Expliseat, a lightweight seating specialist, is launching ALIZÉ, a second-class passenger seat for high-speed rail, at InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, combining weight reduction with passenger comfort, durability, and modularity
The launch marks the next stage in Expliseat’s expansion beyond aviation. The company established Expliseat Ground in 2023 to apply its lightweight engineering expertise to other forms of mobility and has worked with rail organisations to develop sector-specific technologies. ALIZÉ builds on this development, following the launch of SITaeris at InnoTrans 2024.
Amaury Barberot, CEO of Expliseat, said, “We have more than a decade of experience developing lightweight seating for aviation, but rail has very different requirements. Our aim with ALIZÉ was to transfer our expertise in advanced materials, engineering and manufacturing into a product designed specifically for rail.
“The economics of rail are fundamental: weight, durability, maintenance and the ability to adapt a vehicle over time all matter. Combined with durability and modularity over the seat lifecycle, this creates a compelling economic equation designed around railway cost expectations.”
ALIZÉ is 30% lighter than conventional rail seats. For operators and rolling stock manufacturers, reducing onboard weight can help address maximum axle-load constraints, improve energy efficiency, and increase flexibility in vehicle design.
Expliseat has over 10 years of aerospace experience developing lightweight seating using advanced materials such as carbon-fibre composites and titanium. Its expertise in materials, manufacturing, simulation, and testing provides the industrial foundation for its rail activities, while ALIZÉ is tailored to rail requirements.
Tanguy Choupin, technical manager ground products, said, “The challenge has been to engineer weight out of the seat without engineering value out of it. ALIZÉ is the result of three years of rail-specific engineering, combining structure, materials and manufacturing to deliver significant weight savings in a robust, durable product designed for rail.”
Passenger experience has been central to ALIZÉ’s development, combining comfort, ergonomics, and contemporary design with a modular approach that supports flexibility over the seat’s lifecycle. The design was developed in collaboration with NOSE Design Experience, bringing expertise in passenger-focused design and ergonomics.
Carole Leydier, product manager at Expliseat, said, “Lightweight does not mean compromising passenger experience. ALIZÉ combines comfort, ergonomics, aesthetics and functionality with a modular design that supports a long lifecycle. It is designed to meet today’s expectations while giving operators flexibility for the future.”
Additionally, Expliseat exhibited LIFT, its lightweight cantilever solution, at InnoTrans. LIFT is 50% lighter than a conventional cantilever solution and uses a self-supporting structure to secure passenger seats without traditional floor-mounted legs. This reduces structural weight, frees up floor space, and simplifies cabin integration and maintenance. LIFT is available as a standalone solution for rail and bus applications.
ALIZÉ and LIFT demonstrate Expliseat’s approach to lightweight vehicle interiors, balancing weight with passenger experience, integration, economics, and lifecycle performance.
Barberot added, “Our ambition is to develop solutions that make a real difference to rail – technically, economically and for passengers. ALIZÉ is an important step towards that ambition and demonstrates what lightweight engineering can bring to the future of rail.”
