Dimensional Factors Influencing on Seat Spaciousness Feeling

Abstract

Experiments in seat width, pitch and armrest width by researchers at Japan's Railway Technical Research Institute attempted to determine the most efficient way of balancing passenger comfort with the need to allocate space for passenger seating efficiently. Passengers in the experiment experienced greater sense of comfort if seats were wider from the front of the seat cushion to the back of the seat. In three- seat configurations, making the middle seat wider contributed to passenger comfort so that riders were more likely to use the middle seat. It was determined that adding armrests or making them wider was not as effective.