The information hidden behind each train number of Indian Railways

All of you must be aware that Indian Railways is been handling a large network and each train runs with a specific train number. Each train number depicts important information and each digit of the number represents for a different meaning. If you are curious to know about them, read on the following post. Each train number comprises five digits. Indian railways operating trains constitutes a five digit number in which the first digit is in between 0 to 9 and each one of them has a different meaning.

Let’s read on to the following to know more about the meaning and have better understanding about train numbers and digits. In case, the first digit is in between 0 to 9, it refers to the meaning as mentioned in below.

0 – It depicts for a special train that could be summer, special or holiday

1 – It refers to a long distance running train

2 – It also signifies to a long distance running train but it shows only when the first digit of train number starts from 1

3 – It refers to the Kolkata suburban running train

4 – It depicts for Chennai, New Delhi, Secunderabad and other metropolitan cities running trains

5 – It depicts for a passenger train backed with conventional coaches

6 – It depicts for the Memo train

7 – It is meant for the railway services and DMU services

8 – It tells about the reservation criteria at that point of time

9 – It depicts for the Mumbai area running sub train

Aside from this, be informed about the second and other digit numbers of the train as well. The meaning of second and other consecutive digit numbers of the train is been depicted in accord to first digit of the train number only. In case the train first digit number starts from 0, 1 or 2, then the other 4 digits states for the railway zone and division related. Know more in detail what each number depicts and addresses to as mentioned in the following.

0 number – Konkan railway

1 number – Central railway, west central railway and north central railway

2 number – It states for the superfast, jan shatabdi, shatabdi running trains across the country. In this case, the other digits are meant for representing the zone code of the railways

3 number – Eastern railway and East Central railway

4 number – North railway, North central railway and North western railway

5 number – National eastern railway, North East Frontier railway

6 number – Southern railway and Southern western railway

7 number – Southern central railway and Southern Western railway

8 number – Southern Eastern railway and East Coastal railway

9 number – Western railway, North western railway and western central railway

So, for example if a train number is 12451 then it means as per the following.

1 – It states that it is a long distance running train.

2 – It means that the train is superfast express.

4 – It means that it belongs to one of the zones including North Railway, North Central Railway or North Western railway.

Hope, the information is clear to you all. Be updated and have a safe travel.