NEW DELHI: Indian Railways plan to add a middle berth along the corridor of coaches in trains barring Rajdhani Express in order to accommodate more passengers and boost revenues.
This will be done in regular and air-conditioned sleeper berths.
Currently, a three-tier sleeper coach has only two side berths along the corridor. This allows both passengers to sit in separate seats facing each other without blocking the aisle.
While a non-AC sleeper coach has total 72 berths, an AC three-tier coach has 64 berths.
However, the railway ministry is now working towards adding nine berths in non-AC sleeper coach and eight berths in AC three-tier coaches on the side by raising the upper berth and fit another berth in the middle.
Fund has already been allocated and the retrofitting work will begin next month, Niraj Kumar, Executive Director, (coaching) said.
It would cost about Rs 1.5 lakh per coach to do the retrofitting work. "While the Research Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO) has approved the changed design, we have also got the safety clearance to go ahead with retrofitting work in 12,500 non-AC sleeper coaches and 1,500 AC coaches in our workshops," said Kumar.
"We have already done it in three coaches in Jhelum Express on an experimental basis", he added.
There is a considerable increase in passengers. The number of AC three-tier passengers increased from 20.61 million in 2005-06 to 23.89 million while the number of passengers in non-AC sleeper coaches rose from 177 million to 205 million during the same period.
FAQs
Sleeper (SL)
The coaches have a capacity of 72 to 81 berths per coach. The coaches are not air-conditioned and have open-able windows. There are common charging sockets, ceiling mounted fans and lights in each compartment.
What is the sleeper coach berth rule? ›
What is the sleeping time rule in the middle berth of the train? According to the circular issued by a railway board, the passengers in the reserved coaches can only sleep between 10 pm and 6 am to allow others to sit on the seats for the rest of the time.
Can we use middle berth in train? ›
If you are assigned a middle berth on a train. You can sleep in your berth only from 10 PM to 6 AM. You can't keep your berth up more than this sleeping hours duration. If you do so, your co-passenger with a lower berth can stop you.
How many seats are in a sleeper compartment of a train in India? ›
Sleeper class: The sleeper class is the most common coach on the Indian Railways, and usually ten or more coaches of SL could be attached to a train rake. These are regular sleeping coaches with three berths across the width and two longways, without air conditioning. It carries 72 passengers per coach.
Which berth is best in sleeper coach? ›
- If your journey is of one night, then the lower berth will be best for you. ...
- If your journey is in day time, then the “upper berth”/ “side upper” will be best for you. ...
- If you are journey lover , and loves to see scenic beauties , and love to communicate with new people then “side lower” is best.
The most comfortable seats in a sleeper bus in India are the upper berths. If traveling alone, you should opt for a single upper berth and have the best in comfort & privacy. Also, the best position on a sleeping bus would be the second or third compartment.
What is the time of middle berth sleeping in train? ›
Passengers can only sleep on the middle berth from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. In case a passenger exceeds the time limit, the lower berth passenger has the right to ask them not to. India is home to one of the longest rail networks in the world.
What is a 6 berth sleeper? ›
Sleeper trains usually consist of single or double-berth compartments, as well as couchette, which have four or six berths (consisting of a bottom, middle and top bunk on each side of the compartment).
What time can sleeper coach sleep? ›
Indian Railways Rules: The time from 10 pm to 6 am is considered good for sleeping. If you also travel in train then follow the new sleeping time. Railways New Rule For Passengers: If you also travel by train, then this news is useful for you.
What are the rules for sleeper coach in Indian Railways? ›
According to the circular issued by a railway board, the passengers in the reserved coaches can only sleep between 10 pm and 6 am to allow others to sit on the seats for the rest of the time.
Seat Allocation: Seats in sleeper class compartments are assigned to specific passengers based on their ticket details. Passengers are not allowed to occupy seats that are not assigned to them [2].
When can I open my middle seat in train? ›
Many times the passengers sleeping on the middle berth open it as soon as the train starts. This causes a lot of trouble to the passenger with the lower berth. But according to the rules of the railways, a passenger with a middle berth can sleep in his berth only from 10 pm to 6 am.
Which class is best in train for long distance? ›
First Class (FC)
The first class is the non-AC coaches provided by Indian Railways. The class constitutes 4 berth cabins and 2 berth coupes with a door just like AC first class. It is safer and more comfortable for passengers traveling longer distances.
What is the difference between EC and CC? ›
CC is for Chair car (standard AC chair car formation) with 3x2 seating arrangements. CC stands for AC Chair Car while EC stands for Executive AC Chair Car. While both these are AC coaches, EC coaches are more spacious and offer passengers more legroom as compared to CC. CC Chair Car.
Which seat is best for couples in train? ›
First AC (1A)
There are 2 or 4 berths per compartment according to the train with no lower or upper berths. The compartments having 2 cabins are called a couple whereas the ones having 4 berths are called cabin. Each compartment has a door which passengers can lock from inside.
How many berths does a train coach have? ›
The number of seats in a coach of a train can vary depending on the type of coach and the train's configuration. However, as a general guideline, the number of seats in a coach can range from around 72 to 110 seats.
How many seats are usually on a Coach bus? ›
Average Seating Capacity of a Coach Bus
The seating capacity in a coach bus varies depending on the model and size. On average, a standard coach bus can accommodate between 47 and 57 passengers. This makes coach buses an excellent option for transporting large groups for long-distance travel, events, or tours.
What is 79 berth in train? ›
S7- It is coach number in which your seat is allotted. It is a sleeper coach. 79- It is berth number whose position is side lower. It is a LHB coach since LHB coaches have 80 sleeper seats.
