Archive · 10 Nov 2025
Indian Railways Passengers Questioning Ticketless Travel on Short Journeys
Imagine you have a special seat on a train that you paid for.
Some people get on the train for a very short ride and ask you if they can sit in your special seat, even though there are other places on the train for people who are only going a little way.
This makes the person who paid for the special seat feel annoyed because it's not fair.
Some people think this happens a lot in India because everyone thinks they can get away with things.
Others say sometimes tickets for short rides are hard to get, but it's still not right to take someone else's reserved seat.
It's like cutting in line for a very short time; it's still cutting in line.
The railway has rules against this, but some people feel the rules aren't always followed, especially in certain areas.
This makes others frustrated because they follow the rules and pay for their tickets.
A passenger shared frustration over others occupying reserved seats for short train journeys without tickets.
The behavior is often characterized by an 'entitled attitude' and requests to 'shift a little'.
Fellow commuters echoed similar experiences, attributing the issue to a common Indian mentality of 'sab chalta hai' (everything goes).
Some users suggested that lack of reserved ticket availability for short distances could be a factor, but not an excuse for occupying reserved coaches.
The original poster noted that ticket checks seemed less frequent once trains entered Bihar, questioning the enforcement.
- Who
- Indian Railways passengers
- What
- Questioning and discussing the issue of passengers traveling without tickets for short distances and occupying reserved coaches.
- When
- Recent discussions sparked by a passenger's Reddit post.
- Where
- Primarily within Indian Railways trains, with specific mention of Bihar.
- Why
- Passengers avoid buying tickets for short journeys due to perceived convenience, availability issues, or a prevailing mentality that such actions are acceptable.
Passenger Facing Inconvenience
Passengers Traveling Without Tickets
Entitlement and Lack of Consideration
Passenger Facing Inconvenience
Passengers who request to share seats or occupy reserved space for short distances with an 'entitled attitude' are disruptive and disrespectful.
Passengers Traveling Without Tickets
Some passengers may have last-minute plans or face unavailability of reserved tickets for very short journeys, leading them to seek informal arrangements.
Appropriate Use of Coaches
Passenger Facing Inconvenience
Those traveling short distances should utilize the general coach, which is intended for such travel, rather than encroaching on reserved seating.
Passengers Traveling Without Tickets
While not ideal, some passengers might justify their actions due to lack of space in general compartments or the convenience of already being on the train.
Enforcement and Systemic Issues
Passenger Facing Inconvenience
The prevalence of ticketless travel, especially in certain regions like Bihar, suggests a lack of consistent ticket checking and enforcement by railway staff.
Passengers Traveling Without Tickets
The general mentality of 'ye India hai, yaha sab chalta hai' (this is India, everything goes) contributes to the normalization of such behavior.
- Offence
- Ticketless travel is a punishable offense under Indian Railways rules.
- Penalties
- Fines and possible imprisonment for offenders.
- Passenger Complaint
- Frustration over passengers asking to share seats for short distances in reserved coaches.
- User Sentiment
- Many commuters shared similar experiences and attributed the behavior to a common Indian mentality.
- Specific Region Mentioned
- Bihar, with claims of reduced ticket checks once trains enter the state.