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UIC ERA EVN VKM: Understanding Stock Numbering

Image of JOHN CHANDLER. JOHN CHANDLER unlocks these cryptic stock codes....

Introduction

In a previous article, Hunting Lions in Zürich, I showed photos of the locomotive numbers and listed the coach running numbers with the promise that I would compile a future article to explain these. Here we are!

Lions in Zurich image 03.

The loco's EVN and VKM

The idea is that a unified system is used across Europe to uniquely identify any item of rolling stock/motive power.

Not only will this article (attempt to) explain the fields of the full number, it will also cover the calculation of the checksum (verification) digit that it includes.

Where possible, I have tried to reference data from the relevant administration authorities. However, this has not always been possible without cost, so some third-party information may be presented which is offered without guarantee of total accuracy but which shows a modicum of consistency with official data.

Glossary

Allow me to throw some acronyms into the fray; let's explain each:

UIC: A worldwide organisation including some 200+ members across all five continents.
ERA: An EU body concerned with the integration of railways across Europe.
EVN: European Vehicle Number; the numeric part of the number, excluding the VKM (q.v.). This comprises the total 11-digit number and the checksum digit.
VKM: Vehicle Keeper Mark; comprises a two-part alpha code to identify the country of origin and the operator within that country. Example: if the stock belongs to Switzerland's (CH) Südostbahn (SOB), it would show 'CH-SOB'.
RIV: Regolamento Internazionale Veicoli; the International Wagon Regulations for European rail freight wagons.
RIC: Regolamento Internazionale delle Carrozze; International Coach Regulations — technical requirements for passenger coaches in Europe.

Breaking Down The Numbers

In essence, regardless of whether you are looking at a locomotive, a coach or a wagon, its identifier breaks down into the following format (give-or-take a bit of generally cosmetic punctuation such as spaces or hyphens within the fields):

TT CC DDdd SSS-X VKM

where, field by field:

TT = Vehicle Type Codes. Herein lies a minefield, this field breaks down into a number of categories!

01-02 Freight: RIV-EUROP, 2-3 axles, railway-owned
03-04 Freight: RIV-EUROP, 2-3 axles, privately-owned
05-06 Freight: RIV-EUROP, 2-3 axles, rental
11-12 Freight: RIV-EUROP, 4+ axles, railway-owned
13-14 Freight: RIV-EUROP, 4+ axles, privately-owned
15-16 Freight: RIV-EUROP, 4+ axles, rental
21-22 Freight: RIV, 2-3 axles, railway-owned
23-24 Freight: RIV, 2-3 axles, privately-owned
25-26 Freight: RIV, 2-3 axles, rental
31-32 Freight: RIV, 4+ axles, railway-owned
33-34 Freight: RIV, 4+ axles, privately-owned
35-36 Freight: RIV, 4+ axles, rental
40 Freight: domestic only (non RIV), 2-3 axles, service
41-42 Freight: domestic only (non RIV), 2-3 axles, railway-owned
43-44 Freight: domestic only (non RIV), 2-3 axles, private
45-46 Freight: domestic only (non RIV), 2-3 axles, rental
50 Passenger: domestic use only (non RIC)
51 Passenger: international use (RIC), fixed gauge
52 Passenger: international use (RIC), changeable gauge
61 Passenger: EuroCity coach, fixed gauge
62 Passenger: EuroCity coach, changeable gauge
65 Passenger: Automobile transport car for passenger trains
71 Passenger: Sleeping-car in ex-TEN pool, fixed gauge
72 Passenger: Sleeping-car in ex-TEN pool, changeable gauge
73 Passenger: EuroCity cars, pressure-proof (airtight)
80 Freight: domestic only (non RIV), 4+ axles, service
81-82 Freight: domestic only (non RIV), 4+ axles, railway-owned
83-84 Freight: domestic only (non RIV), 4+ axles, private
85-86 Freight: domestic only (non RIV), 4+ axles, rental
90: Various motorized stock
91: Electric locomotives
92: Diesel locomotives
93: High speed electric trainsets
94: Other electric trainsets and motor cars
95: Diesel trainsets and motor cars
96: Special trailers
97: Departmental electric locomotives
98: Departmental diesel locomotives
99: Maintenance vehicles

CC = Country Code.

