Indian Railways middle berth rules: What to avoid, when to use it; check key guidelines here

A recent advisory shared by Southern Railway stated that the middle berth is meant strictly for night-time use and must remain folded during the day to ensure comfortable seating for all passengers.

Written by FE News Desk

Updated: March 29, 2026 14:21 IST

These rules become important for a smoother travel experience, especially in coaches where multiple passengers share limited space. (Image is AI-generated)

Indian Railways has laid down clear guidelines for the use of middle berths in reserved coaches, aimed at ensuring convenience and fair space sharing among passengers during journeys.

A recent advisory shared by Southern Railway stated that the middle berth is meant strictly for night-time use and must remain folded during the day to ensure comfortable seating for all passengers. These norms are in line with Railway guidelines which define fixed sleeping and seating hours in reserved compartments.

These rules become important for a smoother travel experience, especially in coaches where multiple passengers share limited space.

When can passengers use the middle berth?

As per the Indian Railways norms, the middle berth can be utilised for sleeping only between 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. This has been reiterated in the Southern Railway advisory and is also backed by the Railway Board Commercial circular No.60 of 2017, as cited by The Indian Express.

What are the seating rules during the day?

The daytime seating accommodation is meant for passengers across lower, middle and upper berths. Keeping the middle berth open during the day is not allowed if it obstructs seating.

The folding of the middle berth during the day is essential to maintain comfort for all passengers.

What happens in case of a dispute?

In case of disagreements over the berth usage or timing, the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) has the authority to enforce the rules, as per Railway Board norms.

Railways have also advised passengers to be considerate in special situations. As per the same guidelines, co-passengers should cooperate with the sick, pregnant women, or elderly travellers if they require additional rest.

Overall, the middle berth rules are designed to balance sleeping comfort at night with seating convenience during the day.

This article was first uploaded on March twenty-nine, twenty twenty-six, at seventeen minutes past two in the afternoon.