Coming Soon to German Trains: 'Smooch Cabins'

The cabins even feature frosted glass for increased privacy.

We're not even kidding. The German state railway operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) just announced that it's implementing new privacy-forward cabins on its Intercity Express high-speed trains—and they'll only accommodate two people at once.

The new cabins even come with an armrest button that allows passengers to turn the clear glass windows into frosted glass windows. For added privacy, of course.

It seems like the perfect recipe for a makeout session—hence the apt "smooch cabin" (or knutsch-abteil) nickname, which was actually bestowed by the German newspaper Bild—but in reality, the new cabin design is just part of a multi-million renewal project, and it doesn't have the passengers' romantic relationships in mind.

The new cabin's goal, technically, is, according to DB, that of providing "a personal space with significantly more privacy," so that passengers can have private phone calls and conversations without worrying about nosy neighbors eavesdropping.

DB has yet to provide a rollout date for this new amenity, but it confirmed that it's part of a big revamp project.

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Serena Tara is a Staff Writer at Thrillist reporting on travel as well as space- and astronomy-related news and trends. With more than five years of experience in digital journalism, she has written and reported on a wide variety of topics, from news and politics to culture, fashion, and lifestyle. Her work has appeared in Salon.com, Marie Claire, New York Magazine's Bedford+Bowery, among other outlets. She holds a master's degree in Digital Journalism from NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.