Double-decker trains are widely regarded as the solution to rush-hour overcrowding. Natasha Edwards investigates the different approaches to the design of commuter railcars in Europe and North America. France is the only country in Europe to have implemented double-decker trains right across its network, from Paris's RER suburban services to the long distance TGV High-speed lines. Elsewhere in Europe, the double-decker, which benefits from recent developments in environmental control and multimedia technology, is viewed largely as the preserve of local services, as a solution to overcrowded compartments and overloaded timetables.
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