Calling "Shotgun" might be the wrong word, since the driver's cab would be on top of the train, or absent altogether.
What are some examples of high-speed long-distance intercity trains that have passenger seats in the front of the train?
If available, the following information would also be useful.
- Is the driver cab sitting on top of the first carriage, or fully automated?
- Can the ticket be purchased only if the front passenger seat is available, and then subsequently blocked in the ticket holder's name?
- Does the train go above 100 mph?
- Is the scenery beautiful, or does the train go mostly in tunnels?
- Can we paste a photo from the front passenger seat in the answer?
End of question.
(Bad) example:
Although London's Docklands Light Railway does not meet the criteria of a high-speed intercity train, let's use it just for the sake of a (bad) example:
London's Docklands Light Railway
- The DLR is fully automated. Although a driver's console is concealed inside a locked panel just in case, as shown in the photo, all four front seats are almost always used by passengers.
- No, but you can easily get the front seat from a terminal station on weekends.
- No, around 50 mph.
- The view isn't great (see photo), and there is a fair amount of tunnel.
- Photo from the front passenger seat, courtesy Wikimedia.
There are several cities with automated metro trains like the DLR - But this question would only be for the truly high-speed long-distance intercity trains.