Railway Rules for Women : Indian Railways has rolled out a bunch of key rules and services aimed at ensuring the safety and comfort of women travelers. These initiatives are designed to give women a pleasant travel experience while keeping their safety in check.

To achieve this, Indian Railways has set up separate women’s coaches on numerous trains and has also enhanced security measures for female passengers at stations. Now, women can enjoy special privileges while traveling on trains. Additionally, the Railway Department has granted several rights to women to prioritize their safety.

Today, we’re going to break down these rights and privileges in detail, so you can also enjoy a safe and comfortable journey.

Women’s Safety Helpline

Focusing on women’s safety, the Railways has introduced a women’s safety helpline at 139, which women can reach out to for any concerns. So, if you’re on a trip and feel uneasy in your seat, just call 139 right away and ask for assistance.

Indian Railways also reserves seats specifically for women, making sure they don’t face any issues during their travels. This means providing accurate details when booking a ticket. For instance, if a woman is over 45, pregnant, or has a disability, she gets priority for lower berths in sleeper, 3AC, and 2AC coaches.

This rule was put in place with women’s safety as a priority. In fact, if you check out Section 139 of the Indian Railways Act, 1989, you’ll find that if a female passenger is traveling at night without a ticket, no one can kick her off the train. She can stay on until the next district headquarters station. In such cases, no railway officer is allowed to treat her poorly.

This right is given to women for their safety, allowing them to talk to the TTE and ask for a seat change if they don’t feel secure in their current seat. The TTE is required to help them with this.

Meri Saheli Initiative

In this initiative, female police officers visit seats where women passengers are traveling alone to inquire about their well-being. During this time, female security personnel provide information about 139 to women passengers and encourage them to call 139 immediately in case of any problems. All stations have separate ticket counters for women. Furthermore, stations now have dedicated waiting lounges for women, where they can sit comfortably and wait for their trains.