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What are the double-decker trains in Europe?

What is a TGV Duplex? TGV Duplex are a fleet of high-speed trains, operated by the French national rail company SNCF. These are double-decker trains, which have more capacity than conventional TGVs and offers great views from the top deck. Read our guide to the TGV for more information and pictures.



Double-decker trains are a common sight across Europe, designed to maximize passenger capacity on busy commuter and high-speed routes without increasing train length. Some of the most famous examples include the TGV Duplex in France, which operates at speeds up to 320 km/h, and the InterCity (IC2000) in Switzerland, known for its panoramic upper-deck views of the Alps. In Germany, the Deutsche Bahn (DB) Doppelstockwagen are the backbone of regional travel, often featuring bike storage on the lower level. The Netherlands uses the VIRM and DDZ trains for its dense Intercity network. These trains typically place the entrance at platform level, with stairs leading to a quiet upper deck for long-distance travelers and a lower deck for shorter hops or those with heavy luggage. In 2026, these trains are prized for their "High-Fidelity" space efficiency, allowing operators to move twice as many people through congested corridors like Paris-Lyon or Amsterdam-Utrecht while maintaining high-fidelity comfort and stability.

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The IC 2000 is a double-deck push-pull train in Switzerland and is run by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS) as part of its InterCity service. Top speed is 200 km/h. The train set can be composed of up to 10 coaches and provides close to 1,000 seats, according to SBB.

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Avelia Horizon: The only double-deck high-speed train in the world. Avelia Horizon™, the world's only double-deck train running at over 300 km/h, offers high operational flexibility and guarantees the highest levels of safety and passenger experience, while reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs.

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The main reason for their continued popularity was because the single-level buses simply couldn't hold enough people, and the longer accordion version couldn't handle London's narrow streets. People also liked the viewing capacity and having open tops.

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For passenger operation, there are no triple-decker cars. There are triple-level cars, where an intermediate level is at the ends of the car, being joined from the upper and lower level.

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Parisian must-sees in 2 hours, to discover day or night Come and visit Paris day and night in one of our double-decker coaches! We offer you personalized service and an incredible panoramic view of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

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The AEC Routemaster is a front-engined double-decker bus that was designed by London Transport and built by the Associated Equipment Company (AEC) and Park Royal Vehicles.

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In terms of strict dictionary definitions, both terms imply underground trains. Subway is a generic term, but metro is more localized to certain cities. Subway is generally used for underground train systems and metro for above ground.

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