Indian Railways revises lower berth reservation rules 2025 with new booking, seating and sleeping norms

In a major step toward simplifying travel and improving passenger convenience, Indian Railways has revised several aspects of its lower berth reservation and booking policies for 2025.

The updates — part of the Railways’ broader digital and service overhaul — aim to make seat allocation more transparent and equitable, especially for senior citizens, women, and those needing extra comfort during long journeys.

Earlier this year, the Railways launched its “RailOne” super app, integrating reserved and unreserved ticket bookings, live train updates, and other passenger services into a single digital platform.

In another significant change, the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for ticket booking has been reduced from 120 days to 60 days, excluding the date of travel — a move designed to bring greater flexibility to travel planning.

Who gets priority for lower berths

Under the computerised reservation system, lower berths are automatically prioritised for:

• Senior citizens
• Women aged 45 years and above
• Pregnant women

However, the allocation remains subject to availability at the time of booking. If a passenger eligible for a lower berth receives an upper or middle berth due to unavailability, the onboard ticket checking staff is authorised to reassign vacant lower berths to such passengers.

Booking lower berths online

Passengers booking tickets online can now choose to proceed only if a lower berth is available. Selecting this option ensures that the booking is confirmed only when the preferred berth type is allotted — preventing unwanted seat allocations like side upper or middle berths.

Despite this feature, many passengers still encounter difficulties securing lower berths due to high demand, especially on popular routes.

Sleeping and seating hours

To maintain comfort and order in reserved compartments, Indian Railways has defined sleeping hours from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. During this period, lower berth occupants have exclusive rights to sleep, while seating arrangements apply to all passengers during daytime hours.

For RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) passengers, the side lower berth continues to be shared for seating during the day. The side upper berth passenger cannot claim use of the lower berth between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, as those hours are designated for the lower berth occupant’s rest.

A more passenger-centric approach

With these refinements, Indian Railways is reaffirming its commitment to making train travel safer, fairer, and more accessible. By integrating technology through the RailOne app and fine-tuning seat allocation rules, the network is aligning comfort with convenience — ensuring every journey is smoother, smarter, and more considerate.