The Language of Labels: EN 15877 Vehicle Markings

Introduction to EN 15877

If you walk alongside a freight train, you will see a confusing array of tables, numbers, and symbols painted on the side of every wagon. To the untrained eye, it is graffiti; to a railway worker, it is a complete technical manual. EN 15877, titled “Railway applications – Marking on railway vehicles,” is the dictionary that translates these symbols.

This standard ensures that a firefighter in France knows exactly where to cut a crashed German locomotive, and a shunter in Poland knows exactly how many tons of coal can be loaded onto a Spanish wagon. It standardizes the font, size, color, and location of every critical piece of information on the train’s exterior.

Snippet Definition: What is EN 15877?

EN 15877 is a European standard (split into Part 1 for Freight and Part 2 for Passenger/Locomotives) that specifies the informational markings required on railway vehicles. It defines the layout of the European Vehicle Number (EVN), the technical data grids (load limits, brake weights), safety warnings (high voltage, crushing hazards), and operational codes (GE, ferry boat capability) required for interoperability under the TSI.

Categories of Markings

EN 15877 divides markings into functional groups:

1. Identification (Who am I?)

Every vehicle has a unique 12-digit birth certificate number.

• EVN (European Vehicle Number): E.g., 31 80 495 6 123-4. The standard dictates the font height (usually 80mm) and placement (center of the side wall).
• VKM (Vehicle Keeper Marking): The text code identifying the owner (e.g., DB, SNCF, GATX).

2. Technical Data (What can I do?)

For freight wagons (covered in EN 15877-1), the most prominent feature is the Load Limit Grid (Raster). This table tells the operator the maximum payload permitted based on the line category (A, B, C, D) and speed (S, SS).

Other technical marks include:

• Brake Weight: E.g., “MAX 54t”. Critical for calculating if the train can stop in time.
• Length over Buffers: Needed to ensure the train fits in the siding.
• Tank Codes: For dangerous goods wagons (e.g., “L4BH”).

3. Safety and Rescue (Don’t touch!)

These are vital for emergency responders (covered in EN 15877-2 for passenger trains).

• High Voltage Warning: The yellow lightning bolt triangle, placed near electrical boxes.
• Lifting Points: Symbols showing where a crane can safely lift the vehicle after a derailment.
• Emergency Exits: Green markings indicating windows that can be broken or doors that can be opened from outside.

Structure of the Standard

The standard is split to address the very different needs of cargo vs. people.

Visual Language examples

EN 15877 relies on pictograms to overcome language barriers across Europe.

• Anchor Symbol: The vehicle is equipped for transport on train ferries (has tie-down points).
• “GE” or “G1” inside a box: Indicates the vehicle fits the standard international structure gauge.
• Star (*) near the Brake Weight: Indicates the wagon has composite brake blocks (silent brakes).

Comparison: EN 15877 vs. TSI OPE

TSI OPE (Operations) says “You must identify the vehicle.”

EN 15877 says “You must identify it using Helvetica font, 80mm high, located 1.2 meters from the bottom edge.”

EN 15877 provides the physical implementation rules for the legal requirements set by the TSI.