Crores of passengers prefer rail rout to travel a long way. For comfortable rides, Indian trains have multiple berth options so that the passengers can sleep comfortably. But there are some rules every passengers should know about.
Some want to quickly lower the middle seat, while others prefer to keep the middle seat up for a longer time. However, Indian Railways has established rules to address this problem. These rules are designed to ensure a comfortable journey for passengers, ensuring everyone has a comfortable seat and no inconvenience. If you travel by train, you should definitely be aware of this rule.
This is the railway rule
Many sleeper class passengers need to sleep during long overnight journeys. However, everyone needs a place to sit during the day. Therefore, the railway has a rule that the middle berth can only be unfolded and used for sleeping between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. This means that after 10:00 PM, you can unfold the middle berth and use it until 6:00 AM.
Then, raise it to make room for the lower berth. During the day, passengers from the lower, middle, and upper berths share the lower berth. This makes good use of the seating space in the coach. If someone keeps the berth down after 6 pm, it causes inconvenience to other passengers. In such cases, complain to the TTE.
The rules for middle berths in AC coaches are almost the same as in sleeper coaches. Previously, they were open from 9 p.m., but now the Railways has decided to open them only after 10 p.m. This means the middle berth can remain down from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The space in AC coaches is slightly more comfortable, but the rules are the same so everyone benefits. After 6 a.m., the middle berth should be raised so that passengers sitting during the day can comfortably have tea or snacks or chat. TTEs keep an eye on this as well and can impose fines for breaking the rules.
Space is limited on trains. A coach has 72 to 80 berths, but everyone has to sit during the day. With the middle berth elevated, three people can comfortably sit on the lower berth. With fixed bedtimes at night, there’s no rush. The railways have established these rules for passenger convenience. If everyone follows them, the journey is comfortable.
What happens if railway rules are broken?
The railway can impose fines for breaking these rules. TTEs often issue warnings for non-compliance, but repeated violations can result in fines. You can also check these rules on the railway website or app.