Understanding Coach Position and Seat Map Layout in Railways

Train Coach Positions

Travelers often find it hard to know the platform number and coach location when they arrive at the railway station. This problem gets worse with the rush of passengers at the inquiry counter and when the display board malfunctions. But with the train coach position, they do not face this problem.

Coach position displays are placed on the platform to show where each coach will stop. Passengers can stand at the allotted position display. This way, they do not have to run around the platform to find their coach.

Checking the train running status before reaching the station can also help you stay informed about the train’s current location.

The coach number is printed on every train ticket. You can identify the exact type of coach you are allotted with the help of the table below. A “composite” coach type means the coach has different kinds of classes. A “full” coach type means it has only one type of class.

Train Seat Map Layout and Coach Numbering

Indian Railways offers different classes of coaches based on price and comfort. The highest-priced are AC coaches, which include 1st AC, 2nd AC, and 3rd AC. In the non-AC category, there are sleeper coaches, which are cheaper than AC coaches, and the most affordable general coaches.

Many people in India travel in general coaches. Learn about the seat layout for all these coaches.

First AC Coach Seat Layout

First AC is the most expensive class in Indian Railways, with fares almost equal to flight tickets.

First AC coaches have eight cabins, while half AC first-class coaches have three cabins. Each coach has an attendant to assist passengers, and beds are included in the fare. These air-conditioned coaches run only on popular routes and can carry 10 or 18 passengers. The sleeper berths are wide and comfortable.

These coaches have carpets, providing an exceptional travel experience. They also offer luxury amenities for passengers.

Second AC Coach Seat Layout

The second AC coach in Indian Railways is fully air-conditioned. It offers sleeping berths, ample legroom, curtains, and a separate reading lamp for each traveler. The seats are arranged in two levels with six sections: four seats across the width of the coach and two on the side.

Each berth has a curtain for privacy. These coaches can accommodate 48 to 54 passengers at a time.

Third AC Coach Seat Layout

The third AC coach in Indian Railways is fully air-conditioned and has sleeping berths. The seats are arranged similarly to the 2nd AC coach but with three tiers instead of two. This means there are eight seats in total per section. Unlike 2nd AC, there is no separate reading light.

The cost of bedding is included in the fare. These coaches can accommodate 64 passengers, and in broad gauge (ICF) coaches, they can carry up to 72 passengers.

Third AC Economy Sleeper Seat Map Layout

The third AC economy coach is fully air-conditioned and has sleeping berths. Currently, this type of coach is available in Garib Rath trains. The seats are arranged like those in 3rd AC, with three tiers. However, it does not have reading lamps or curtains.

The cost of bedding, which is 25 rupees per passenger, is deducted from the fare. Many middle-class passengers in India travel in these coaches.

AC Chair Car Seat Layout

This railway coach is also fully air-conditioned but has only seating, as the name suggests, a chair car. It usually has a seating area of five people in a row. Overall, passengers travelling in it are not able to find it comfortable to sleep; they have to sit during the entire journey, which does not cover long distances.

Sleeper Class Seat Layout

Sleeper class is the most common coach in Indian Railways. Typically, 10 or more sleeper coaches are added to a train. Each coach has three berths across the width and two along the length, with 72 seats in total.

There is often a rush for ticket reservations in this coach. Since not everyone can afford to travel in an AC coach, many passengers prefer the sleeper class.

Second Sitting Non AC

Second seating coaches are the cheapest class in Indian Railways. They only have seating facilities, with three seats on one side. An LHB coach has 108 seats. These coaches are also known as General coaches. They are very crowded during holidays and festivals.

Convenient Layout Design for Passengers

Now, passengers can easily check if train seats are empty, booked, or partially booked with just one click after the reservation chart is prepared. This helps travelers see if a seat is available in real time.

• First Chart: Available 4 hours before the train starts.

• Second Chart: Available 30 minutes before departure, showing any seat changes.

You can use this feature on both the IRCTC website and its mobile version.

The new interface shows the layout of all nine reservation classes (like Sleeper, AC 3-Tier, AC 2-Tier, etc. — see Indian Railways coach types) so you can check how many seats are vacant in each and book instantly if needed.

Earlier, frequent travelers could not get this information after the chart was prepared, but now this change helps passengers and also boosts railway revenue.

How to Check Train Layout & Vacant Seats Online

1. Log in to the IRCTC website or go directly to the Charts / Vacancy page.

2. Enter your journey details: train number, date of travel, and boarding station.

3. Click “Get Train Chart”.

4. The reservation chart will appear.

5. Check seat availability by class and coach.

6. Click on a coach number to see its detailed layout.

AC Chair Car (Shatabdi / Duronto Express) – Coach Layout & Numbering

The Shatabdi Express was introduced in 1988 to mark the birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. It was launched by the then Railway Minister, Shri Madhavrao Scindia.

It is one of the fastest trains in India, running at an average speed of about 130 km/h with LHB coaches. The train generally has 11 coaches:

• 7 AC Chair Car coaches

• 2 Executive Class coaches

• Seating capacity: 75 seats per coach

Coach Composition:
Engine – EOG – C1 – C2 – C3 – C4 – C5 – C6 – C7 – E1 – E2 – EOG

Purushottam Express – Coach Layout & Numbering

The Purushottam Express runs daily between Puri (Odisha) and New Delhi, covering 1857 km at an average speed of 61 km/h.

It has 22 LHB coaches:

• 1 Second AC coach

• 4 Third AC coaches

• 12 Sleeper coaches

• 2 Unreserved Second Class coaches

• 1 Pantry Car

Coach Composition:
Engine – EOG – GS – S1 – S2 – S3 – S4 – S5 – S6 – S7 – S8 – S9 – S10 – S11 – S12 – PC – A1 – B4 – B3 – B2 – B1 – GS – EOG

Kashi Express – Coach Layout & Numbering

The Kashi Express (Train No. 15017/15018) runs between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai) and Gorakhpur Junction (Uttar Pradesh). It uses ICF coaches and has 23 coaches in total:

• 1 Second AC coach

• 2 Third AC coaches

• 13 Sleeper coaches

Notably, the engine reverses direction at Prayagraj Junction.

Coach Composition:
Engine – SLR – GEN – GEN – S1 – S2 – S3 – S4 – S5 – S6 – S7 – S8 – S9 – S10 – S11 – S12 – A1 – B1 – BE1 – S13 – GEN – GEN – GEN – SLR

Kerala Sampark Kranti Express – Coach Layout & Numbering

The Kerala Sampark Kranti Express (Train No. 12217/12218) runs between Chandigarh Junction and Kochuveli, covering 3415 km — making it the longest-running Sampark Kranti train in India.

It has 22 LHB coaches:

• 1 First AC + Second AC (HA1)

• 1 Second AC coach

• 4 Third AC coaches

• 1 Pantry Car

• 9 Sleeper coaches

Coach Composition:
Engine – EOG – GN – GN – S1 – S2 – S3 – S4 – S5 – S6 – S7 – S8 – S9 – PC – B1 – B2 – B3 – B4 – A1 – HA1 – GN – GN – EOG