How do DB seat numbers work?

12/1/2018 7:39:22 PM

This clever seat number system, dating from the pre-computer era, was an easy way to maintain an even distribution of passengers over the train, when the train was not yet fully booked. Passengers would get annoyed if the distribution was carelessly uneven.

Initially the seats x1, x2, x5, x6 were assigned by the booking system, and all passengers had some free space at their side. When all x1-2-5-6 seats were full, the x3 seats were assigned. Next the x4 seats, then x7, and finally x8. The system worked fine for trains containing combinations of 8 and 6 seat groups, 8 and 6 seat compartments, and 6 or 4 sleeper compartments.

8 seat group:
window . 91 93 . aisle . 97 95 . window
window . 92 98 . aisle . 94 96 . window

6 seat group:
window . 91 . aisle . 93 95 . window
window . 92 . aisle . 94 96 . window

8 seat compartment:
window . 91 93 97 95 . aisle
window . 92 98 94 96 . aisle

6 seat compartment:
window . 91 93 95 . aisle
window . 92 94 96 . aisle

4/6 berth sleeper:
bottom . 91 (93) 95 . top
bottom . 92 (94) 96 . top

This numbering system was used for long-distance trains and international trains in Europe, and it was part of the Regolamento Internazionale delle Carrozze (RIC), an international railway agreement that facilitated the cross border use of cars.

9/4/2017 9:38:19 PM

The numbering scheme is based on historical international standards. Those were originally developed for compartment coaches, which is why always two rows are considered together (one compartment had two rows of opposing seats). The numbers aren’t consecutive because the first digit is the “compartment number”, independent of the place number in each compartment (last digit).

When the system was conceived, compartments usually had six seats. It was defined that seats 5 and 6 are at the window; in order to keep that consistent for eight-seat “compartments”, the additional seats 7 and 8 had to be inserted in the middle.

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

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Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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