10 FIN Finland (VR)
20 RUS Russia (RZD)
21 SU Belarus (BC)
22 UA Ukraine (UZ)
23 MD Moldova (CFM)
24 LT Lithuania (LG)
25 LV Latvia (LDZ)
26 EST Estonia (EVR)
27 KZ Kazakhstan (KTZ)
28 GE Georgia (GR)
29 UZ Uzbekistan (UTI)
[30 KNDR - Zosun Minzuzui Inmingonghoagug (North Korea)]
[31 MNR - Mongolin Tomor Zam (Mongolia)]
[32 DSVN - Dung Sat Viet-Nam (Vietnam)]
[33 KNR - Zhung Guo Tie Lu (China)]
[40 FC - Ferrocariles de Cuba (Cuba)]
41 AL Albania (HSH)
[42 JR - Japan Rail (Japan)]
50 BIH Bosnia-Hercegovina (ZRS)
51 PL Poland (PKP)
52 BG Bulgaria (BDZ)
53 RO Romania (CFR)
54 CZ Czech Republic (CD)
55 H Hungary (MAV)
56 SK Slovakia (ZSR)
57 SU Azerbaijan (AZ)
58 ARM Armenia (ARM)
59 KS Kyrgystan (KRG)
60 IRL Ireland (IE)
[61 KNR (South Korea)]
65 MK Macedonia(FYROM) (MZ)
66 TJ Tadjikistan (TZD)
67 TM Turkmenistan (TRK)
70 GB Great Britain (BR-EWS)
71 E Spain (RENFE)
72 YU Serbia/Montenegro (ZS)
73 GR Greece (OSE)
74 S Sweden (SJ-GC)
75 TR Turkey (TCDD)
76 N Norway (NSB)
78 HR Croatia (HZ)
79 SLO Slovenia (SZ)
80 D Germany (DB-BASF)
81 A Austria (Ã–BB)
82 L Luxemburg (CFL)
83 I Italy (FS)
84 NL Netherlands (NS)
85 CH Switzerland (SBB-BLS)
86 DK Denmark (DSB)
87 F France (SNCF)
88 B Belgium (SNCB)
[90 ER - Egypt Railways (Egypt)]
[91 SNCFT - Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Tunisiens (Tunesia)]
[92 SNTF - Societe Nationale des Transports Ferroviaires (Algeria)]
[93 ONCFM - Office National des Chemins de fer du Maroc (Morocco)]
94 P Portugal (CP)
[95 IR - Israel Railways (Israel)]
[96 RAI - Rahahane Djjomhouriye Eslami Iran (Iran)]
[97 CFS - Administration Generale des Chemins de Fer Syriens (Syria)]
[98 CEL - Office des Chemins de fer de l'Etat Libanais (Lebanon)]
[99 IRR - Iraqi Republic Railways Establishment (Iraq)]

DDdd = Country Code (varies between motive power, freight and passenger rolling stock) For motorized railway stock, this is the class number.

