Side Middle berths

dipydoo · Nov 12th, 2008, 15:57

Recently saw some trains with the Side Middle berths installed. I looked at that thing for at least a few minutes but could not figure out how one is supposed to climb on to it.The seating for these berths is along with the normal berth passengers, making the travel of those people also miserable.

Am trying to reproduce the new seating arrangement here
-----------------------------------------------------
1 4 |10 13 |
2 5 |11 14 |
3 6,8 |12 15,17 |
----Passage------------
7,8,9 |16,17,18 |
------------------------------------------------------
(Berths 8, 17, 26 etc being the side middle ones)

For all those booking tickets here is a caveat - Avoid these berths at any cost. These berths are Indian Railway's latest attempt at torture.

(But the ingenuity of the designer needs to be appreciated, the berth nuzzles under the Side Upper berth during the day, then comes down and flips 180 degrees to form the berth. Was not carrying my camera, so no pictures yet)

wabat · Nov 12th, 2008, 15:59

Thanks for warning .....

Swapnil · Nov 12th, 2008, 16:15

Thanks for the info....in how many trains these berth are installed till now ?(I was knowing about Garib Rath only) & in which class they installing it ? Is there any way to know while booking ticket whether train/coach will be having these type of berths or not ?

dipydoo · Nov 12th, 2008, 16:22

A link that has good photos of the berth in question.

http://www.irfca.org/gallery/Carriag..._middle_berth/

(Swapnil - no idea, but i guess this is going to be on all trains)

Gametotravel · Nov 12th, 2008, 18:53

It is there in Coramandal Express too. One of the three has to sit on the cubile lower birth seats; making the other two in the side births very comfortable while sitting.

shahronakm · Nov 12th, 2008, 19:16

It's very uncomfortable during day journeys, where is the middle berth passenger suppose to sit ? I think on one of the main berths causing uncomfort to the other three passengers.

Ronak.

Gametotravel · Nov 12th, 2008, 19:50

Thereby making the other side birthers quite comfortable and therefore the seats to covet!

steven_ber · Nov 13th, 2008, 02:45

We could do with a list of trains that have side middle berths, it may be a good idea to add the class as well, Indian Railways are planning side middle berths for Sleeper Class and 3-tier air con.

The only ones I'm aware of are.

ALL Garib Rath trains (3A, but these trains only charge about 65% of the normal 3A fares, they also have high capacity air co chair cars, carrying something like 90-100 passengers per carriage)

Chennai-Howrah (Kolkata) mail also has side middle berths in Sleeper Class.

That's the only trains I'm aware of.

Swapnil · Nov 13th, 2008, 05:10

yes Steve that's a great idea ...having list of trains & class that have side middle berths installed will certainly prove useful while booking tickets online... I generally prefer side lower berth while traveling(great window advantage) ...but with side middle berth there ..it's complete no-no.... I'll certainly like to avoid that.

dipydoo · Nov 13th, 2008, 11:14

Here are two more that I saw...
6629/6630 - Trivandrum - Mangalore Malabar Express (3A, SL)
6603/6604 - Trivandrum - Mangalore Maveli Express (3A, SL)

mobilerug · Nov 13th, 2008, 11:40

Howrah-Puri Express also had SM berths in sleeper class

vsp27759 · Nov 13th, 2008, 11:58

Dear Steven,

There are number of trains which have got SMBs:

i) only in SL

ii) only in 3A

iii) both in SL and 3A.

##The GRs are born with SMBs and their total capacity is in the range of 75/78/81/84.

##As of now only in very few trains the SMBs have been fed into the PRS, but in majority of the trains they are YET to be fed into PRS.

##With the result, the SMBs are now being offered only to those in RAC/WL wherever they are YET to be fed into the PRS; if they have been already fed into the PRS, they will come as a direct allotment.

##By default, let the IMers opt for only LB/MB/UB, if they want to avoid SMBs.

##Honestly speaking, the main sufferer is the one who gets SUB, in the presence of SMB, but definitely NOT the one who occupies either the SLB or SMB. Ofcourse, this is my personal view based on my travel experience.

Gametotravel · Nov 13th, 2008, 12:44

I concur with VSP on his last point and also would like to add that SLB and SMB can be viewed in favourable light in this situation.

mobilerug · Nov 13th, 2008, 16:12

IRCTC have not yet upgraded their site. So while booking online, they still have SUB & SLB in the choice list.

hi_akhil · Nov 16th, 2008, 21:43

I have just came back from dharamshala to delhi.

The train 4035 and 4036- Dhauladhar express have side middle berths and i was one of the victim !

