Classic rail passengers enjoy experience in maximum comfort

A luxurious, romantic travel experience is the promise offered by the Venice Simplon-Orient Express for its Orient-Express rail services. Passengers enjoy travelling in the splendour of carriages restored to the highest standards of the classic 1920/30s railway, when royalty and the glitterati demanded far more than transport for their trains.

Excellent food, exquisite wines, first class service and the ultimate in travel comfort were the prerequisites of travellers during these heydays of rail travel. Orient-Express rail services endeavour to reproduce this same high level of service for its customers today.

An essential ingredient of the travel experience is ensuring that the ambient temperature is at the optimum level at all times, so customers are always comfortable, even when wearing those exotic dresses for very special occasions. Helping to ensure this on the 'Northern Belle' are custom-engineered heaters from air handling specialist, Air Control Industries of Chard (ACI).

The ACI units are used to heat the vestibules between passenger compartments so that when communicating doors are opened no cold air comes into compartments to cause any discomfort.

The heaters were installed following a feasibility study by Resco Railways Ltd, an international rail vehicle engineering consultancy, that looked at price, performance and reliability. After looking at off-the-shelf options, it was decided that a specially engineered solution was the best route. This would ensure not only that the heaters would meet the heat output requirements but also comply with RSSB (Railway Safety & Standards Board) build, performance and reliability standards for components used on railways, which are similar to those for the aircraft industry.

"The heaters do exactly what is required", said Geoff Armstrong, Senior Consultant for Resco. "ACI supplied a unit for a prototype installation. Following which a slight adjustment to airflow levels and noise attenuation were effected to the full satisfaction of Orient-Express. The heaters are now installed throughout the Northern Belle."

The installed heaters on the Northern Belle are 3kW units with a key-operated, 4-position switch for adjusting heat output. The warm air from the heater is delivered by a specially adapted ACI fan, which draws in and filters air from the passenger compartment. The fan has been 'silenced' using special attenuation material, which again helps to avoid annoyance of passengers.