DD:

Freight cars

0 T car with opening roof
1 G closed wagon
2 H special closed wagon (sliding walls etc)
30-34 K 2 axle flat car
35-39 R 4 axle flat car
40-44 L 2 axe special flat car
45-49 S 4+ axle special flat car
50-55 E normal open car
56-58 T car with opening roof
59 E normal open car
6 F special open car
7 Z tank car
8 I isolated/refrigerator car
9 U special cars

Passenger cars

00 Private postal car
01 Private 1st class coach
02 Private 2nd class coach
03 Private 1st/2nd class coach
04 Private 1st or 1st/2nd class couchette car
05 Private 2nd class couchette car
06 Private 1st class sleeping-car
07 Private 1st/2nd or 2nd class sleeping-car
08 Private dining-car
09 Private pullman/saloon/party/special car
10 1st class coach with 10 compartments or 20-21 rows
11 1st class coach with 11 compartments or 22-23 rows
12 1st class coach with 12 compartments or 24-25 rows
13 1st class coach, 3 axles
14 1st class coach, 2 axles
17 1st class coach with 7 compartments or 14-15 rows
18 1st class coach with 8 compartments or 16-17 rows
19 1st class coach with 9 compartments or 18-19 rows
20 2nd class coach with 10 compartments or 20-21 rows
21 2nd class coach with 11 compartments or 22-23 rows
22 2nd class coach with 12 compartments or 24-25 rows
23 2nd class coach, 3 axles
24 2nd class coach, 2 axles
26 2nd class double decker coach
27 2nd class coach with 7 compartments or 14-15 rows
28 2nd class coach with 8 compartments or 16-17 rows
29 2nd class coach with 9 compartments or 18-19 rows
30 1st/2nd class coach with 10 compartments or 20-21 rows
31 1st/2nd class coach with 11 compartments or 22-23 rows
32 1st/2nd class coach with 12 compartments or 24-25 rows
33 1st/2nd class coach, 3 axles
34 1st/2nd class coach, 2 axles
36 1st/2nd class double decker coach
37 1st/2nd class coach with 7 compartments or 14-15 rows
38 1st/2nd class coach with 8 compartments or 16-17 rows
39 1st/2nd class coach with 9 compartments or 18-19 rows
40 1st or 1st/2nd class couchette car with 10 compartments
41 1st or 1st/2nd class couchette car with 11 compartments
41 1st or 1st/2nd class couchette car with 12 compartments
43 1st or 1st/2nd class couchette car, 3 1st and 5 2nd class compartments
44 1st or 1st/2nd class couchette car, 4 1st and 5 2nd class compartments
45 1st or 1st/2nd class couchette car, 5 1st and 3 2nd class compartments
47 1st or 1st/2nd class couchette car with 7 compartments
48 1st or 1st/2nd class couchette car with 8 compartments
49 1st or 1st/2nd class couchette car with 9 compartments
50 2nd class couchette car with 10 compartments
51 2nd class couchette car with 11 compartments
52 2nd class couchette car with 12 compartments
53 2nd class couchette car with 10 1/2 compartments
54 2nd class couchette car with 11 1/2 compartments
57 2nd class couchette car with 7 compartments
58 2nd class couchette car with 8 compartments
59 2nd class couchette car with 9 compartments
60 1st class sleeping-car with 10 compartments
61 1st class sleeping-car with 11 compartments
62 1st class sleeping-car with 12 compartments
63 1st class sleeping-car with 9 compartments
64 1st class sleeping-car with 10 compartments
67 1st class sleeping-car with 7 compartments
68 1st class sleeping-car with 8 compartments
69 1st class sleeping-car with 9 compartments
70 1st/2nd or 2nd class sleeping-car with 10 compartments
71 1st/2nd or 2nd class sleeping-car with 11 compartments
72 1st/2nd or 2nd class sleeping-car with 12 compartments
73 1st/2nd or 2nd class sleeping-car with 10 compartments
74 1st/2nd or 2nd class sleeping-car with 11 compartments
77 1st/2nd or 2nd class sleeping-car with 7 compartments
78 1st/2nd or 2nd class sleeping-car with 8 compartments
79 1st/2nd or 2nd class sleeping-car with 9 compartments
80 Ambulance/Instruction coach
81 1st or 1st/2nd class coach with luggage compartment
82 2nd class coach with luggage compartment
83 2nd class coach with luggage compartment, 2 or 3 axles
84 1st class coach with buffet
85 2nd class coach with buffet
87 Dining-car with luggage room, 2nd class with buffet and luggage room
88 Dining-car
89 Party/Saloon car
90 Mail van
91 Luggage/mail van
92 Luggage van without side corridor
93 Luggage van, 2 or 3 axles
94 Luggage/mail van, 2 or 3 axles
95 Luggage van with side corridor and customs compartment
96 Automobile transport wagon, 2 axles
97 Automobile transport wagon, 3 axles
98 Automobile transport wagon, 4 axles
99 Exposition/Measurement/Special cars

dd: Speed and heating (passenger)

