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Coach Code Reference
What each prefix on your ticket means.
| Prefix | Coach Class | Bay / Layout | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
H / FC | AC First Class (1A) | Cabins & coupes | LB / UB only — no repeating pattern |
HA | Composite 1A + 2A | Mixed | Depends on train layout |
A | AC 2-Tier (2A) | 6 per bay | LB, UB, LB, UB, SL, SU |
B | AC 3-Tier (3A) | 8 per bay | LB, MB, UB, LB, MB, UB, SL, SU |
S | Sleeper (SL) | 8 per bay | LB, MB, UB, LB, MB, UB, SL, SU |
G | Garib Rath (3E-style) | 9 per bay (varies) | LB, MB, UB, LB, MB, UB, SL, SM, SU |
C / CB | Chair Car (CC) | 6 (3+3) | W, M, A, A, M, W |
D | Second Sitting (2S) | 6 (3+3) | W, M, A, A, M, W |
VS | Vistadome | Varies | Train-specific layout |
EV | Executive Vistadome | Varies | Train-specific layout |
GS / GEN | General (Unreserved) | N/A | No seat allocation |
3E (Humsafar) coaches use coach codes that vary by train. EC (Executive Chair on Shatabdi / Vande Bharat) layouts also vary by rake, so the tool does not assume a fixed prefix for either — pick the train-specific IRCTC coach layout for exact berths in those classes. M and E prefixes are intentionally not mapped because they are ambiguous across the Indian Railways fleet.
Berth Type Guide
Quick reference for every berth code.
| Code | Berth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
LB | Lower Berth | Most preferred. Works as seating during the day. Default for senior citizens. |
MB | Middle Berth | Folds down only at night. Tightest space. |
UB | Upper Berth | Quietest. Requires climbing. |
SL | Side Lower | Shorter than LB (~6 ft). Good for short-to-medium height. |
SM | Side Middle | Only in 3E and Garib Rath. Folds at night. |
SU | Side Upper | Full-length corridor-side berth. Generally available throughout the journey with good privacy. |
W | Window Seat | Best views, no aisle disturbance. |
M | Middle Seat | Between window and aisle. |
A | Aisle Seat | Easy to step out. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about coach codes and berth types.
SU is Side Upper — the upper of the two berths along the corridor side of a Sleeper or 3A coach, running the full length of the coach wall. The matching codes are SL for Side Lower, LB for Lower Berth, MB for Middle Berth and UB for Upper Berth, with SM for Side Middle in 3E and Garib Rath. A Side Upper is a full-length berth you can stay on all day, which is why many long-distance travellers prefer it to a Side Lower; the trade-off is the climb. Enter your coach and seat number above and the tool names the berth type for you.
B2 is the coach code and 41 is the berth number inside that coach. Coaches starting with B are AC 3-Tier (3A). In 3A and Sleeper, every 8 seats form one bay, so seat 41 falls in bay 6 at position 1 — a Lower Berth.
In Sleeper and 3A, every 7th seat is a Side Lower (7, 15, 23, 31, 39, 47, 55, 63, 71). In 2A every 5th seat is a Side Lower (5, 11, 17, 23, 29, 35, 41, 47, 53). The Train Seat Finder above does this maths for you instantly.
Each coach class has a different bay size. In Sleeper and 3A the bay is 8 berths, so the pattern (LB, MB, UB, LB, MB, UB, SL, SU) repeats every 8 seats. In 2A the bay is 6 berths, so the pattern (LB, UB, LB, UB, SL, SU) repeats every 6. Same seat number, different bay position, different berth type.
HA1 (and HA2) is a composite coach that contains both First AC (1A) cabins and AC 2-Tier (2A) bays in the same physical coach. Because the two sections share one seat-numbering range, the seat number alone cannot tell you whether you are in the 1A or 2A part — that depends on the specific rake's coach layout. Use the IRCTC layout for your train to confirm.
Side Lower is shorter than a regular Lower Berth — about 6 feet versus 6 feet 3 inches. Tall passengers (over 5'10") usually find regular Lower Berth more comfortable for sleeping. Side Lower is excellent during the day because it doubles as seating for two.
AC 2-Tier (2A) has only two tiers per main bay — Lower and Upper — to give each passenger more headroom and a wider, longer berth. The bay holds 4 main berths plus 2 side berths (Side Lower and Side Upper), making 6 berths per bay.
A Middle Berth (MB) sits between Lower and Upper inside the main 6-berth compartment of Sleeper and 3A. A Side Middle (SM) appears in 3E (3-Tier Economy) and Garib Rath coaches, on the corridor side, between Side Lower and Side Upper. Both fold down only at night.
1A uses cabins and coupes rather than a repeating bay pattern. Executive Chair (EC) layouts vary between Shatabdi, Tejas and Vande Bharat rakes. HA coaches are composite (1A + 2A in one coach). For these classes the tool identifies the coach class but the exact berth depends on the specific train's coach layout printed on your ticket.
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