With two double-leafed doors per side to enable a high passenger throughput rate, the coaches were conceived for short dwell times in commuter and regional transit.

Succeeding the yl-coaches, 5,000 units were built from 1958 to 1981, with some remaining in service still today.

The UIC classification identifier letter "n" is an abbreviation for Nahverkehr ("local transit"); the complete description is local transit passenger coach (Nahverkehrswagen) with a length of over 24.5 metres, open coach with centre aisle in 2nd class, centre aisle or side corridor in 1st class, two centre doors, with 36-pole control cable for push-pull operations.

The term Silberling (from German Silber, "silver") derives from the coaches' stainless steel body, which was originally unpainted, giving them a unique silver look.

This German rail transport related article is a stub.