SL
Side Lower
AC 3-Tier (3A) · Seat 23
· Bay 3
Side Lower — shorter than a regular Lower Berth (about 6 ft), running along the corridor side. Acts as seating for two during the day. Tall passengers may find it cramped.
Bay Diagram (highlighted seat = your seat)
Bay 3 · seats 17–24
17
LB
18
MB
19
UB
20
LB
21
MB
22
UB
23
SL
24
SU
LB · Lower Berth
MB · Middle Berth
UB · Upper Berth
SL · Side Lower
SU · Side Upper
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.
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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