International Coach Regulations
Encyclopedia
The International Coach Regulations or RIC (Regolamento Internazionale delle Carrozze) were first agreed in 1922 and covered the international use of railway passenger coaches between European railways. Until 1982 the RIC was looked after by the Swiss Federal Railways, but since then the International Union of Railways
(UIC) has taken responsibility for them. Today 27 railway companies from all the European countries apart from the United Kingdom
, Ireland
and Finland
are party to the RIC agreement.
The RIC lays down the technical requirements that a coach must meet in order to be used in international services. Coaches that fulfil these requirements are given the symbol RIC and can be used on all RIC railways without needing special permission.
In the RIC table painted on the coach the permitted top speed, voltages and maximum current through the collector is state. An anchor symbol indicates that the coach is suitable for use on ferries. If country codes are displayed in the table, the coach is only cleared for use in those countries.
The wagon number of an RIC coach begins with 51, 52, 53, 61, 62, 63, 71 or 73. Wagon number 71 was only used from 1971 to 1995 for the international sleeping car pool, also known as the TEN Pool. This pool was only used in Western Europe and only contained CIWL and DSG sleepers.
There are also internationally operating coaches without RIC clearance. These require a special agreement between the railways on whose networks they are intended to be used. Such coaches may also have an RIC table painted on them, but with a cross instead of the letters RIC and showing the relevant country codes (excluding the coach's home country).
International Union of Railways
The UIC , or International Union of Railways, is an international rail transport industry body.- Brief history :The railways of Europe originated as separate concerns. There were many border changes after World War I and the Treaty of Versailles. Colonial railways were the responsibility of the...
(UIC) has taken responsibility for them. Today 27 railway companies from all the European countries apart from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
are party to the RIC agreement.
The RIC lays down the technical requirements that a coach must meet in order to be used in international services. Coaches that fulfil these requirements are given the symbol RIC and can be used on all RIC railways without needing special permission.
In the RIC table painted on the coach the permitted top speed, voltages and maximum current through the collector is state. An anchor symbol indicates that the coach is suitable for use on ferries. If country codes are displayed in the table, the coach is only cleared for use in those countries.
The wagon number of an RIC coach begins with 51, 52, 53, 61, 62, 63, 71 or 73. Wagon number 71 was only used from 1971 to 1995 for the international sleeping car pool, also known as the TEN Pool. This pool was only used in Western Europe and only contained CIWL and DSG sleepers.
There are also internationally operating coaches without RIC clearance. These require a special agreement between the railways on whose networks they are intended to be used. Such coaches may also have an RIC table painted on them, but with a cross instead of the letters RIC and showing the relevant country codes (excluding the coach's home country).
See also
- Regolamento Internazionale Veicoli (RIV)
- UIC - RIC Passenger Car Numbering Scheme http://www.blainestrains.org/pdfs/RIC.pdf