UIC classification of goods wagons

Inscription on an Italian flat wagon of Class Rgmms.

This list contains the UIC classification of goods wagons and their meanings. The description is made up of a category letter (in capitals) and usually several index letters (in lower case).

The international system for the classification of goods wagons was agreed by the Union internationale des chemins de fer (UIC) in 1965 and subsequently introduced into member countries. For example it was adopted in Germany on 1 January 1968 replacing the previous German railway wagon classes that originated as early as 1905. The UIC classification has been amended several times since it began.

Not all wagons are given UIC designations. In Germany the few remaining guards vans and narrow gauge goods wagons have retained their original classifications.

Category letters

The following table contains the complete list of standard category letters. Letters A, B, C, D, P and W are reserved for coaches. However, also S is used for coaches and this doubles a goods wagons class.[1] These are covered in detail in the article on UIC classification of railway coaches. Each goods wagons type is given a type number, whose first digit forms the fifth digit of the 12-digit UIC wagon number.

Class Wagon type 1st digit of type no. (5th digit of UIC no.)
E Ordinary open high-sided wagon 5
F Special open high-sided wagon 6
G Ordinary covered wagon 1
H Special covered wagon 2
I Refrigerated van 8
K Ordinary flat wagon with separate axles 3
L Special flat wagon with separate axles 4
O Open multi-purpose wagon (composite open high-sided flat wagon) 3
R Ordinary flat wagon with bogies 3
S Special flat wagon with bogies 4
T Goods wagon with opening roof 0 (before 1988: 5)
U Special wagons 9
Z Tank wagon 7

