Indian Railways is the second-largest rail network in Asia and the fourth-largest globally. Lakhs of passengers use it daily. You've likely traveled on Indian Railways multiple times. However, many are unaware of the details painted on train coaches. For example, the colored stripes on coaches have specific meanings.

White or yellow stripes above the last window of a blue ICF coach indicate the coach type. White signifies a general coach; yellow signifies coaches for disabled and sick passengers. Grey stripes on a grey background mark women's coaches. Red stripes on a grey background mark first-class coaches.

Most trains have blue ICF coaches (speeds 70-140 km/h) used in Mail, Express, or Superfast trains. ICF air-conditioned trains (like Rajdhani Express) use red coaches. Green coaches are used in poor chariot trains, and brown coaches in meter gauge trains. Mumbai local trains use red lines on grey to indicate first-class coaches.

Previously, to address illiteracy, the railways used symbols to convey information about train coaches.

Indian Railways Asia ka doosra sabse bada aur duniya ka chautha sabse bada rail network hai. Lakhont passengers roz Indian Railways se safar karte hain. Bahut zyada ehtimal hai aapne bhi Indian Railways ki services use ki hogi aur kai baar train se safar kiya hoga. Lekin yeh jaan ke taajjub hoga ki bahut se logon ko train ke coaches pe banee kuch baarikon ki jaankari nahin hai. Ek example hai coaches pe bane rangbirange pattiyan. Zyadatar logon ne ya toh inhe dekha hi hoga ya phir unhone is baare mein jaanne ki koshish nahin ki hogi, ya fir kuch logon ne dhyan hi nahin diya hoga. Lekin hum aapko batate hain ki in rangon ke kuch matlab hain aur yeh aise hi nahin banaye gaye hain.

Aapne dekha hoga ki blue ICF coach ki aakhri khidki ke upar safed ya peele pattiyan banee hoti hain jo coach ke type ko batata hain. Safed pattiyan General Coach ko batata hain, jabki peele pattiyan divyang aur bimaron ke liye reserved coaches ko batata hain. Indian Railways aurton ke liye bhi specific coaches reserve karti hai, jinpe grey background pe grey pattiyan banee hoti hain. Issi tarah first-class coaches pe grey background pe lal pattiyan banee hoti hain.

Aapne dekha hoga ki zyadatar trains ke coaches neele hote hain. Yeh coaches yeh batata hain ki yeh ICF coaches hain. Yaani inki speed 70 se 140 kilometer per hour hoti hai. Aise coaches Mail Express ya Superfast trains mein lagaye jaate hain. ICF air-conditioned (AC) trains, jaise ki Rajdhani Express, mein lal rang ke coaches use hote hain. Hari rang ke coaches garib rath trains mein use hote hain. Isi tarah brown rang ke coaches meter gauge trains mein use hote hain. Mumbai local train network mein, pehle class ke coach ko dikhane ke liye grey rang ke upar lal rang ki pattiyan banai jaati hain.

Ek waqt tha jab India ki abadi ka ek bada hissa anpadh tha. Isko theek karne ke liye, Railways ne passengers ko train ke coaches ki important jaankari dene ke liye symbols ka use kiya tha.