Indian Railways has introduced several steps to make ticket booking easier and more comfortable for passengers. Still, many travellers face problems while trying to get a lower berth during online booking.
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Book TrainsTo help with this, here are the latest rules and guidelines for lower berth reservations in 2025:
1. Lower Berth Automatic Allotment Criteria
Senior citizens, women aged 45 years and above, and pregnant women are given automatic lower berths if they are available at the time of booking.
2. Seat Allotment During Journey for Senior Citizens
If any lower berth gets vacant during the train journey, the ticket checking staff can reassign it to senior citizens who couldn’t get one during booking.
3. Choosing Lower Berth While Booking
While booking online, passengers can choose the “lower berth only” option. If a lower berth isn’t available, the ticket won’t be booked.
4. Sleeping and Seating Rules
Passengers can use the lower berth for sleeping only between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. During the rest of the day, it should be kept free for sitting.
5. Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) for Side Lower Berths
In RAC cases, the passenger with a side lower berth and the one with a side upper berth can share the seat during the day. But at night (10:00 PM to 6:00 AM), only the lower berth passenger can use it for sleeping.
