side middle birth, how to find prior to booking

Anita M.

Indian Railways, hats off for it does a lot of good to a lot but the SMB has been an exception. While I heard that it has been taken off, I also hear that it is still around in a few trains. Some said only short distance then I don't understand how come Guwahati - Bangalore has SMB (at least, I saw) and that, I guess is one of the longest journey trains in the world...

1. cutting to the point, how do I confirm if a train has SMBs before making the purchase?

2. or does anyone know if the following two trains have SMBs in 3 AC or Sleeper.

It is so important not to get booked at the side seats which are otherwise my favourite. We are girls and but a odd nut in between will make the entire journey a horrible experience.

Trains in question are:

Chalukya Express, 3 AC and Sleeper

Bombay - Nagarcoil Express, Via Bangalore, Sleeper

gaurav1441

Chalukya had Side Middle Berths the last time I travelled in Feb this year.Howeevr you can have a workaround there is an option while booking to enforce atleast one lower berth. If you select that option your ticket would have atleast lower berth and rest would also likely be in the same set of sleepers.

Indizen

When asked for choice of berth specify lower berth, or whatever.
Then tick off the option below which says, book my ticket if at least 2 lower berths are allotted.
That way, the side berths, etc, are eliminated.

obione980

Personally, I had no say in it!!

Berth perhaps!

Jay_J

had heard of natural, ceasarian... but side middle BIRTHS..!!!!

Now now... THAT'S a new one

Sorry.. had to answer that and absolutely no help to the original query too

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palerider

Are they still in trains?. I thought they were being phased out.
Does this mean I can't travel in trains in my favourite berth?. The lower side berth, or even the upper side?.

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I always wanted to be someone when I grew up, I realise now that I should have been more specific.

vsp27759

Dear Indizen,

Then tick off the option below which says, book my ticket if at least 2 lower berths are allotted.

##The above option would NOT work, and the booking would NOT take place if LBs get exhausted by that time.

##Much still better is, to ascertain the availability before start filling-up the Columns.

Anita M.

thank u all for the points. I clearly understand now how to avoid SMB and sorry for the spelling mistake. this proves that being native English speaker need not be always right :-)

Coming to the other side of the story, i'm travelling with another friend and we want two side seats with no one in between and therefore, I want to make sure that there is no side berths, irrespective of the fact that I can choose not to sit there. The point here is, we don't want a stranger to be sitting in that spot which is actually for two people...

vsp27759

Dear Anita,

i'm travelling with another friend and we want two side seats with no one in between

##Perhaps, you may consider reserving SIDE LOWER & SIDE UPPER in 2AC!!!!

gaurav1441

Well a first AC Coupe would suit much better..!!
Well Otherwise there is no gurantee of side berths..!!

Anita M.

thanks, that is a workaround, thanks. Budget could be a little problem but I guess if that gets privacy, good enough. that menas, I cannot find out if a train has Side Middle Berths or not before making the purchase, right?

vsp27759

Dear Anita,

Trains in question are:
Chalukya Express, 3 AC and Sleeper
Bombay-Nagarcoil Express, Via Bangalore, Sleeper

##In all probability, in 1018 YPR-DR Chalukya, you might not find SMBs.

##I am a little bit doubtful about 6339 CSTM-NCJ Express.

phgupta1

If you remember, Lalu in his rail budget in Feb'09 has clearly stated that SMBs are taken out.As per my knowledge, they have been phased-out and if some bogies have them [Government servents slow to respond and very slow in the work.]they are not alloted.Can somebody give me a proof that SMBs were alloted after 01 April09.Well, for TIME PASS you can discuss whatever you want to but please keep track of the things.May be people sitting abroad asking for some directions but locals stretching it bit to far.

palerider

Thanks Mr Gupta, This is indeed my concern. I really need to know if I can travel by train in Sleeper, without the horror of SMBs.
They really would make me very reluctant to travel on trains.
Even if I wasn't in one, We would have to accommodate the extra person.
One of the worst decisions on Indian Rail I reckon.

Anita M.

Everyone! A big thank you from someone who is new to India! First of all, Gupta is right, both the trains did not have Side Middle Berth, but the reason why I asked was, there was a delay in taking off the SMBs and rumors said that short distance trains did have. Anyway, it wasn't there in the AC and the SL class coach, PERIOD.

A summary. The third AC ride in Chalukya was superb, much better than my expectations. Neatness and people, both were great, and so was the carriage. Plug points, very neat see through glass and what a journey it was from some station to Londa, near Goa. Beautiful!!

Return leg was in the SL class, thoroughly enjoyed but a little disappointed by the passengers as they didn't seem to very hygiene conscious, littering right where they were sitting. People are good no doubt, but 3AC is way better.

The icing on the cake is, the trains run pretty much on time, contrary to what I was told. 15 - 20 minutes delay is bearable. (That too after, one engine failure!!)