UIC classification of goods wagons
This list contains the UIC classification of goods wagons and their meanings. The description is made up of a category letter and usually several index letters.
The international system for the classification of goods wagons was agreed by the Union internationale des chemins de fer in 1965 and subsequently introduced into member countries. For example it was adopted in Germany on 1 January 1968 replacing the previous German railway wagon classes that originated as early as 1905. The UIC classification has been amended several times since it began.
Not all wagons are given UIC designations. In Germany the few remaining guards vans and narrow gauge goods wagons have retained their original classifications.
Category letters
The following table contains the complete list of standard category letters. Letters A, B, C, D, P and W are reserved for coaches. However, also S is used for coaches and this doubles a goods wagons class. These are covered in detail in the article on UIC classification of railway coaches.Each goods wagons type is given a type number, whose first digit forms the fifth digit of the 12-digit UIC wagon number.
| Class | Wagon type | 1st digit of type number |
| E | Ordinary open high-sided wagon | 5 |
| F | Special open high-sided wagon | 6 |
| G | Ordinary covered wagon | 1 |
| H | Special covered wagon | 2 |
| I | Refrigerated van | 8 |
| K | Ordinary flat wagon with separate axles | 3 |
| L | Special flat wagon with separate axles | 4 |
| O | Open multi-purpose wagon | 3 |
| R | Ordinary flat wagon with bogies | 3 |
| S | Special flat wagon with bogies | 4 |
| T | Goods wagon with opening roof | 0 |
| U | Special wagons | 9 |
| Z | Tank wagon | 7 |
Index letters
International index letters
| For classes | Meaning | |
| a | E,F,G,H,I,T,U,Z L,O S | 4 wheelsets*11 3 wheelsets 6 wheelsets |
| aa | E,F,G,H,T,U,Z L S | ≥ 6 wheelsets*11 ≥ 4 wheelsets ≥ 8 wheelsets |
| b | F G H I T G,T H K L,S | Wagon with separate axles and a volume greater than 45 m³ Wagon with separate axles and of 12 m length or more and 70 m³ loading area Wagon with separate axles and of length 12–14 m, 70 m³ volume, may be less for ferry boat wagons Wagon separate axles and loading area 22–27 m² Wagon with separate axles and length over 12 m Bogie wagon with loading length of 18 m or more Bogie wagon with loading length 18–22 m Bogie wagon with long stakes Transporter for medium-sized containers |
| bb | H I H | Wagon with separate axles and loading length of 14 m or more Wagon with separate axles and loading area of 27 m² or more Bogie wagon with loading length of 22 m or more |
| c | E F H,T I L,S U,Z | Discharging trap on the wagon floor Controllable gravity discharging wagon. Underside of floor ≥70 cm above top of rails Door in front wall Meat hooks Cradle Compressed air or air blast discharging system |
| cc | F H | Controllable gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor <70 cm above top of rails Door in end wall and interior equipment for the transportation of motor vehicles |
| d | H I L,S T,U | Floor trap For sea fish For transportation of motor vehicles on one level Controllable gravity discharge hopper, Underside of floor ≥70 cm above top of rails*19 |
| dd | T,U | Controllable gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor <70 cm above top of rails, cannot be used with lifting equipment *19 |
| e | H I L,S R T Z | Two levels Electrical forced-air heating Double-decker wagon for motor vehicles Folding sides Door height over 1.90 m Heating equipment |
| ee | H | More than 2 levels |
| f | F,H,I,L,O,S,T,U,Z | Great Britain loading gauge, suitable for ferries and channel tunnel |
| ff | F,H,I,L,O,S,T,U,Z | Great Britain loading gauge, suitable for channel tunnel only |
| fff | F,H,I,L,O,S,T,U,Z | Great Britain loading gauge, suitable for ferries only |
| g | G,H,T,U I K,L,R S Z | For grain Refrigerated van with cooling equipment For container transport For containers up to 60 feet For sealed or liquified gases or gas dissolved under pressure |
| gg | I S | Refrigerated van, cooled with liquid gas For containers up to 80 feet |
| h | G,H I L,R,S,T | For early vegetables With thick insulation For sheet metal coils laid horizontally |
| hh | L,R,S,T | For sheet metal coils laid vertically |
| i | H,T I K,L,R,S U Z | Opening side walls Refrigerated van with refrigerator on trailer wagon Fixed front wall, movable top cover Low-loading platform Non-metal containers |
| ii | H I | High-strength sliding walls Technical trailer |
| k | E,F,G,H,K,L,O,T,U,Z Ea,Fa,Ga,Ha, Laa,R,S,Ta,Ua,Za Eaa,Faa,Gaa,Haa, Sa,Taa,Uaa,Zaa I Ia | Maximum load on class C route: m < 20 t Maximum load on class C route: m < 40 t Maximum load on class C route: m < 50 t*12 Maximum load on class C route: m < 15 t Maximum load on class C route: m < 30 t |
| kk *13 | E,F,G,H,K,L,O,T,U,Z Ea,Fa,Ga,Ha, Laa,R,S,Ta,Ua,Za Eaa,Faa,Gaa,Haa, Sa,Taa,Uaa,Zaa | Maximum load on class C route: 20 t ≤ m < 25 t Maximum load on class C route: 40 t ≤ m < 50 t Maximum load on class C route: 50 t ≤ m < 60 t |
