RAL railway colors

As RAL rail colors are referred to colloquially standardized colors of railroad companies are given the manufacturers and maintenance workshops for locomotive and car paint. This ensures a uniform appearance ( corporate identity ) of the train units of a railway company. In order to clearly designate the colors, a technical color standard made available by a third party is used, such as the RAL color system discussed here .

RAL colors of the Deutsche Bundesbahn 1949–1993

The specified years refer to the introduction as a standard coating. The actual implementation took several decades, so that individual vehicles skipped one or even several versions.

number	Surname	colour	description
RAL 1001	beige		Window strip of the TEE and IC cars (1957 to 1974)
RAL 1002	Sand yellow		Ribbon window and decorative strips of the Berlin S-Bahn (until 1987)
RAL 1007	Daffodil yellow		all lettering on passenger coaches with brown-green or bottle-green paint (1920 to ~ 1957), lettering on post coaches (until the end of rail mail traffic in 1997) BVG - U-Bahn until change to traffic yellow
RAL 1014	ivory		Ribbon window for locomotives and passenger coaches (1974 to 1987)
RAL 1015	Light ivory		all lettering of the passenger coaches (1957 to 1987)
RAL 1028	Melon yellow		lower side wall of the Lufthansa Airport Express
RAL 1034	Pastel yellow		Support strip of the S-Bahn (1987 to 1998)
RAL 2004	Pure orange		DB class 420 , ribbon windows and decorative stripes of the S-Bahn (1969 to 1987)
RAL 2012	Salmon orange		S-Bahn window strip (1987 to 1998)
RAL 3000	Fire red		Edge of circulation and underlying parts of steam locomotives (1929 to 1950)
RAL 3002	Carmine		Edge of the circulation and underlying parts of steam locomotives (from 1952), window band of the TUI FerienExpress
RAL 3003	Ruby red		Sleeping car and dining car of Mitropa and DSG (until ~ 1965)
RAL 3004	Purple		lower side wall of 1st class TEE and IC cars and dining car (1967 to 1987); Diesel locomotives and railcars (until 1974); Sleeping and dining cars (~ 1965 to 1974); Rail buses (until 1981)
RAL 3005	Wine red		(lower) side wall of railcars and sidecars (until 1940); Sleeping and dining car (until ~ 1965)
RAL 3027	Raspberry red		Housing of train destination displays and clocks (1980 to approx. 1990), rail buses (1983 to 1989)
RAL 3031	Oriental red		Locomotives (1987 to 1998); Decorative stripes of the ICE and ribbon windows of the IC cars (1987 to 1998); official color of the old DB emblem (1987 to 1994)
RAL 4000	violet		lower side wall of diesel express railcars , the Henschel-Wegmann train and the Rheingold train as well as its baggage car (from 1928)
RAL 4009	Pastel purple		Accompanying strips of the ICE and IC cart (1987 to 1998)
RAL 5001	Green Blue		Window ribbon and decorative stripes of the Munich S-Bahn (delivery 1969 to 1975)
RAL 5011	Steel blue		Electric locomotives faster than 120 km / h ex works (1952 to 1974), 1st class express train passenger cars (1951 to ~ 1957); corresponds roughly to the paintwork of the sleeping cars and dining cars of the CIWL ; Edge of the station signs (1986 to the end of the 1990s)
RAL 5013	Cobalt blue		Electric locomotives faster than 120 km / h at Neulack in DB plants, 1st class express train cars and couchette cars (~ 1957 to 1974); lower side wall of the Rheingold train (1962 to ~ 1967); TEN paint for sleeping cars (1975 to 1995)
RAL 5020	Ocean blue		lower side wall of locomotives and passenger coaches (1974 to 1987)
RAL 5023	Distant blue		Window strip of the Interregio and ICN trains (1987 to 1998)
RAL 5024	Pastel blue		Strips of the Interregio and ICN trains (1987 to 1998)
RAL 6002	Foliage green		Scharnow couchette car
RAL 6007	Bottle green		Electric locomotives slower than 120 km / h and all passenger coaches - except 1st class express coaches - (also DR, 1939 to ~ 1957)
RAL 6020	Chrome oxide green		Electric locomotives slower than 120 km / h and all passenger coaches - except 1st class express coaches - (~ 1957 to 1974)
RAL 6033	Mint turquoise		Window strip of regional vehicles (1986 to 1998)
RAL 6034	Pastel turquoise		Escort strips for regional vehicles (1986 to 1998)
RAL 7005	Mouse gray		Roof of the diesel locomotives
RAL 7022	umbra		Roof of the passenger coaches, especially the Silberlinge / Silberlinge / silver coins (1974 to 1986 generally for passenger coaches)
RAL 7023	Concrete gray		Touropa couchette car aprons, stage roofs from below, railcar roofs
RAL 7032	Pebble gray		Basic color of the S-Bahn (1972 to 1987); Basic color of the experimental " pop paint " (1969 to 1974)
RAL 7035	Light gray		Basic color of the Lufthansa Airport Express (1982 to 1993); lower side wall of all motor coaches and passenger coaches (1987 to 1997); ICE basic color
RAL 7038	Agate gray		ICE lettering
RAL 7039	Quartz gray		Aprons and frames of the ICE
RAL 7040	Window gray		Roof of multiple units and passenger coaches (1986 to 1998)
RAL 8012	Red-brown		Basic color of the freight wagons (until 1996)
RAL 8019	Gray-brown		typical color for chassis and frame
RAL 9006	White aluminum		Roof of the passenger coaches (until 1974)
RAL 9010	Pure white		Labeling of all locomotives (on steam locomotives since the introduction of computer numbers in 1968, before - as on many electric locomotives - generally aluminum signs from around 1955)

