Railway new rule reduces 1 hour sleeping time for lower berth

New Delhi : Indian Railways has issued new guidelines in the circular with a reduction of one hour of sleeping time for lower berth passengers.

Passengers with reserved lower berth will only be authorised to sleep between 10 pm to 6 am; earlier it was from 9 pm to 6 am, making it compulsory for them to allow those allotted middle or upper berths to sit there for the rest of the time. 

"Sleeping accommodation between 2200 hours and 0600 hours and sitting accommodation for the rest of the period is provided for the passengers in the reserved coaches having sleeping accommodation," the circular said. 

"On the lower berths on which passengers have been booked under Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC), during the day time, sitting accommodation is also provided for those booked on the upper berth," the circular said.

It also mentioned that those who have been allotted upper side berth will have no right on lower berth between 10 pm to 6 am.

"Passengers are, however, requested to cooperate with the sick, persons with disability, and pregnant ladies in case they want to sleep beyond permissible limits," it said. 

Railways spokesperson Anil Saxena told IANS that the decision was taken in view of the feedback received from the officials over sleeping arrangement in the trains. 

He also said that the railways already have a rule over sleeping hours and that has been amended. 

(with IANS inputs)