is minimal here: only seats are available, bedding is not provided. In addition, reservation of seats is also not provided (tickets do not even put their numbering).
Each common carriage, like the others, has toilets, office rooms, a compartment of conductors, vestibules, corridors (large and small), a boiler room. There are 9 passenger compartments in the carriage, six seats in each compartment.
As a rule, reserved seats are converted into common vehicles : in the lower places, instead of one person, three are located. Therefore, you can sleep on the road only if neighbors will not go near you.
The practice of such conversion began during perestroika in the USSR. Faulty (or decommissioned) wagons with problematic generators, poor lighting, lack of sockets (or lack of voltage in them), an inactive toilet, problematic heating were repaired, modified and sent back to the railways.
Over time, new deliveries of wagons began, and such re-equipment has almost become obsolete. Although now the common car is a former reserved seat, but in a more decent and well-groomed condition, without technical malfunctions. However, the popular name "stable" has already become a proverb. Most likely, this name was attached to common wagons due to the dismantling of part of the partitions, doors, luggage and upper shelves and part of previously installed lamps. To some extent, such a redevelopment really resembles a stable, albeit a pretty decent one.
Shared wagons are now rare, mainly in commuter trains with a total duration of stay of up to 6 hours. A seated wagon can be classified as general, interregional wagons. There are sofas (either chairs, or smooth, non-board benches), separated by tables. Along the cabin are large shelves for luggage. The carriage has two toilet rooms, a boiler and a conductor's place (compartment).
The layout of a seated car is identical to that of other types of cars. The chair is equipped with a spacious pocket (located on the back) and a table (folding) with a small recess for cups. Armchairs of a similar design are found in tourist buses.