Archive · 30 Nov 2025
Southern Railway Introduces On-Demand Sleep Essentials
The Southern Railway in Chennai is starting a new service for passengers in non-AC sleeper coaches.
From January 1, 2026, passengers can rent pillows and bedsheets for a small fee.
This service will be available on 10 trains for three years.
The railway will handle everything, from cleaning to distributing the bedrolls.
Passengers can pay ₹30 for a pillow, ₹20 for a bedsheet, or ₹50 for both.
This is a new way to make train travel more comfortable and clean.
The idea came from a successful trial project that passengers liked a lot.
Southern Railway's Chennai Division will offer on-demand pillows and bedsheets for non-AC sleeper class passengers starting January 1, 2026.
The service will be available on 10 express trains for a period of three years.
Passengers can rent a pillow for ₹30, a bedsheet for ₹20, or both for ₹50.
The entire process, including procurement, washing, packing, and distribution, will be managed by the railway.
This initiative follows a successful pilot project under the New Innovative Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme (NINFRIS) during 2023-24.
- Who
- Southern Railway, Chennai Division
- What
- Introduction of on-demand pillow and bedsheet rental service for non-AC sleeper class passengers
- When
- Starting from 1 January 2026
- Where
- Chennai Division, Southern Railway
- Why
- To enhance comfort and hygiene for Sleeper Class passengers and address the lack of organized provision of bedrolls
- Start Date
- 1 January 2026
- Initial Duration
- 3 years
- Number of Trains
- 10
- Pillow Rental Cost
- ₹30
- Bed Sheet Rental Cost
- ₹20
- Combined Rental Cost
- ₹50
- Annual License Fee
- ₹28.27 lakh