Indian Railways has always been a go-to way to travel, offering comfortable rides across the country. While trains use many signs and colours to guide passengers, some markings still confuse people. One common mystery is the blue, yellow, white, and more stripes painted on railway coaches. They’re not just for decoration—these colours actually carry meaning. Scroll down to find out!
What Colour Stripes On Railway Coaches Mean
Recently, the coloured stripes on railway coaches have caught everyone’s attention. Many people didn’t know this before, but these colours actually have a purpose. According to News24, they help passengers understand the type of coach at a glance, especially those who may not be able to read the written signs.
Each colour has a meaning:
- The white stripe shows a general coach with no reservations.
- The yellow stripe marks coaches meant for differently abled passengers or medical use.
- The green stripe is for ladies’ coaches, making them easier to spot on a crowded platform.
- The red stripe is used for premium or higher-class coaches, and in Mumbai locals, it marks the first-class compartment.
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Two Types Of Coaches In Indian Railways
Indian Railways uses mainly two types of coaches. The ICF coaches are made of steel and usually serve for about 25 years. After completing their service life, they are removed from regular operations. Some ICF coaches now also come in grey and light blue shades to give them a fresh, modern look similar to Shatabdi trains.
The newer LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches are made of stainless steel and come with a longer life of around 30 years. As per News24, most red-coloured trains, including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Tejas, Superfast Express, and Mail Express trains, use LHB coaches because they are safer and more modern.
Apart from coloured stripes, there are other symbols we are actually familiar with. Signs like H1 or A1 help passengers understand whether the coach is First AC, Second AC, or another category. These codes appear on the outside of the coach near the doors.
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Cover Image Courtesy: Website/IndiaRail