Indian Railways reserves lower berths in trains for THESE passengers

New Delhi: Every day, millions of people rely on Indian Railways for their travel needs. The Railways strive to accommodate all passengers, including special provisions for senior citizens. If you book a lower berth for your senior citizen parents but do not receive it, here's what you need to know.

Indian Railways has established specific guidelines to ease travel for senior citizens. One of these provisions includes the option to book lower berths, making their journey more comfortable. IRCTC has provided clear instructions on how to secure a lower berth for senior citizens. For instance, a recent tweet highlighted a passenger's issue where a lower berth, requested due to leg problems, was not allocated despite the request.

Booking a lower berth: Railways' response

In response to the tweet, Indian Railways clarified that lower berth allocation is contingent on the booking type. For general quota bookings, seats are allocated based on availability. If no lower berths are available, the system assigns upper berths. To ensure a lower berth, passengers should opt for Reservation Choice Booking, which specifically requests a lower berth, increasing the chances of getting one.

Availability and allocation

Railways further explained that lower berths are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. For general quota bookings, seat assignment occurs only if seats are available at the time of booking. There is no manual intervention in this process. However, if you need a lower berth, you can approach the Ticket Examiner (TTE) on board to request a lower berth, provided one is available.