RAL colors of Deutsche Bahn AG

number	Surname	colour	description
RAL 1004	Golden yellow		Railway service vehicles , addresses
RAL 1023	Traffic yellow		1st class stripes on local and long-distance trains
RAL 1024	Ocher yellow		Window ribbon and decorative strips of the Berlin S-Bahn
RAL 3003	Ruby red		lower side wall of the Berlin S-Bahn
RAL 3020	Traffic red		Locomotives, decorative stripes of the ICE and IC cars , ribbon windows of the ICN cars, local transport cars and buses (from 2011)
RAL 3031	Oriental red		Locomotives, decorative strips of the ICE and ribbon windows of the IC cars (1987 to 1998)
RAL 4009	Pastel purple		Accompanying strips of the ICE and IC cart (1987 to 1998)
RAL 5022	Midnight blue		Station signs, wayfinding system
RAL 7035	Light gray		Basic color of the ICE and IC cars , addresses on the vehicle
RAL 7038	Agate gray		ICE lettering
RAL 7012	Basalt gray		Side members and chassis, roof painting, inscriptions on the vehicle
RAL 7016	Anthracite gray		Window strip from BR 642 , BR 644 commuter cars
RAL 7039	Quartz gray		Aprons and frames of the ICE
RAL 7040	Window gray		Roof painting for long-distance vehicles

Colors of the ÖBB

number	Surname	colour	description
RAL 1014	ivory		Basic color of the railcars and domestic coaches of the ÖBB (until approx. 1988)
RAL 2002	Blood orange		Locomotives from 1969 and ribbon windows in domestic passenger coaches (1976 to approx. 1988)
RAL 2004	Pure orange		Eurofima wagons and other RIC wagons (1976 to approx. 1988), see Eurofima C1 livery
RAL 3020	Traffic red		Current paint for locomotives and parts of passenger coaches and railcars
RAL 5002	Ultramarine blue		Ribbon windows of couchette cars and railcars , station signs, wayfinding system (approx. 1988 to 1998)
RAL 5003	Sapphire blue		Earlier partial painting (ribbon window or lower side wall) of the railcars
RAL 5013	Cobalt blue		TEN paint for sleeping cars (1975 to 1995), ribbon windows for sleeping cars (1992 to 2003)
RAL 5022	Midnight blue		Priming coat of nightjet cars, station signs, guidance system
RAL 6009	Fir green		Locomotives and passenger coaches (until approx. 1976)
RAL 7022	Umbra gray		Chassis and floor of the ÖBB vehicles (1970s to 1990s)
RAL 7038	Agate gray		Basic color for sleeping and couchette cars (1989 to 2000)
RAL 8016	Mahogany brown		Basic color of the freight wagons
RAL 9016	Traffic white		Lettering on a dark background, upper area of ​​the ÖBB Cityjet
NCS S 2502-B	gray with a bluish tinge light		current basic color of passenger coaches and railcars
NCS S 4502-B	gray bluish medium		Ribbon of modernized long-distance vehicles
NCS S 6502-B	gray with a bluish tinge dark		Front sides and chassis of modernized passenger coaches
Pantone 1807	railjet red		Base coat of the railjet

Colors of the SBB

These colors are used on new or modernized vehicles. With older rolling stock, there are other colors, some of which have no equivalent in the RAL color system.

number	Surname	colour	description
RAL 1018	Zinc yellow		Warning markings on trip hazards
RAL 1023	Traffic yellow		Identification strips for 1st class
RAL 3000	Fire red		Base coat of the locomotives, logo, entrance doors, vehicle fronts, roof stripes
RAL 5002	Ultramarine blue		Partial coating of cargo, pictograms for customer guidance
RAL 7016	Anthracite gray		with iron mica: roof painting
RAL 9005	Jet black		Landing gear, apron, window ribbon, lettering on a light background
RAL 9010	Pure white		Box of railcars and passenger coaches, lettering on a colored / dark background