Index letters

International index letters

Classes Meaning
a E, F, G, H, I, T, U, Z 4 wheelsets[note 1]
L, O 3 wheelsets
S 6 wheelsets
aa E, F, G, H, T, U, Z ≥ 6 wheelsets[note 1]
L ≥ 4 wheelsets
S ≥ 8 wheelsets
b F Wagon with separate wheelsets[2] and a volume greater than 45 m3 (1,600 cu ft)
G Wagon with separate wheelsets and of 12 m (39 ft 4+1⁄2 in) length or more and 70 m2 (750 sq ft) loading area
H Wagon with separate wheelsets and of length 12–14 m (39 ft 4+1⁄2 in – 45 ft 11+1⁄8 in), 70 m3 (2,500 cu ft) volume, may be less for ferry wagons (f)
I Wagon separate wheelsets and loading area 22–27 m2 (240–290 sq ft)
T Wagon with separate wheelsets and length over 12 m (39 ft 4+1⁄2 in)
G, T Bogie wagon with loading length of 18 m (59 ft 5⁄8 in) or more
H Bogie wagon with loading length 18–22 m (59 ft 5⁄8 in – 72 ft 2+1⁄8 in)
K Bogie wagon with long stakes
L, S Transporter for medium-sized containers
bb H Bogie wagon with loading length of 22 m (72 ft 2+1⁄8 in) or more
I Wagon with separate wheelsets and loading area of 27 m2 (290 sq ft) or more 22 m (72 ft 2+1⁄8 in) or more
H Bogie wagon with loading length of 22 m (72 ft 2+1⁄8 in) or more
c E Discharging trap on the wagon floor
F Controllable gravity discharging wagon. Underside of floor ≥70 cm (27+1⁄2 in) above top of rails
H, T Door in front wall
I Meat hooks
L, S Cradle
U, Z Compressed air or air blast discharging system
cc F Controllable gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor <70 cm (27+1⁄2 in) above top of rails
H Door in end wall and interior equipment for the transportation of motor vehicles
d H Floor trap
I For sea fish
L, S For transportation of motor vehicles on one level
T, U Controllable gravity discharge hopper, Underside of floor ≥70 cm (27+1⁄2 in) above top of rails[note 2]
dd T, U Controllable gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor <70 cm (27+1⁄2 in) above top of rails, cannot be used with lifting equipment [note 2]
e H Two levels
I Electrical forced-air heating
L, S Double-decker wagon for motor vehicles
R Folding sides
T Door height over 1.90 m (6 ft 2+3⁄4 in)
Z Heating equipment
ee H More than 2 levels
f F, H, I, L, O, S, T, U, Z Great Britain loading gauge, suitable for ferries and channel tunnel
ff F, H, I, L, O, S, T, U, Z Great Britain loading gauge, suitable for channel tunnel only
fff F, H, I, L, O, S, T, U, Z Great Britain loading gauge, suitable for ferries only
g G, H, T, U For grain
I Refrigerated van with cooling equipment
K, L, R For container transport
S For containers up to 60 feet
Z For sealed or liquified gases or gas dissolved under pressure
gg I Refrigerated van, cooled with liquid gas
S For containers up to 80 feet
h G, H For early vegetables
I With thick insulation
L, R, S, T For sheet metal coils laid horizontally
hh L, R, S, T For sheet metal coils laid vertically
i H, T Opening side walls (sliding walls)
I Refrigerated van with refrigerator on trailer wagon
K, L, R, S Fixed front wall, movable top cover
U Low-loading platform
Z Non-metal containers
ii H High-strength sliding walls
I Technical trailer
k E, F, G, H, K, L(a), O, T, U, Z Maximum load on class C route: m < 20 t (20 long tons; 22 short tons)
Ea, Fa, Ga, Ha, Laa, R, S, Ta, Ua, Za Maximum load on class C route: m < 40 t (39 long tons; 44 short tons)
Eaa, Faa, Gaa, Haa, Sa(a), Taa, Uaa, Zaa Maximum load on class C route: m < 50 t (49 long tons; 55 short tons)[note 3]
I Maximum load on class C route: m < 15 t (15 long tons; 17 short tons)
Ia Maximum load on class C route: m < 30 t (30 long tons; 33 short tons)
kk E, F, G, H, K, L(a), O, T, U, Z Maximum load on class C route: 20 t (20 long tons; 22 short tons) ≤ m < 25 t (25 long tons; 28 short tons)[note 4]
Ea, Fa, Ga, Ha, Laa, R, S, Ta, Ua, Za Maximum load on class C route: 40 t (39 long tons; 44 short tons) ≤ m < 50 t (49 long tons; 55 short tons)[note 4]
Eaa, Faa, Gaa, Haa, Sa(a), Taa, Uaa, Zaa Maximum load on class C route: 50 t (49 long tons; 55 short tons) ≤ m < 60 t (59 long tons; 66 short tons)[note 4]
l E Not tippable
F, T, U Loose (i.e. not controllable) gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor ≥70 cm (27+1⁄2 in) above top of rails [note 2]
G Up to 8 cm (3+5⁄32 in) ventilation space
H With movable partitions (from 1 May 1994)
I Insulated wagon without ice chests
K, L, O, R, S No stakes
ll F, T, U Loose gravity discharge hopper; underside of floor <70 cm (27+1⁄2 in) above top of rails
— No lifting gear allowed[note 2]
H With lockable partitions (from 1 May 1994)
m E Loading length[note 5][note 6]: l < 7.7 m (25 ft 3+1⁄8 in)
Ea(a) Loading length: l < 12 m (39 ft 4+1⁄2 in)
G, H, T Loading length[note 5][note 6]: l < 9 m (29 ft 6+3⁄8 in)
Ga(a), Ha(a), Ta(a) Loading length: l < 15 m (49 ft 2+1⁄2 in)
I Loading area: A < 19 m2 (200 sq ft)
Ia Loading area: A < 39 m2 (420 sq ft)
K, O, L Loading length[note 5][note 6]: 9 m (29 ft 6+3⁄8 in) ≤ l < 12 m (39 ft 4+1⁄2 in)
R, S Loading length[note 5][note 6]: 15 m (49 ft 2+1⁄2 in) ≤ l < 18 m (59 ft 5⁄8 in)
La(a), Sa(a) Loading length: 18 m (59 ft 5⁄8 in) ≤ l < 22 m (72 ft 2+1⁄8 in)
mm K, O, L Loading length[note 5][note 7]: l < 9 m (29 ft 6+3⁄8 in)
R, S Loading length[note 5][note 7]: l < 15 m (49 ft 2+1⁄2 in)
La(a), Sa(a) Loading length: l < 18 m (59 ft 5⁄8 in)
n I Maximum load on class C route: m > 25 t (25 long tons; 28 short tons)[note 4]
H Maximum load on class C route: m > 28 t (28 long tons; 31 short tons)[note 4]
E, G, K, L, T Maximum load on class C route: m > 30 t (30 long tons; 33 short tons)[note 4]
F, O, U, Z Maximum load on class C route: m > 30 t (30 long tons; 33 short tons) for twin-axled wagons / m > 40 t (39 long tons; 44 short tons) for three-axled wagons[note 4]
Ia, La maximum load at limit of load C: m > 40 t (39 long tons; 44 short tons)[note 4]
Ea, Fa, Ga, Ha, Laa, R, S, Ta, Ua, Za Maximum load on class C route: m > 60 t (59 long tons; 66 short tons)
Eaa, Faa, Gaa, Haa, Sa(a), Taa, Uaa, Zaa Maximum load on class C route: m > 60 t (59 long tons; 66 short tons)
o E Not end-tipping
F, T, U Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor ≥70 cm (27+1⁄2 in) above top of rails. Lifting gear not usable
G, H Twin-axled with loading length under 12 m (39 ft 4+1⁄2 in) and more than 70 m3 (2,500 cu ft) loading area
I Ice chests under 3.5 m3 (120 cu ft)
K Fixed sides
R Fixed end walls under 2 m (6 ft 6+3⁄4 in)
S Articulated wagon with three twin-axled bogies
oo F, T, U Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor <70 cm (27+1⁄2 in) above top of rails. Lifting gear cannot be used
R Fixed end walls over 2 m (6 ft 6+3⁄4 in) high
p F, T, U Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor ≥70 cm (27+1⁄2 in) above top of rails. Lifting gear cannot be used
I No slatted floor
K, L, S No sides
R No end wall
pp F, T, U Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor <70 cm (27+1⁄2 in) above top of rails. Lifting gear cannot be used
K, R Removable sides
q all Electrical heating pipes for all permitted types of power
qq all Electrical heating pipes and heating equipment for all permitted types of power
r all Steam heating pipes[note 8]
rr all Steam heating pipes and equipment[note 8]
r S Articulated wagon[note 9]
s all Permitted in trains up to 100 km/h (62 mph)
ss all Permitted in trains up to 120 km/h (75 mph)
  1. ^ a b In the version of the classification scheme valid up to 1979 a meant bogie wagon, aa was not applicable to classes E, F, G, H, T, U, Z.
  2. ^ a b c d Up to 1979 both wagons with metered as well as those with loose gravity discharge were designated with a d.
  3. ^ In version of the classification scheme valid up to 1979 there was also a load limit 40 t.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h The index letter was not part of the original 1966 version and was not introduced until later.
  5. ^ a b c d e f In the DR the definition was initially just "length under …m", which referred to the length over buffers. As a result numerous wagons were given the wrong classification with the m missing.
  6. ^ a b c d In the original 1965 version m was only intended for classes E, G, I, K, O, R.
  7. ^ a b In the original 1965 version mm was only intended for classes K, O, R.
  8. ^ a b The index letter could be dropped in 1980, but was sometimes displayed beyond that date.
  9. ^ The index letter was introduced later than 1980.

