Best berths in trains??

Hello!

I was suggested not to book berths 5 & 6 in any train as these are by the doors. Is this true? Can you actually choose your berths when booking?

Thanks!

You can give the option for lower, middle or upper berth. But you cannot ask for actual seat numbers.

they're also near the toilets which is not always great either!

Personally I think the most important thing for long journeys is to get an upper birth, which you can certainly stipulate when making an booking. This gives you both a seat and a bed during the day whilst those with middle/lower births have them converted into seats during the daytime.

kidsan is right on. The births below 10 are above 50 will be close to toilet. But anyway you can't choose your seat number. And upper birth is preferred if you are travelling for more than 3-4 hours, as you can peacefully sleep without being troubled by anyone.

while upper berths have their advantage, i found them to be more shaky than the lower births...i was able to sleep better on th elower births. i guess, higher you are from the wheels the shakier it gets.

I'm not keen. I can do without gymnastics just before sleep

Always send my poor wife to the upper berth.

Ahem. I always request, if she wouldn't mind, could she possibly.....

That's how I've imagined it too! And I've already asked my travel partner if he wouldn't mind sleeping on the upper berth

While you'd have the advantage of being being able to sleep better during the day on upper berths, in winter at night the train roof gets very cold and the person on UB would be colder, unless you are travelling AC class. Furthermore, it's not always amusing to have to get down from that upper berth if you want to go to toilet, which is in a feat in itself. Getting down from the upper berth that is.
And if you are taller than the average person and sleep on UB, your feet will manage to kiss a few passerby's hair in the alley.

Thanks Osgeek!

It helps to get these different perspective on overnight train journeys.

How do you feel after an overnight train journey? Do most of you feel well rested? It's a great way to save time and cash, but I'd rather avoid it where I can.

Never slept so good as on them trains. Seriously. Little cramped and stuffy sometimes maybe. If the fans don't work it's little fun (sleeper class, don't know about airconditioning deals in the higher classes). (And if they do work, on the upper berths watch your nose )

nb For a layout of all the different carriages, see also this site's excellent The Indiamike train guide.
and pps There are arguably plenty people who hate it.

Cool! Thanks, just downloaded the pdf and there's lots there! Will have to give it a read.

Yep, not expecting to sleep too well either!
Thanks & Take care!

As machadinha told, train journey is very comfortable if you compare it to buses or even long flights as you get to spread legs and have a good sleep. I always look forward to journeys by train. Now a days I feel travelling 3AC is the best option if you can shell out a bit more than general sleeping class. There's less noise as AC coaches are well sealed. Also during day time people without reservation also board the sleeping class and sometimes it is a bit too crowdy. But most middle class people travel by sleeping class so you'd have a better interactive experience there. People in AC classes usually keep to themselves. Also, you can do window-shopping in general sleeping class with platform hawkers which is impossible in fixed AC class windows. Sometimes it helps if you are alone with luggage and don't want to go out to buy something.

Im about to book my ticket Mumbai-Madgoan on konkanrailway.com and there i can choose between Lower-, middle- or upper berth...thus far no problems But i can also choose "Side Lower" or "Side Upper"...Anyone knows what those berths are about?

Side upper and Side lower are as the name suggests, towards one side of a coach, so for each coup there are two side berths, one lower and one upper. Avoid them if possible as they are a bit smaller in size and face the alley i.e. you sit on the Side Lower berth, feet nicely on the ground, facing the alley and many passersby would trample your feet. Not a great place to sit, but ok if you want to just lie down watching the scenery outside.

Thanks osgeek...since the Konkan is a night train i guess i stay away fom the "side" berths...