Crores of people like to travel through rail. Some of the passengers are daily commuters while some booked advanced ticket to go a long distance. There are many rules related to long journey which many people don’t know. To ensure passenger convenience and comfort during train travel, Indian Railways has established clear rules for the use of lower and middle berths.
What are the rules
Passengers often struggle with when and how to use the berths, especially at night when everyone is asleep. Therefore, it’s important to understand which berths are available for use before embarking on your journey. The main advantage of the lower berth is that it can be used for sitting and sleeping by passengers both during the day and night. According to railway rules, between 10 pm and 6 am, passengers in the lower berth cannot stop the middle berth from using it for sleeping. This means that if a passenger in the middle berth wants to sleep on his berth during this time, the person in the lower berth cannot stop him and no penalty will be imposed.
During the day, i.e. from 6 am to 10 pm, passengers in the lower berth have to give way to passengers in the middle berth. The purpose of this is that all passengers can sit comfortably and the seating arrangement remains organized. Passengers in middle berths may open their berths and sleep between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. This time is considered the designated sleeping time, and using the middle berth during this time is perfectly legal. However, the middle berth must be closed during the day to allow seating for passengers in lower berths.
Sleeping time in middle berths
Sleeping on the middle berth is strictly prohibited from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. If a passenger opens their middle berth and begins sleeping before 10:00 PM, passengers in lower berths may prevent them from doing so. These railway rules take into account the convenience and comfort of passengers and ensure proper use of berths and an orderly journey. Therefore, it’s important to know and follow these rules before traveling by train to ensure a comfortable and hassle-free journey.