00 : 120 km/h, 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V= & 3000V=
03-04 : 120 km/h, 1000V~17Hz
05 : 120 km/h, 1500V~50Hz
06 : 120 km/h, 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
07 : 120 km/h, 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
08-09 : 120 km/h, 3000V=
10 : 120 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V= & 3000V=
11-15 : 120 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz
16 : 120 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
17 : 120 km/h, steam & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
18-19 : 120 km/h, steam & 3000V=
20-25 : 120 km/h, steam only
26-28 : 120 km/h, steam & 1500V~50Hz
29 : 120 km/h, self-contained heating
30 : 140 km/h, 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V= & 3000V=
33-35 : 140 km/h, 1000V~17Hz
36 : 140 km/h, 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
37 : 140 km/h, 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
38 : 140 km/h, 3000V=
39 : 140 km/h, 1000V~17Hz & 3000V=
40-42 : 140 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V= & 3000V=
43 45 : 140 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz
46 : 140 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
47 : 140 km/h, steam & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
48 : 140 km/h, steam & 3000V=
50-52 : 140 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V= & 3000V=
53-54 : 140 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz
56 : 140 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
57 : 140 km/h, steam & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
58 : 140 km/h, steam & 3000V=
59 : 140 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz & 3000V=
60-68 : 140 km/h, steam only
69 : 140 km/h, self-contained heating
70-71 : 160 km/h, 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V= & 3000V=
73 : 160 km/h, 1000V~17Hz
74 : 160 km/h, 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
75 : 160 km/h, 1000V~17Hz
76 : 160 km/h, 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
77 : 160 km/h, 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
78-79 : 160 km/h, 3000V=
80-81 : 160 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V= & 3000V=
84 : 160 km/h, steam only
85 : 160 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz
86 : 160 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
87 : 160 km/h, steam & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
88 : 160 km/h, steam & 3000V=
89 : 160 km/h, self-contained heating
90-91 : 200 km/h, 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V= & 3000V=
92 : 200 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V= & 3000V=
93 : 200 km/h, steam & 1000V~17Hz
94-95 : 200 km/h, 1000V~17Hz
96 : 200 km/h, 1000V~17Hz & 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
97 : 200 km/h, 1500V~50Hz & 1500V=
98 : 200 km/h, 3000V=
99 : 200 km/h, self-contained heating

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Breaking Down The Numbers - Continued

X = The checksum digit is used to ensure that any attempt at automatically reading the EVN is achieved correctly. The following method is used:

Read the EVN: 91 85 4 420 220
Apply a multiplier: 21 21 2 121 212
Multiple each digit in the EVN by the corresponding digit in the multiplier: (9 x 2 =) 18, (1 x 1 =) 1, (8 x 2 =) 16, 5 8 4 4 0 4 2 0 (the results of the multiplications are presented individually)
Add the individual digits of the result: 1+8+1+1+6+5+8+4+4+0+4+2+0 = 44
Ignore the leading '4' in this case and subtract the remaining '4' from 10 to give...

Lions in Zurich image 03.

...a checksum of 6.

References

As stated above, where possible, I have tried to reference data from the relevant administration authorities. However, this has not always been practical and I would like to acknowledge railfaneurope.net as a major source of this detail.

John returns specifically to Swiss railways soon, as he is preparing an article on the Gotthard Line.

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