Railway Update: More comfortable train travel for senior citizens, pregnant women & differently abled? Key takeaways from Centre's response in Lok Sabha

Lower Berth Ticket Booking Rules: Senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities often prefer to book lower berths when travelling by train. However, it can be difficult to secure a berth of your preference as every day millions of people travel by train. To make train travel more comfortable and convenient for these passengers, Indian railways have taken a major step.

Senior citizens, Women can reserve lower berths

Railways has introduced a special facility that allows senior citizens, women over 45 years of age, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities to reserve the lower berths.

Railway Minister explains

Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, while replying to a question in Lok Sabha, explained that the Railway Reservation System now prioritizes lower berths for eligible passengers like senior citizens, female passengers aged 45 years and above, and pregnant women. Even if a passenger does not choose a specific seat while booking, they can still get lower berths, depending on availability.

Lower berth reserved in trains

Each coach in the Indian railway system has a fixed number of lower berths:
• 6 to 7 lower berths per coach in Sleeper Class.
• 4 to 5 lower berths per coach in Air Conditioned 3 Tier (3AC).
• 3 to 4 lower berths per coach in Air Conditioned 2 Tier (2AC).
These provisions are available depending on the number of coaches on the train to ensure maximum convenience.

Special quota for disabled passengers

Indian Railways also provides a special reservation quota for disabled passengers. This facility is available in all mail/express trains, including Rajdhani and Shatabdi-type trains, irrespective of whether concession facilities are availed or not.

In Sleeper Class, 4 berths (including 2 low berths) are reserved, and similar provisions are made in 3AC and 3E classes. In addition, 4 seats in the Reserved Second Sitting (2S) and Air-Conditioned Chair Car (CC) have also been kept separate for Divyang (disabled) travelers.

What happens if a lower berth is empty?

In the event of vacant lower berths during the journey, preference is given to Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities, and pregnant women who may have been initially allotted middle or upper berths.