Archive · 31 Oct 2025
Indian Railways Updates Lower Berth Reservation Rules for 2025
Indian Railways has new rules for 2025 to make booking tickets easier.
You can now choose a lower berth when booking online, but it's not guaranteed if none are available.
Older people, women over 45, and pregnant women can get lower berths automatically if there's space.
Train staff can also give empty lower berths to seniors who got upper berths.
In trains, you can sleep from 10 PM to 6 AM in your berth.
During the day, from 6 AM to 10 PM, everyone shares the seats.
If you have a side lower berth ticket, you share that seat for sitting with the person in the side upper berth during the day.
Indian Railways has updated lower berth reservation rules for 2025.
The Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for reserved tickets has been reduced to 60 days.
Lower berths are automatically allocated to senior citizens, women over 45, and pregnant women if available.
Train ticket checking staff can allot vacant lower berths to senior citizens who were initially assigned middle or upper berths.
Sleeping is permitted from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM in reserved coaches, with daytime seating arrangements for RAC and side upper berth passengers.
- Who
- Indian Railways
- What
- Updated rules for lower berth reservation, including automatic allotment for certain passengers and sleeping/seating time regulations.
- When
- Rules applicable for 2025.
- Where
- Indian Railways network.
- Why
- To simplify the ticket booking process and make it more passenger-friendly.
- Advance Reservation Period (ARP)
- Reduced from 120 days to 60 days (excluding journey date)
- Lower Berth Preference Option
- Available during online booking, but allotment subject to availability
- Automatic Lower Berth Allotment
- For senior citizens, females over 45, and pregnant women, subject to availability
- Ticket Checking Staff Authority
- Can allot vacant lower berths to senior citizens with middle/upper berths
- Sleeping Accommodation
- 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM in reserved coaches
- Seating Accommodation
- Available outside sleeping hours (6:00 AM to 10:00 PM)
- Side Lower Berth (RAC)
- Shared for sitting during the day with side upper berth occupant