National index letters

Country code 50: DR

Classes Period Meaning
t Gbkl, Hkr 1968 to 1979 with special equipment for transporting personnel
u E, G, K, R 1968 to 1979 not suitable for military use
v E, T 1968 to 1979 not suitable for loading or unloading with a crane
G, H 1968 to 1993 With roof hatches (loading hatches in the roof)
U 1980 to 1993 For cement
w U 1968 to 1979 For liquid fuel
Z 1980 to 1993
x Uc 1968 to 1993 For coal dust
E 1980 to 1993 With steel floor
y Uc 1968 to 1979 Chemical container wagon
T, U, Z 1980 to 1993 With internal lining
z K, L, R, S 1968 to 1979 Removable platform railings
G, I 1980 to 1993 With steam heating pipes
zz F 1980 to 1993 With steam heating pipes and equipment

Country code 80: DB

(Germany)

Classes Meaning
t H Daberkow transport protection equipment (to 30 April 1994)
L inside loading width at the ends under 2.45 m
tt H Lockable partitions (to 30 April 1994)
u E, F, S Hydraulic tipping system
G, H, I, K, L, T Steam heating pipes
v all Electrical heating pipes for 1,000 or 1,500 volts
vv all Electrical heating pipes and heating equipment for 1,000 or 1,500 volts
w G, H, S Full spark protection covering
ww all Spark protection plate to UIC standard 543
x E With steel floor (from 1 January 1994)
z F Dumper wagon
H Wagons for Leig-Einheit units
T Wagons used as Td or Tdg
zz Fb Bucket wagon

Country code 85: SBB

(Switzerland)

Classes Meaning
t all line feeder (10 bar or 1,000 kPa or 150 psi)
u F Electro-hydraulic dumping system
H Cooling system
v all Electrical heating pipes 1000 V 162⁄3 ~
w R, S, U Movable handbrake railings and screw brake spindle (removable/folding)
ww H Spark protection plate to UIC standard 543
x H 2-axled drum brake
S, L ACTS rotating frame
y H Insulated
F Smaller loading area (<20 m3 or 710 cu ft)
R, S Disc brakes
z G, H With 12-core UIC cable

See also

Footnotes and references

  1. ^ COMMISSION DECISION of 11 August 2006 concerning the technical specification of interoperability relating to the subsystem ‘Traffic Operation and Management’ of the trans-European conventional rail system (notified under document number C(2006) 3593) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/920/EC)
  2. ^ i.e. not a bogie wagon