Colors of the Deutsche Reichsbahn (until 1945)

number	Surname	colour	description
RAL 1001	beige		Ribbon window of railcars, side cars and control cars, Rheingold cars (until 1941)
RAL 3005	Wine red		lower side wall of railcars, side cars and control cars (until 1941)
RAL 4000	violet		lower side wall of diesel express railcars , the Henschel-Wegmann train and the Rheingold train as well as its baggage car (from 1928)
RAL 5004	Black blue		lower side wall of the Karwendel Express car
RAL 6006	Gray olive		Car roofs of passenger cars (until 1941)
RAL 6008	Brown Green		all passenger coaches of the DR (approx. 1921 to 1939)
RAL 7011	Iron gray		Diesel locomotives (until 1942)
RAL 7021	Black-gray		Diesel locomotives (from 1942)
RAL 7031	Blue-gray		Electric locomotives
RAL 9005	Jet black		Basic color for steam locomotives

Colors of the Deutsche Reichsbahn (after 1945)

number	Surname	colour	description
RAL 1002	Sand yellow		Car body of the double-decker single car ("mustard pots")
RAL 1004	Golden yellow		Warning stripes on series 100 to 107 and 108/111; Addresses
RAL 1011	Brown beige		General cargo and liquid containers
RAL 1014	ivory		Roof of the 107 series
RAL 1015	Light ivory		Locomotive identification strips
RAL 2000	Yellow orange		Roof, superstructures, front hoods of shunting locomotives (except Köf II)
RAL 2001	Red orange		Signal So 13; "Hazard paint": warning color against hazards at narrow points that are not free of profile (light masts, tunnel entrances, buffer stops)
RAL 3001	Signal red		Frames, undercarriages, buffer beams of steam locomotives, addresses, pantographs and roof lines, handles of the main air line, shut-off valves, etc. Ä.
RAL 3004	Purple		Basic color of locomotives; Fan grille; lower side wall and decorative stripes of the Berlin S-Bahn
RAL 5009	Azure blue		Basic color of small and narrow-gauge diesel locomotives
RAL 6002	Foliage green		Passenger coaches (from 1980, only roughly, since TGL 21 196 chrome oxide green 2235 has no RAL equivalent, the most similar color was used)
RAL 6019	White green		Driver's cabs, side panels inside (from 1990)
RAL 6020	Chrome oxide green		Basic color of the electric locomotives, passenger and railway company cars
RAL 7001	Silver gray		Frames, bogies, wheel sets, as well as parts below the frame, handrails, roofs, underframes and chassis of freight wagons; Freight car bodies made of wood and wood-based materials, basic color of refrigerated cars
RAL 7011	Iron gray		Hand bars
RAL 7032	Pebble gray		Roofs of the double-deck single wagons ("mustard pots")
RAL 8000	Green Brown		Roof of the passenger carriages with green / ivory colored car body; Ribbon window and decorative stripes of the Berlin S-Bahn (1990 to 1992)
RAL 8012	Red-brown		Freight car bodies made of wood and wood materials; Underframe of freight wagons and stakes
RAL 9011	Graphite black		Frames, side members, drawbars and bumpers; Decorative lines of the Berlin S-Bahn; Boiler and driver's cab of steam locomotives, tenders and Köf; Chassis and chassis of freight wagons
RAL 9016	Traffic white		Identification strips and addresses on locomotives, motor coaches, passenger coaches and freight cars; Basic color of refrigerated trucks

Colors of other railway companies

→ Main article : BLS colors

number	Surname	colour	description
RAL 5009	Azure blue		Electric locomotives and passenger coaches of the MÁV
RAL 7038	Agate blue		Decorative stripes of the MÁV long-distance coaches
RAL 1017	Saffron yellow		1st class lanes on long-distance MÁV cars
RAL 7031	Blue-gray		Roof painting for MÁV rail vehicles
RAL 9011	Graphite black		Side members and chassis at MÁV
RAL 5011	Steel blue		Corresponds roughly to the paintwork of the sleeping cars and dining cars of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits

Colors of urban transport companies

number	Surname	colour	description
RAL 1023	Traffic yellow		U-Bahns, trams and buses of the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe
RAL 1028	Melon yellow		Buses and trams of the Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe
RAL 1032	Gorse yellow		Stadtbahnen DT 8 of the Stuttgart trams and the vehicles of the Essen Ruhrbahn
RAL 5022	Midnight blue		Window strip of the prototypes of the BVG series 480 (car body was painted in a color from the Natural Color System )
RAL 6011	Reseda green		in connection with the Viennese Stadtbahn also called "Otto-Wagner-Grün" or "Stadtbahngrün"

Timelines

See also

• DB color card (for engineering structures)
• Product colors of the Deutsche Bundesbahn

Web links

• Overview of use of the RAL colors at Deutsche Bahn & predecessors
• Private website about the passenger coaches of Hungarian railway companies

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ÖBB Holding Basic Elements Corporate Design ( Memento from February 25, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
2. ↑ SBB brand portal: colors
3. ↑ bahnstatistik.de