1st-class compartment of a "convertible" 1st/2nd-class Corail Couchettes car (AcBcux, VU-84), diagrammed on Corail Nuit 5507/6 (Ventimiglia-->Portbou).

Whenever a compartment is used as 1st-class accommodation, the middle couchettes are locked upwards, which leaves 4 couchettes. Unfortunately, there is no way whatsoever to apportion this extra room among both levels, as the top couchettes may not be lowered.
These dual-class couchettes are comfortable, but they remain somehow substandard to those of Ac9ux cars, viz. harder and narrower (10 compartments per car, instead of 9).

In spite of this, AcBcux are mostly used as 2nd-class cars, and when they feature 1st-class accommodation, they primarily replace antiquated UIC cars (Ac4Bc5x)...

As this service was merely branded "Corail Nuit" (and not "Corail Lunéa"), passengers had to prepare their couchette themselves, using bag beds and an outdated Scottish blanket...

Ventimiglia.

24th July 2005.

P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)