Last updated: 2026-05-03
Indian Railways uses short codes for coach class (3A, SL, 2S, etc.) and berth position (SU, MB, UB, LB). These abbreviations appear on your ticket, on the coach door chart, and on your PNR result. This guide decodes every common one you will see.
Every Indian Railways coach belongs to a class. The class determines whether you get AC, how many berths share your bay, and roughly what you pay. The two-letter or two-character code printed on your ticket is your class code.
| Code | Full name | Typical use case |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | First AC | Premium long-distance, lockable cabins |
| 2A | Second AC | Two-tier AC sleeper, curtained bays |
| 3A | Third AC | Three-tier AC sleeper, the most common AC class |
| 3E | Third AC Economy | Cheaper 3-tier AC, slightly tighter berth spacing |
| SL | Sleeper | Non-AC three-tier sleeper, very common |
| 2S | Second Sitting | Day-train chair seating, non-AC |
| CC | Chair Car | AC chair seating, day trains and Shatabdi |
| EC | Executive Chair Car | Premium AC chair, Shatabdi and Vande Bharat |
| EA | Executive Anubhuti | Premium first-class chair on select trains |
| FC | First Class (non-AC) | Older non-AC first-class, rare on most routes |
Which class appears on your train depends on its type. Vande Bharat and Tejas Express trains run mostly CC and EC — they are day trains without overnight sleeper coaches. Long-distance Rajdhani Express services are typically 1A, 2A, and 3A only. Shatabdi runs entirely in daytime CC and EC. Duronto and most Mail and Express trains combine SL with 3A and sometimes 2A. If you are travelling overnight on a budget, Sleeper class (SL) is almost always the cheapest option with a reserved seat. Third AC Economy (3E) is a newer addition on some corridors and sits between SL and 3A on price.
Inside a sleeper coach, each berth has its own code. The code tells you where your berth sits within the bay — how high up it is, and whether it is in the main part of the coach or across the aisle on the side. Knowing this before you board helps you plan what to pack in your personal bag versus your main luggage.
| Code | Full name | Position |
|---|---|---|
| LB | Lower Berth | Lowest berth in the main bay; doubles as seating during the day |
| MB | Middle Berth | Folded against the wall during the day; deployed only after lights-out |
| UB | Upper Berth | Top berth in the main bay; can be used any time of day |
| SL | Side Lower | Lower berth on the side across the aisle |
| SLB | Side Lower Berth | Same position as SL — an older code you may still see on some tickets |
| SU | Side Upper | Upper berth on the side across the aisle |
| SUB | Side Upper Berth | Same position as SU — an older code occasionally seen on legacy tickets |
If you are travelling with older passengers or anyone who has trouble climbing, Lower Berth (LB) and Side Lower (SL) are the easiest to access — no climbing required. LB is especially comfortable because it is wider than the side berths and gives you leg room during the day. Middle Berth (MB) is perfectly usable, but you cannot deploy it while other passengers are still seated. This typically means waiting until around 9 or 10 pm. Upper Berth (UB) can be occupied at any time since it does not interfere with sitting passengers, making it good if you want to sleep through a noisy afternoon journey. Side berths (SL and SU) have less foot traffic passing by compared to main-bay berths, which some passengers prefer for lighter sleep.
In both Third AC (3A) and Sleeper (SL) coaches, each bay holds eight berths. Six berths occupy the main bay: a Lower, Middle, and Upper on each facing side. Two side berths — one Side Lower and one Side Upper — sit across the aisle. The side berths are narrower than the main bay berths and run lengthwise along the outer wall of the coach rather than across it. There are typically eight bays in a standard coach, giving 64 berths total in 3A and SL.
Second AC (2A) works differently. Each bay has only four main-bay berths: a Lower and an Upper on each facing side, with no Middle berth at all. Add the two side berths and you get six berths per bay. Curtains separate each bay, giving 2A passengers more privacy than 3A or SL. First AC (1A) goes further still — the coach is divided into lockable two-berth or four-berth cabins, each with its own door. The aisle layout across all these classes is similar: you enter from a vestibule at either end of the coach and walk down a central passage with bays opening off to one side.
Your ticket shows your coach number (for example, B3 means the third 3A coach, and S5 means the fifth Sleeper coach). But knowing which end of the platform to stand at is just as important. Most major stations display a coach composition chart on the platform — a board or digital screen that shows where each coach will stop relative to the platform markers. These boards usually appear 30 to 60 minutes before the train is due.
Do not rely on where coaches stopped on your last trip on the same train number. Indian Railways regularly changes rake composition, and a coach that stopped near the stairs last month may be at the far end this time. Look for the physical coach number painted at both ends of each coach once the train arrives — this is the most reliable way to confirm you are boarding the right coach. Because platforms at busy stations can stretch 300 to 400 metres, it is worth reaching your approximate position before the train pulls in. You may have only two or three minutes between the train stopping and the departure whistle, so a calm walk is better than a sprint with luggage.
Decode your specific PNR. Check your PNR on the homepage to see your coach class and berth code, then return here to understand them.