Seating / berths on trains....

Have been attempting to book some tickets online and have been presented with different seating option for the 2AC seats I require, there is 'lower', 'upper' and 'side'. With the 'side' option do they mean two single seats that face each other opposite the 4 berth 'cabins'?

Basically I just want to assure that my travel partner and I are sitting by a window and are togther (facing each other obviously). Would I therefore need to choose 2 x side seats/berths or 2 x lower seats/berths?

Thanks for any advice.

Yes, side seats are the two single seats that face each other

There advantages and disadvantages to the side berths.

On the plus - the pair of you can shut the curtains and not be disturbed by the fellow travellers in your section. You may find it easier to sleep "going with" the train rather sleeping side on (particularly when the train jolts to a halt).

On the minus - your head will always be by the gangway, so any luggage smashed in to your bunk will probably wake you. I always felt that the side berths were slightly narrower - maybe someone can confirm this. Try avoid the side berths at each end as these are doubly noisy, especially when the train is at a station.

On balance, we prefered top and bottom in the normal 4 berth section at about mid-carriage (not so cold, as further from a/c vents). I would suggest that you don't go for two lowers, unless you like being stamped on in the middle of the night

I have the same impression that the side berths are a little narrower. But maybe only because the others have one "open end" – room for the feet. ;-)

The lower berths are the window seats (during the day) in the other section.

Measurements in centimetres, and taken from Royston Ellis's excelent book 'India By Rail'.

Side Lower - 186 long, 53 wide
Side Upper - 184 long, 54 wide

Lower Berth - 173 long, 65 wide
Upper Berth - 184 long, 61 wide

If you prefer side berths, try 3-tier air con, the same berths but at a much cheaper price, though you lose out on a curtain.

Thank you for all the information. It is exactly what Ineeded. The train I am trying to book is the Madgaon - Hospet train and I believe this is just a daytime trip so hopefully won't have people clambering over me if I choose the lower berths! They do only put the berths down at night don't they?

Steven, I can't see how the upper and lower births can be different lengths: they are both between the same vertical points, carriage wall and corridor bulkhead.

But the side berths are certainly shorter: I just fit, whereas on a main berth I can put my small bag behind my head.

For a day trip (together with a friend) I would choose the side berths!
So you'll have your private little chill out area. ;-)

2nd sleeper impression:

Fixed armrests if I remember correct, it's been a long time since I used 2A.

Something you will find out - because the bottom side-berth is made of two seat-backs that swing down together to form the berth, there is usually an uncomfortable ridge in the middle. The plus point over the upper berth is that at least you get to look out of the window whenever you want to. Stuck on an upper berth with a heavy sleeper in the lower one is no fun. Also its not always easy to get at your bag under the lower berth until the sleeper awakes - the room seems to be less than the normal berths.

Tim in Ireland

(I was invited by Bradt to write the next edition of Royston's book, but unfortunately they were paying no expenses - would have had to have funded all the travel myself! The book rights have now been sold to another company - I forget the name off hand)

It's been less than a month since I did, but I should know better than to argue with anything you say about trains!

Still, the arm rest would only be a couple of inches, wouldn't it?

The side berths are narrow enough to make me worried about falling out (not that I have done), while the main berths are more than wide enough.

Indeed that gap in the lower sideberth can be a pain in the .. ... ....

I also think side berths are smaller than lower or upper berths. I always take low berth because I can let the suitcase below the berth and if you need to go to the toilet during the nights is easier...

Jorge

I've missed twice the picture

The side lower/upper berths are not very comfortable even if you're not all that tall (I'm 5ft 5 in in height, and I felt somewhat cramped in them).

I think any lower berth is nice because you can look out of the window, though I have friends who claim the upper berth is the best because they can sleep without anyone disturbing them.