On December 20, 2010 Indian Railways switches to existing four-digit numbering system for Passenger trains with five-digit according to the decision of Ministry of Railways (India). If we know the technique of numbering, it is easy to find details of train like type,zone,division etc. The details of train numbering as follows
Contents
- The first digit
- Zero 0
- One 1 or Two 2
- Three 3
- Four 4
- Five 5
- Six 6
- Seven 7
- Eight 8
- Nine 9
- Second digit
- If the first digit is zero 0 or One 1 or Two 2
- One 1
- Two 2
- If the first digit is Three 3
- Zero 0 to Seven 7
- Eight 8 or Nine 9
- If the first digit is Four 4
- Zero 0 to Four 4
- Five 5 to Six 6
- If the first digit is Five 5 or Six 6 or Seven 7
- If the first digit is Eight 8
- If the first digit is Nine 9
- Five 5 to 9
- The second digit is two 2
- If the second digit is other than two 2
- If the second digit is Zero 0
- If the second digit is Three 3
- If the second digit is Five 5 or Six 6
- Fourth and Fifth digit
- Abbreviations used in the place of train number
- References
The first digit
The first digit of the 5 digit train number indicates the type of the Passenger trains:
Zero (0)
0XXXX for Special train like
One (1) or Two (2)
1XXXX or 2XXXX for the Long-distance trains like
Three (3)
3XXXX for the Kolkata Suburban Service
Four (4)
for the Suburban trains like
Five (5)
5XXXX for the Passenger trains with conventional coaches
Six (6)
6XXXX for the MEMU service
Seven (7)
7XXXX for the
Eight (8)
8XXXX for the Premium / Suvidha Express
Nine (9)
9XXXX for the Mumbai Suburban service
Second digit
depends on what the first digit is:
If the first digit is zero (0) or One (1) or Two (2)
then the second digit indicates the operator is the following Railway Zone (but if the second digit is 2, then it doesn't indicates to any operator).
Zero (0)
Y0XXX for
One (1)
Y1XXX for
Two (2)
Y2XXX for type of trains like
Three (3)
Y3XXX for
Four (4)
Y4XXX for
Five (5)
Y5XXX for
Six (6)
Y6XXX for
Seven (7)
Y7XXX for
Eight (8)
Y8XXX for
Nine (9)
Y9XXX for
If the first digit is Three (3)
then the second digit indicates the operator is the following Railway Zone:
Zero (0) to Seven (7)
for the 'Eastern Railway (ER)
Eight (8) or Nine (9)
for the South Eastern Railway (SER)
Depending on the number of services in any particular direction, the third digit may also be similarly used to indicate the destination(s) or the branch line(s) the suburban service may take.
If the first digit is Four (4)
then the second digit indicates:
Zero (0) to Four (4)
for the Southern Railway (SR)
Five (5) to Six (6)
for the Northern Railway (NR)
Seven (7)
for the South Central Railway (SCR)
If the first digit is Five (5) or Six (6) or Seven (7)
Then the second digit refers to the Railway Zone where the train is operated or maintained
Zero (0)
E0XXX for
One (1)
E1XXX for
Two (2)
E2XXX for
Three (3)
E3XXX for
Four (4)
E4XXX for
Five (5)
E5XXX for
Six (6)
E6XXX for
Seven (7)
E7XXX for
Eight (8)
E8XXX for
Nine (9)
E9XXX for
If the first digit is Eight (8)
The second digit shall be Two(2)
If the first digit is Nine (9)
Then the second digit refers to the Railway Zone where the train is operated or maintained
Zero (0) to Four (4)
for West Central Railway (WCR)
Five (5) to (9)
for Central Railway (CR)
The second digit is two (2)
then the third digit refers to the Railway Zone where the rake is maintained [exception for Zero (0)]
Zero (0)
Y20XX for Shatabdi Express and Jan Shatabdi Express of all zones.
One (1)
Y21XX for
Two (2)
Y22XX for
Three (3)
Y23XX for
Four (4)
Y24XX for
Five (5)
Y25XX for
Six (6)
Y26XX for
Seven (7)
Y27XX for
Eight (8)
Y28XX for
Nine (9)
Y29XX for
If the second digit is other than two (2)
then the second and the third digits jointly gives the information of the Railway Division where the train is operated / maintained. Already mentioned that the second digit refers to the Railway Zone and it is explained above. But in this section also the second digit should mention to avoid confusion.
If the second digit is Zero (0)
then the third digit indicates the train service between
If the second digit is Three (3)
then the third digit indicates the train service between
If the second digit is Five (5) or Six (6)
then the third digit indicates the direction of travel
If the first digit is Five (5) or Six (6) or Seven (7)
then the second and the third digits jointly gives the information of the Railway Division where the train is operated / maintained. Already mentioned that the second digit refers to the Railway Zone and it is explained in the above section Second digit. But in this section also the second digit should mention to avoid confusion.
If the first digit is Eight (8)
Then the third digit refers to the Railway Zone where the train is operated or maintained
One (1)
821XX for
Two (2)
822XX for Not to be utilized unless specifically permitted by Railway Board.
Three (3)
823XX for
Four (4)
824XX for
Five (5)
825XX for
Six (6)
826XX for
Seven (7)
827XXX for
Eight (8)
828XX for
Nine (9)
829XX for
Fourth and Fifth digit
Random numbers for all types of trains which makes the 5-digit train number as unique . But for Delhi Suburban Railway train with a number 4NXPX, the fourth digit P indicates the following
Abbreviations used in the place of train number
For e.g. Y1XXX, 5XXXX, Y2XXX, 0XXXX