Nov 12th, 2008, 15:57	#1
dipydoo A-sitting-on-a-gate Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: India Posts: 225	Side Middle berths Recently saw some trains with the Side Middle berths installed. I looked at that thing for at least a few minutes but could not figure out how one is supposed to climb on to it.The seating for these berths is along with the normal berth passengers, making the travel of those people also miserable. Am trying to reproduce the new seating arrangement here ----------------------------------------------------- 1 4 \|10 13 \| 2 5 \|11 14 \| 3 6,8 \|12 15,17 \| ----Passage------------ 7,8,9 \|16,17,18 \| ------------------------------------------------------ (Berths 8, 17, 26 etc being the side middle ones) For all those booking tickets here is a caveat - Avoid these berths at any cost. These berths are Indian Railway's latest attempt at torture. (But the ingenuity of the designer needs to be appreciated, the berth nuzzles under the Side Upper berth during the day, then comes down and flips 180 degrees to form the berth. Was not carrying my camera, so no pictures yet)

Nov 12th, 2008, 19:16	#6
shahronakm Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 1,851	It's very uncomfortable during day journeys, where is the middle berth passenger suppose to sit ? I think on one of the main berths causing uncomfort to the other three passengers. Ronak. __________________ My Picture Gallery

Nov 13th, 2008, 02:45	#8
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,565	We could do with a list of trains that have side middle berths, it may be a good idea to add the class as well, Indian Railways are planning side middle berths for Sleeper Class and 3-tier air con. The only ones I'm aware of are. ALL Garib Rath trains (3A, but these trains only charge about 65% of the normal 3A fares, they also have high capacity air co chair cars, carrying something like 90-100 passengers per carriage) Chennai-Howrah (Kolkata) mail also has side middle berths in Sleeper Class. That's the only trains I'm aware of. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

Nov 13th, 2008, 11:40	#11
mobilerug Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kolkata Posts: 137	Howrah-Puri Express also had SM berths in sleeper class __________________ - Manab My Travel Photos

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Nov 12th, 2008, 15:59	#2
wabat Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canberra Australia Posts: 270	Thanks for warning .....

Nov 12th, 2008, 16:15	#3
Swapnil Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pune ,Maharashtra , INDIA Posts: 1,258	Thanks for the info....in how many trains these berth are installed till now ?(I was knowing about Garib Rath only) & in which class they installing it ? Is there any way to know while booking ticket whether train/coach will be having these type of berths or not ?

Nov 12th, 2008, 16:22	#4
dipydoo A-sitting-on-a-gate Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: India Posts: 225	A link that has good photos of the berth in question. http://www.irfca.org/gallery/Carriag..._middle_berth/ (Swapnil - no idea, but i guess this is going to be on all trains)

Nov 12th, 2008, 18:53	#5
Gametotravel Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 757	It is there in Coramandal Express too. One of the three has to sit on the cubile lower birth seats; making the other two in the side births very comfortable while sitting.

Nov 12th, 2008, 19:50	#7
Gametotravel Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 757	Thereby making the other side birthers quite comfortable and therefore the seats to covet!

Nov 13th, 2008, 05:10	#9
Swapnil Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pune ,Maharashtra , INDIA Posts: 1,258	yes Steve that's a great idea ...having list of trains & class that have side middle berths installed will certainly prove useful while booking tickets online... I generally prefer side lower berth while traveling(great window advantage) ...but with side middle berth there ..it's complete no-no.... I'll certainly like to avoid that.

Nov 13th, 2008, 11:14	#10
dipydoo A-sitting-on-a-gate Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: India Posts: 225	Here are two more that I saw... 6629/6630 - Trivandrum - Mangalore Malabar Express (3A, SL) 6603/6604 - Trivandrum - Mangalore Maveli Express (3A, SL)

Nov 13th, 2008, 11:58	#12
vsp27759 V.SRINIVASA PRASAD Join Date: May 2005 Location: HYDERABAD Posts: 2,724	Dear Steven, There are number of trains which have got SMBs: i) only in SL ii) only in 3A iii) both in SL and 3A. ##The GRs are born with SMBs and their total capacity is in the range of 75/78/81/84. ##As of now only in very few trains the SMBs have been fed into the PRS, but in majority of the trains they are YET to be fed into PRS. ##With the result, the SMBs are now being offered only to those in RAC/WL wherever they are YET to be fed into the PRS; if they have been already fed into the PRS, they will come as a direct allotment. ##By default, let the IMers opt for only LB/MB/UB, if they want to avoid SMBs. ##Honestly speaking, the main sufferer is the one who gets SUB, in the presence of SMB, but definitely NOT the one who occupies either the SLB or SMB. Ofcourse, this is my personal view based on my travel experience.

Nov 13th, 2008, 12:44	#13
Gametotravel Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 757	I concur with VSP on his last point and also would like to add that SLB and SMB can be viewed in favourable light in this situation.

Nov 13th, 2008, 16:12	#14
mobilerug Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kolkata Posts: 137	IRCTC have not yet upgraded their site. So while booking online, they still have SUB & SLB in the choice list.

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Nov 16th, 2008, 21:43	#15
hi_akhil Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 14	I have just came back from dharamshala to delhi. The train 4035 and 4036- Dhauladhar express have side middle berths and i was one of the victim !