Coach Lettering in the UK

[StephenHunter]

I imagine I could be confused with 1 so is skipped, not sure about the others.

The same reason it is not used in headcodes, with the exception of Eurostar, where those trains are entering the Continent with its use of letters followed by numbers; so 9O24 becomes ES 9024 once in France.

 

[Ianno87]

The same reason it is not used in headcodes, with the exception of Eurostar, where those trains are entering the Continent with its use of letters followed by numbers; so 9O24 becomes ES 9024 once in France.

I is used as a headcode in some instances,.e.g. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/J31882/2020-08-26/detailed

Usually to mean 'Inner Rail' on circular services.

 

[Ianno87]

On another note, lettering seems very much a UK/Ireland practice, whereas coach numbers prevail in Europe.

 

[London Trains]

On another note, lettering seems very much a UK/Ireland practice, whereas coach numbers prevail in Europe.

It is also something that is mainly used on intercity services and in the North.

Southern, Southeastern and SWR all use numbers.

 

[221129]

But it’s doesn’t explain why coach F isn’t coach E

It was to allow for a planned additional coach that never happened.

 

[Ianno87]

Southern, Southeastern and SWR all use numbers.

That's a more recent thing, due to "You are in Coach 3 of 12" announcements for splitting trains and short platforms. Not for seat reservations*

*What did SWT use before they abolished seat reservations - letters?

 

[6Gman]

Same with 3-car 170s on XC. Reservations on those are only ever available in A & C as 2-car units are lettered A & C.

And TFW's 175s.

 

[ashkeba]

GA Class 90s finished their service pulling rakes of Mark 3 coaches apparently lettered by Scrabble bag dips. Reservations had been suspended by then, due to the changeover to flirts, so you never needed to decide which coach B contained your seat, but it was a very odd experience walking through!

 

[dk1]

And TFW's 175s.

Makes perfect sense.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's a more recent thing, due to "You are in Coach 3 of 12" announcements for splitting trains and short platforms. Not for seat reservations*

*What did SWT use before they abolished seat reservations - letters?

Letters, yes.

 

[Scotrail314209]

I think it makes sense as to why Coach U is lettered as such. From experience, Coach U has always been unreserved, maybe the U stands for Unreserved?

I also think Coach G on the 11 cars is unreserved, same with Coach C on the 9/11 cars, so that if an 11 car substitutes for a 9 it doesn’t mess reservations

 

[jopsuk]

the numbered coach thing is also entirely electronic with coach 1 always leading

 

[Mikey C]

Airlines with their seat numbering also like having taking letters out from the middle (and missing out the "I" as it's too close to "1") so that the remaining seats stay consistent

For example on British Airways a 10 across plane like an A380 or 747 - ABC-DEFG-HJK
With 9 across (A350) - ABC-DEF-HJK
8 across (upstairs on the A380) - AB-DEFG-JK