UIC passenger coach types
Encyclopedia
The UIC type X, Y and Z coaches are passenger coaches for international railway services that have been standardised in certain respects by the International Union of Railways
(Union internationale des chemins de fer or UIC).
In 1961 types X and Y were defined in UIC Leaflet 567, the type Z followed subsequently. This standardisation was intended to give rail passengers on international services a standard level of comfort; in addition it was intended to simplify the maintenance of coaches when abroad. One of the standards introduced was the use of rubber corridor connectors on gangways instead of bellows.
. These coaches were 26.4 m long and had doors at each end as well as compartments opening off a corridor as follows:
Composite coaches usually had six 2nd class compartments and five 1st class compartments
Type X coaches went into service in many countries, the largest numbers being deployed by the DB and the Italian state railways.
configuration was standard:
The French state railway, SNCF
, had composite coaches, sleepers, dining cars and coaches with a luggage section built as part of the same series.
es a new level of comfort was achieved; the number of compartments was reduced whilst keeping to the same overall length, the coaches were also air-conditioned. These coaches were designated from 1976 as type Z. But because various railways still did not want to procure air-conditioned coaches or wanted to reduce the number of compartments compared with the type X (the SBB on all its acquisitions since 1969), the class was eventually divided into Z1 and Z2:
namely:
Composite coaches usually had 6 2nd class compartments and 4 1st class compartments
On the Eurofima coach the gangway was changed from the folding doors characteristic of type X and Y to pneumatically-operated swinging-sliding doors.
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...
(Union internationale des chemins de fer or UIC).
In 1961 types X and Y were defined in UIC Leaflet 567, the type Z followed subsequently. This standardisation was intended to give rail passengers on international services a standard level of comfort; in addition it was intended to simplify the maintenance of coaches when abroad. One of the standards introduced was the use of rubber corridor connectors on gangways instead of bellows.
UIC type X
The UIC type X was based on the express coaches developed after the Second World War by the Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB)Deutsche Bundesbahn
The Deutsche Bundesbahn or DB was formed as the state railway of the newly established Federal Republic of Germany on September 7, 1949 as a successor of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft '...
. These coaches were 26.4 m long and had doors at each end as well as compartments opening off a corridor as follows:
- 12 compartments each with 6 seats in 2nd class
- 10 compartments each with 6 seats in 1st class
Composite coaches usually had six 2nd class compartments and five 1st class compartments
Type X coaches went into service in many countries, the largest numbers being deployed by the DB and the Italian state railways.
UIC type Y
The UIC type Y was based on French proposals for an international express coach (Schnellzugwagen). Important differences from the type X were its shorter length and greater number of seats in 2nd class compartments. The coaches were 24.5 m long, the doors were also at the ends and a corridor coachCorridor coach
A corridor coach is a type of railway passenger coach divided into compartments and having a corridor down one side of the coach to allow free movement along the train and between compartments....
configuration was standard:
- 10 compartments of 8 seats in 2nd class
- 9 compartments of 6 seats in 1st class
The French state railway, SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
, had composite coaches, sleepers, dining cars and coaches with a luggage section built as part of the same series.
UIC type Z
With the development of Eurofima coachEurofima coach
The Eurofima coach, or European Standard Coach , is a passenger car designed for use on international railway routes in Europe. It was commissioned by the European Company for the Financing of Railroad Rolling Stock ....
es a new level of comfort was achieved; the number of compartments was reduced whilst keeping to the same overall length, the coaches were also air-conditioned. These coaches were designated from 1976 as type Z. But because various railways still did not want to procure air-conditioned coaches or wanted to reduce the number of compartments compared with the type X (the SBB on all its acquisitions since 1969), the class was eventually divided into Z1 and Z2:
- Z1 = air-conditioned coaches with a reduced number of compartments
- Z2 = non air-conditioned coach with a reduced number of compartments
namely:
- 11 compartments of 6 seats in 2nd class
- 9 compartments of 6 seats in 1st class
Composite coaches usually had 6 2nd class compartments and 4 1st class compartments
On the Eurofima coach the gangway was changed from the folding doors characteristic of type X and Y to pneumatically-operated swinging-sliding doors.
See also
- Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer
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- UIC classification of railway coachesUIC classification of railway coachesRailway coaches are classified under an international system developed by the UIC. This UIC classification of railway coaches replaced earlier national classification schemes in many countries, such as Germany. The coach class is expressed as a combination of letters. It is sometimes followed, for...
- UIC classification of goods wagonsUIC classification of goods wagonsThis list contains the UIC classification of goods wagons and their meanings. The description is made up of a class letter and usually several code letters ....
- UIC country codes
Source
- Alain Rambaud, Jean-Marc Dupuy: Encyclopédie des voitures SNCF. La vie du rail, Paris 1990. ISBN 2-902808-31-3