New 3AC 'Middle Berth' layout and booking.

GeorgiaJessica · Nov 1st, 2009, 16:36

Hello,

Am in the process of booking train travel in January, 2010 for myself and my mother and many of the trains only allow 3AC bookings.

We were initially hoping to garner the 'Side Upper' and 'Side Lower' berths to ourselves to have a situation something like 2AC, however we've just learnt from this site that India Rail have now implemented 'Side Middle' Berths which sound rather cramped.
(I should note, my Mum has a preference for sleeping in line with the train, which is why all our queries relate to side berths...)

As such, we have a few queries:

- If we make a booking for Side Upper, Side Middle and Side Lower does this mean that we can assure ourselves that we'll have the whole Side berths?

- How would we actually go about doing this since it seems that the rail booking website has not yet been upgraded to allow you to express preferences for Side Middle berths?

- Where does the holder of the Middle Berth ticket sit during the day?

- And do the side berths still have a window or does the Side Middle berth obscure it?

Thanks in advance!

GeorgiaJessica

Nick-H · Nov 1st, 2009, 17:27

Last thing I heard was that the side middle berths had been scrapped!

Search this site: there is not much about Indian trains that has not been written here already!

arunganpath · Nov 2nd, 2009, 00:12

Yes.. Nick is right on both points.. SMB's have been scrapped and to quote Dilliwala, Indiamike is a upanishad - you get everything and everything has been discussed already.

GeorgiaJessica · Nov 2nd, 2009, 07:38

Oh fantastic - means we can go with our original idea of booking the Side Upper and Lowers for ourselves.

Thanks for your replies!

arunganpath · Nov 3rd, 2009, 13:44

Book early to get your preferred berths...

ganeshs_16 · Nov 3rd, 2009, 15:42

No. It's not completely gone. There is a new class of coaches called 3AC-ECONOMY. They still have these berths.
If you book in class '3AC' you won't have the problem.

arunganpath · Nov 3rd, 2009, 17:01

Ganesh, is this 3AC - Economy only in Duronto or in other trains also - can you give the train nos where 3AC economy is available (other than Duronto)

ganeshs_16 · Nov 3rd, 2009, 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunganpath

Ganesh, is this 3AC - Economy only in Duronto or in other trains also - can you give the train nos where 3AC economy is available (other than Duronto)

Only a railway official may be able to answer that.
The statement from ministry did not say that 3AC-ECONOMY will be confined to duronto expresses. For that matter, i don't know if 3AC-ECONOMY exists in duronto, as i know for sure that the duronto from pune to delhi does not have it.

ganeshs_16 · Nov 3rd, 2009, 17:28

Also, on a related note, may be of concern to the original poster, in many trains, although the side middle is gone, the side upper is still intact in the same awkward position, just a few inches below the ceiling, leaving no space for one to raise the head or even turn around. I'm hoping this shall soon be gone.

Nov 1st, 2009, 16:36	#1
GeorgiaJessica Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 2	New 3AC 'Middle Berth' layout and booking. Hello, Am in the process of booking train travel in January, 2010 for myself and my mother and many of the trains only allow 3AC bookings. We were initially hoping to garner the 'Side Upper' and 'Side Lower' berths to ourselves to have a situation something like 2AC, however we've just learnt from this site that India Rail have now implemented 'Side Middle' Berths which sound rather cramped. (I should note, my Mum has a preference for sleeping in line with the train, which is why all our queries relate to side berths...) As such, we have a few queries: - If we make a booking for Side Upper, Side Middle and Side Lower does this mean that we can assure ourselves that we'll have the whole Side berths? - How would we actually go about doing this since it seems that the rail booking website has not yet been upgraded to allow you to express preferences for Side Middle berths? - Where does the holder of the Middle Berth ticket sit during the day? - And do the side berths still have a window or does the Side Middle berth obscure it? Thanks in advance! GeorgiaJessica

Nov 2nd, 2009, 07:38	#4
GeorgiaJessica Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 2	Thank you! Oh fantastic - means we can go with our original idea of booking the Side Upper and Lowers for ourselves. Thanks for your replies!

Nov 3rd, 2009, 15:42	#6
ganeshs_16 East Indian Sooth Sayer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pune Posts: 112	No. It's not completely gone. There is a new class of coaches called 3AC-ECONOMY. They still have these berths. If you book in class '3AC' you won't have the problem. __________________ My Travel Blog

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Nov 1st, 2009, 17:27	#2
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,209	Last thing I heard was that the side middle berths had been scrapped! Search this site: there is not much about Indian trains that has not been written here already!

Nov 2nd, 2009, 00:12	#3
arunganpath Junior most member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 749	Yes.. Nick is right on both points.. SMB's have been scrapped and to quote Dilliwala, Indiamike is a upanishad - you get everything and everything has been discussed already.

Nov 3rd, 2009, 13:44	#5
arunganpath Junior most member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 749	Book early to get your preferred berths...

Nov 3rd, 2009, 17:01	#7
arunganpath Junior most member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 749	Ganesh, is this 3AC - Economy only in Duronto or in other trains also - can you give the train nos where 3AC economy is available (other than Duronto)

Nov 3rd, 2009, 17:28	#9
ganeshs_16 East Indian Sooth Sayer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pune Posts: 112	Also, on a related note, may be of concern to the original poster, in many trains, although the side middle is gone, the side upper is still intact in the same awkward position, just a few inches below the ceiling, leaving no space for one to raise the head or even turn around. I'm hoping this shall soon be gone.