Indian Railways has revealed the significance of the letter ‘X’ on the back of the last coach of its trains. The Ministry of Railways shared the information on its official Twitter account, explaining that the white and yellow ‘X’ mark indicates that the train has passed without any coaches being left behind. The presence of the letter ‘X’ on the last compartment confirms to railway officials that the train has passed in its entirety, without any coaches being detached.
Conversely, if a train passes a station and the last coach does not have the ‘X’ mark, the Station Master must assume that the train is facing an emergency situation and moving without its last compartment. This information is critical for officials to monitor the train’s movements and ensure its safety.
Additionally, if you observe carefully, you will also find the letters ‘LV’ written with the ‘X’ mark on the last coach of an Indian Railways train. ‘LV’ stands for Last Vehicle and acts as a checkpoint for gatemen, signalmen, and cabin personnel. This ensures that the train is travelling whole, with no coaches accidentally decoupled and left behind, which could pose a collision risk for the next train.
The Kalaburagi district of the statecoach is where the ‘X’ mark is often found, and it is a useful way of identifying the last coach of the train. The presence of the ‘X’ mark confirms that the train has passed without any hitches, and railway officials can be assured that the train is safe and complete.
According to Indian Railways, the use of the ‘X’ mark is not limited to any specific type of train or route. It is a standard practice across all trains and serves as a visual cue for railway officials to confirm that the train has passed entirely.
