Twinette
Encyclopedia
A twinette is a sleeping-berth
compartment for two persons in a train. The term "twinette" is in common use only in Australia
and New Zealand
(unlike "roomette", which originated in North America
and is more widespread); thus the double-berth compartments described here are those found in trains in Australia or New Zealand.
The width of each twinette compartment is typically almost as great as the width of the sleeping car
it is in, with a corridor (occupying the remaining width) running down one side of the car. The number of twinettes in a sleeping car can vary slightly, but it is commonly 8, 9, or 10.
The two beds in a twinette are one on top of the other in double-bunk arrangement, and both fold into the front or rear wall of the compartment when not in use, and two seats fold into position in the same area as the berths. Thus the beds are perpendicular
to the side of the train, in contrast to roomette
berths, which are parallel
to it.
Twinettes often have their own shower and toilet compartment adjoining, and this includes a wash basin and hot and cold taps. This small compartment opens off the opposite wall of the compartment from the berths and seats.
Occasionally twinettes are about the size of a roomette, with both bunks, one on top of the other, filling most of the floor space of the compartment, replacing two seats facing each other. In this case, the overall floor-plan of the sleeping car is similar to roomettes, not the twinettes described earlier, which are more commonly found only in first class
. This much more cramped arrangement is more likely to be found in economy-class
sleepers
on very long-distance trains requiring more than one night's travel. These twinettes do not have their own shower or toilet, and passengers use a communal shower and toilet at the end of the car.
Berth (sleeping)
The word berth was originally used to describe beds and sleeping accommodation on boats and ships and has now been extended to refer to similar facilities on trains, aircraft and buses.-Beds in boats or ships:...
compartment for two persons in a train. The term "twinette" is in common use only in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(unlike "roomette", which originated in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and is more widespread); thus the double-berth compartments described here are those found in trains in Australia or New Zealand.
The width of each twinette compartment is typically almost as great as the width of the sleeping car
Sleeping car
The sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured...
it is in, with a corridor (occupying the remaining width) running down one side of the car. The number of twinettes in a sleeping car can vary slightly, but it is commonly 8, 9, or 10.
The two beds in a twinette are one on top of the other in double-bunk arrangement, and both fold into the front or rear wall of the compartment when not in use, and two seats fold into position in the same area as the berths. Thus the beds are perpendicular
Perpendicular
In geometry, two lines or planes are considered perpendicular to each other if they form congruent adjacent angles . The term may be used as a noun or adjective...
to the side of the train, in contrast to roomette
Roomette
A roomette is a type of sleeping car compartment in a railroad passenger train. The term was first used in North America, and was carried over into Australia and New Zealand...
berths, which are parallel
Parallel (geometry)
Parallelism is a term in geometry and in everyday life that refers to a property in Euclidean space of two or more lines or planes, or a combination of these. The assumed existence and properties of parallel lines are the basis of Euclid's parallel postulate. Two lines in a plane that do not...
to it.
Twinettes often have their own shower and toilet compartment adjoining, and this includes a wash basin and hot and cold taps. This small compartment opens off the opposite wall of the compartment from the berths and seats.
Occasionally twinettes are about the size of a roomette, with both bunks, one on top of the other, filling most of the floor space of the compartment, replacing two seats facing each other. In this case, the overall floor-plan of the sleeping car is similar to roomettes, not the twinettes described earlier, which are more commonly found only in first class
First class travel
First class is the most luxurious class of accommodation on a train, passenger ship, airplane, or other conveyance. It is usually much more expensive than business class and economy class, and offers the best amenities.-Aviation:...
. This much more cramped arrangement is more likely to be found in economy-class
Economy class
__FORCETOC__Economy class, also called coach class , steerage, or standard class, is the lowest class of seating in air travel, rail travel, and sometimes ferry or maritime travel....
sleepers
Sleeping car
The sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured...
on very long-distance trains requiring more than one night's travel. These twinettes do not have their own shower or toilet, and passengers use a communal shower and toilet at the end of the car.