| l | E F,T,U G H I K,L,O,R,S | Not tippable Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor ≥70 cm above top of rails *19 Up to 8 cm ventilation space With movable partitions Insulated wagon without ice chests No stakes |
| ll | F,T,U H | Loose gravity discharge hopper; underside of floor <70 cm above top of rails No lifting gear allowed*19 With lockable partitions |
| m *15 | E Ea G,H,T Ga,Ha,Ta I Ia K,O,L R,S La,Sa | Loading length*14: l < 7.7 m Loading length: l < 12 m Loading length*14: l < 9 m Loading length: l < 15 m Loading area: A < 19 m² Loading area: A < 39 m² Loading length*14: 9 m ≤ l < 12 m Loading length*14: 15 m ≤ l < 18 m Loading length: 18 m ≤ l < 22 m |
| mm *16 | K,O,L R,S La,Sa | Loading length*14: l < 9 m Loading length*14: l < 15m Loading length: l < 18 m |
| n *13 | I H E,G,K,L,T F,O,U,Z Ia,La Ea,Fa,Ga,Ha,Laa, R,S,Ta,Ua,Za Eaa,Faa,Gaa,Haa, Sa,Taa,Uaa,Zaa | Maximum load on class C route: m > 25 t Maximum load on class C route: m > 28 t Maximum load on class C route: m > 30 t Maximum load on class C route: m > 30 t for twin-axled wagons / m > 40 t for three-axled wagons maximum load at limit of load C: m > 40 t Maximum load on class C route: m > 60 t Maximum load on class C route: m > 75 t |
| o | E F,T,U G,H I K R S | Not end-tipping Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor ≥70 cm above top of rails. Lifting gear not usable Twin-axled with loading length under 12 m and more than 70 m³ loading area Ice chests under 3.5 m³ Fixed sides Fixed end walls under 2 m Articulated wagon with three twin-axled bogies |
| oo | F,T,U R | Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor <70 cm above top of rails. Lifting gear cannot be used Fixed end walls over 2 m high |
| p | F,T,U I K,L,S R | Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor ≥70 cm above top of rails. Lifting gear cannot be used No slatted floor No sides No end wall |
| pp | F,T,U K,R | Loose gravity discharge hopper. Underside of floor <70 cm above top of rails. Lifting gear cannot be used Removable sides |
| q | all | Electrical heating pipes for all permitted types of power |
| all | Electrical heating pipes and heating equipment for all permitted types of power | |
| r *17 | all | Steam heating pipes |
| rr *17 | all | Steam heating pipes and equipment |
| r *18 | S | Articulated wagon |
| s | all | Permitted in trains up to 100 km/h |
| ss | all | Permitted in trains up to 120 km/h |
*11 In the version of the classification scheme valid up to 1979 a meant bogie wagon, aa was not applicable to classes E,F,G,H,T,U,Z.
*12 In version of the classification scheme valid up to 1979 there was also a load limit 40 t.
*13 The index letter was not part of the original 1966 version and was not introduced until later.
*14 In the DR the definition was initially just "length under …m", which referred to the length over buffers. As a result numerous wagons were given the wrong classification with the m missing.
*15 In the original 1965 version m was only intended for classes E,G,I,K,O,R.
*16 In the original 1965 version mm was only intended for classes K,O,R.
*17 The index letter could be dropped in 1980, but was sometimes displayed beyond that date.
*18 The index letter was introduced later than 1980.
*19 Up to 1979 both wagons with metered as well as those with loose gravity discharge were designated with a d.
National index letters
Country code 50: DR
| For classes | Period of use | Meaning | |
| t | Gbkl, Hkr | 1968 to 1979 | with special equipment for transporting personnel |
| u | E, G, K, R | 1968 to 1979 | not suitable for military use |
| v | E, T G, H U | 1968 up to 1979 1968 up to 1993 1980 up to 1993 | not suitable for loading or unloading with a crane With roof hatches For cement |
| w | U Z | 1968 to 1979 1980 to 1993 | For liquid fuel |
| x | E Uc | 1980 to 1993 1968 to 1993 | With steel floor For coal dust |
| y | Uc T, U, Z | 1968 to 1979 1980 to 1993 | Chemical container wagon With internal lining |
| z | K, L, R, S G, I | 1968 to 1979 1980 to 1993 | Removable platform railings With steam heating pipes |
| zz | F | 1980 to 1993 | With steam heating pipes and equipment |
Country code 80: DB
| For classes | Meaning | |
| t | H L | Daberkow transport protection equipment inside loading width at the ends under 2.45 m |
| tt | H | Lockable partitions |
| u | E,F,S G,H,I,K,L,T | Hydraulic tipping system Steam heating pipes |
| v | all | Electrical heating pipes for 1,000 or 1,500 volts |
| vv | all | Electrical heating pipes and heating equipment for 1,000 or 1,500 volts |
| w | G,H,S | Full spark protection covering |
| ww | all | Spark protection plate to UIC standard 543 |
| x | E | With steel floor |
| z | F H T | Dumper wagon Wagons for Leig-Einheit units Wagons used as Td or Tdg |
| zz | Fb | Bucket wagon |
Country code 85: SBB
| For classes | Meaning | |
| t | all | line feeder |
| u | F H | Electro-hydraulic dumping system Cooling system |
| v | all | Electrical heating pipes 1000 V 16⅔ ~ |
| w | R,S,U | Movable handbrake railings and screw brake spindle |
| ww | H | Spark protection plate to UIC standard 543 |
| x | H S,L | 2-axled drum brake ACTS rotating frame |
| y | H F R,S | Insulated Smaller loading area Disc brakes |
| z | G,H | With 12-core UIC cable |