UIC classification of goods wagons

This list contains the UIC classification of goods wagons and their meanings. The description is made up of a category letter (in capitals) and usually several index letters (in lower case).
The international system for the classification of goods wagons was agreed by the "Union internationale des chemins de fer" (UIC) in 1965 and subsequently introduced into member countries. For example it was adopted in Germany on 1 January 1968 replacing the previous German railway wagon classes that originated as early as 1905. The UIC classification has been amended several times since it began.
Not all wagons are given UIC designations. In Germany the few remaining guards vans and narrow gauge goods wagons have retained their original classifications.
Category letters.
The following table contains the complete list of standard category letters. Letters A, B, C, D, P and W are reserved for coaches. However, also S is used for coaches and this doubles a goods wagons class. These are covered in detail in the article on UIC classification of railway coaches.
Each goods wagons type is given a type number, whose first digit forms the fifth digit of the 12-digit UIC wagon number.