Not everyone is familiar with the various facilities available to senior citizens when travelling by train. Here are three of the best amenities that senior citizens can easily access during their journeys.
Indian Railways offers a range of facilities for its passengers, with different amenities available for each class. Senior citizens benefit from special concessions designed to enhance their travel experience.
Men aged 60 and above, and women aged 58 and above, can take advantage of special railway facilities designed for senior citizens. However, many remain unaware of the various amenities available to them during train travel. Here, we explore some of the most significant facilities in this collection.
Apart from a few specific trains, Indian Railways typically offers two types of coaches: reserved and unreserved. Additionally, there are three categories of berths, lower, middle, and upper. To ensure the comfort of elderly passengers, the Railways prioritises the allotment of lower berths for them during reservations. Female passengers aged 45 and above also receive this priority. Lower berths are automatically allocated at the time of booking.
This facility is designed to ensure that senior citizens secure seating. If they do not receive a lower berth at the time of reservation, they can approach the Ticket Checking Staff (TTE) during their journey to inquire about any vacant lower berths. According to railway regulations, if a lower berth becomes available after the train departs, senior citizens with middle or upper berths can request the TTE to assign it to them. After completing the necessary procedures, the TTE will allocate the lower berth.
Certain berths are specifically reserved for senior citizens on all Indian Railways trains that have reserved coaches. According to regulations, six lower berths are allocated for sleeper coaches, while three lower berths are reserved for senior citizens in both 3-tier AC and 2-tier AC coaches. Additionally, women aged over 45 and pregnant women are also eligible for these seats. In fully air-conditioned trains like the Rajdhani Express and Duronto Express, a greater number of berths are reserved for senior citizens compared to regular express trains.
Local trains in cities like Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata enjoy immense popularity. In Mumbai, both Central and Western Railways operate these local trains, where specific seats are reserved for senior citizens in both zones. In many of these trains, seats designated for senior citizens are also reserved for women. Additionally, major railway stations across the country offer facilities such as wheelchairs and porters for senior citizens, although a fee must be paid for the porter service.