Sleeper Class details & photos.

That's true that these cases of theft are not rampant in all trains. Also trains other than the mail trains and a few others like Statabdi do not have IRCTC caterers. So one has only choice of local vendors.
So its best to use discretion when you are buying food from local vendors. There are thousands of local vendors and only a few are fake.
These local vendors sell a wide and amazing variety of stuff at an excellent price.
The idea is to be safe esp in the regions of UP/Bihar/MP/WB where such cases have been reported.

For information - seems they are adding a middle berth on the side so instead of two berths there are three, a bit to neat to be comfortable came across this on a few of our train journeys this november and december in 3 AC.
Maybe steven ber knows more about this.
quiet and peacefull sleeping!

The railway minister has (last week) asked the railways to remove all side middle berths as soon as possible.

That's kind of crazy after all the hullabaloo and effort of introducing them, Steve. Do you have any more on the rationale behind it? That they're not really comfy one presumes, duh?

Endless customer complains, staff complaints as well.

The Indian Railway computer never got to grips with the new seating arrangement, so the train staff had no end of problems.

For Sleeper Class and 3-tier air con, the following is the seating arrangement.

1 = Lower
2 = Middle
3 = Upper
4 = Lower
5 = Middle
6 = Upper
7 = Side Lower
8 = Side Upper

So 16 = Side Upper
25 = Lower

With the side middle berths the numbering changed.

7 = Side Lower
8 = Side Middle
9 = Side Upper

So 16 then meant a Side Lower, and 25 meant a Side Lower, but the Indian Railways computer was still giving out reservations for nthe old layout, and the problems this causes are never ending.

The train staff were having to rearange the passengers in every carriage.

Amazing.... we went from Delhi to Agra by sleeper and it was amazing!!!!

Sleeper class was an experience not to be missed we loved every bit of the trip.

Sleeper is THE way to see India.
My first trip ever, I went from Mumbai to Bangalore.
The guy who sleeps at the end of the carriage let me stay up all night with him on his little bunk, and we just watched india go by in the half light, and chatted.
He kept the door open and we just watched it all happen.
He made tea periodically.
It was magic.
I didn't realise then how unusual this was.
It was the best introduction to India.
And now, the side middle berths have been "re-assessed".
That really is a load off my mind.

I've just booked a sleeper berth. The overnight trip is not for another three months and I asked for a lower berth but going by the schematic diagram for sleeper class at beginning of this thread I've landed in upper side berth(seat0040).

I realise now I should have clicked the "Book my ticket only if at least one lower berth is alloted" option. That would have avoided the upper berth part of the equation.

But if I cancel and rebook how do I avoid drawing the other short straw(lower side berth)? I cant recall any option on the irtc form allowing me to avoid that option.

thanks

40 would be a lower berth if side middle berths were included (9 in a section...9, 18, 27, 36 then lower, middle, upper, then lower again.)

Does the E-ticket have LB of it, or maybe just lower? (I rarely use E-tickets so I can't remember)

Hi Steven

nothing about berth type on printout - just status/coach num/seat num....if I'm anything side berth it wont be great as I'm almost 6 feet in the old scale...

...I'll fish about see if I can find anything on irtc website that tells me how many berths there are in each block - maybe you're right maybe I'm in a lower one as is but I'd really like to avoid side berths in general...

thanks

its always safe for first timer to have upper berth as its safe. and if you are more than 6 feet also you do not have problem. if you have side berth you have a problem with the length as two side of its covered. and it do not have privacy as its on the path. so more chance of disturbance.

I canceled the ticket I had which I thought put me in a side berth and booked another - this one's seat 046. I dont mind if it's lower or upper as long as it's long..enough...

good. side one is a must no for you. upper os in best of you . any way have a great journey.


cheers

46 is perfect no matter what counting system they use.

The UB is a good option for first timers irrespective of the class. Young women travelers and first timers who are young enough to take a few steps up are better off with the UB. It gives you some space, reprieve from the chai wallahs and neighbors. A few hellos and some polite conversations later one can take a book or in the AC class the laptop and work upstairs. One more condition is that the luggage is fastened securely below and the backpack and shoes are kept above. Beware of places such as Bhusawal where the third sex and shoe thieves abound.
But for seeing the countryside it is not a great option.
I prefer SLB.