Weird Rules of Indian Railways

Under the general conditions of the Reservation Rules it is stated that “When berths are reserved for passengers, the intention is to provide sleeping accommodation between 9 PM to 6 AM. During 6 AM to 9 PM, the passengers concerned, if required make room for other passengers in compartment up to its carrying capacity.” Are the passengers traveling long distances not expected to sleep during the afternoons?

Railways have also formed a typical reservation rule. Under the General conditions of the Reservation Rules, it is stated that “The Railway Administration will endeavour to provide reserved accommodation but does not guarantee the same and will admit no claim for compensation for inconvenience, loss or extra expense due to such accommodation including carriages, not being provided or reserved carriage not been attached to a particular train. The supply of any particular type of carriage or the provision of a particular berth and seat is also not guaranteed.” It is surprising the a Govt. of India establishment can take such a non-committal stand and fail to guarantee the reserved accommodation for which it collects money from the intending passengers.

Hmm... the second one is a bit like software companies who say that their software is not guaranteed to do what you expect, what the salesman said it would, or, in fact, anything --- just a get-out clause.

The first one is not unreasonable at all. Passengers can always agree to an afternoon nap, but you should not be ousted from sitting on the lower berth because that person, or the middle person, wants a nap. In the day it is a seat, for two to three people (AC classes) in the night only it is a berth. Get an upper berth and you have the best of both worlds: nap whenever you want to.

I think you will find this rule is standard worldwide in airlines and trains (and probably other forms of transport). It is an ultimate protection for the company - one which I have never seen exercised .... would not do much for customer relations if you had book 1AC and train turn up with only second sitting and they insisted you traveled on it or stayed away with no refund !

Generally with airlines if they overbook or cancel flights you will be put on next one , provided hotel etc etc .... legally they dont have to do any of that. .... imagine the reputation if they didnt though !

Again in airline non guarantee status on tickets gives them option to cancel /combine flights --- if only a few passagers book ... with IR if only a couple of bearths were sold in 1AC and they had a hundred on WL in another class they could change carriages (if for some reason they couldnt or didnt want to pull both). Off course with trains less likely to cancel overbook etc then with airlines.

If you are on lower berth and a reasonable person from upper berth wanted to sit and u nap then then presumably he/she would let you nap in their upper one.

Yes, unless he or other passengers have piled it with luggage!

Very often one finds one's fellow train passengers to be considerate and flexible. If, occasionally, they are not --- well, that's only typical of life!

Very true Nick, infact IMO, we are at our social best when traveling by trains.

Thanks Nick. It is not unreasonable to the extent that your co-passenger with a reservation should not be ousted either from l/b or even m/b. I have travelling experience for 23 years(that is more than half of my age) that too on long hauls including two nights and more than a day of travel. I know for sure that it is a convention that people do take a nap after meals in the afternoon. No objectins are raised when someone wants to sleep in the afternoon because everyone goes to sleep at this time. But the problem arises when short-distance travellers board the train without reservations. They dare to quote this rule to their advantage. I remember a couple of years back our Railway Minister attempted to convert the reserved coaches to provide seating accomodation during daytime for ordinary travellers and provide berth only during the nights. But this did not get passed as there were wide opposition.

I think Indian Railways need to understand and acknowledge the need for long distance passengers to rest during day time. If this is not the case then there would been provision for booking only the seats sans berth even in the sleeper coaches. But that is not the case. This rule is kept vague and open so that Railways can accommodate more passengers during day time and increase their revenue.

Any Passenger without confirmed(or RAC) reservation is not supposed to be in a reserved compartment at any time of the day or night. I think that is the rule.

It is violated(in the sleeper(SL non AC))coaches with impunity.

So its not the rule which is at fault but the lack of its enforcement.

You are absolutely right. But the Rules should also be formed in such a manner to preserve the privileges of the bonafide travellers.

Yes, I see your point, nagarajan. This is not something I have experienced. I'm not very fond of long distances on the train and so haven't experienced this myself.

I suppose it is possible that persons with valid bookings between intermediate stations could cause a problem?

This never happens in 1AC/2AC coaches, I don't know why people like traveling in sleepers, the only good thing about a SL is the train sound which I like

hmm...well the diversity and smells of India that one experiences in the SL class are diffcult to get in the AC coaches. Especially on a long haul train like the Karnataka Express, which runs all the way from Bangalore to Delhi, criss crossing almost the entire of middle India.

It's really wonderful to feel & see the air, soil, people & food change every 100 km or so, which again one would not be able to notice from the darkened windows of a AC coach.

I do agree that travelling in a SL coach has its own drawbacks, but then again, as the saying goes - "No pain, no gain"

I think the darkness of AC windows is overstated... at least it has been on my journeys.

I don't think so: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWpj3TAH-ew - the new rajdhani coaches have tint-free glass (I guess). I know it's pricey but like I always say 'pacis est ultra ullus pretium'

It's the same old problem, how to get more money per carriage?

Most of the popular trains run with the maximum number of carriages, so adding extra carriages isn't an option.

So do you increase the number of berths in a carriage or increase the fare?

We tourists wouldn't mind if the fares were increased, but what about locals who would find the increased fares harder to afford?

If we want more comfort, we travel in a higher class.

I completely agree about the non air con 2-tier class, it would be a fantastic way to travel, however, the fares would need to be the same as 2-tier air con, and the railways will likely think that this class wouldn't be viable.

I think it depends on the age of the carriage, I've seen newer carriages with extremely clear windows, but Indian travellers just close the curtains, so we can't win.