According to Indian Railways, the sleeping hours in reserved coaches are from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Therefore, passengers with middle berths can open their seats and sleep from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
Indian Railways Rules: Indian Railways transports millions of passengers daily. To ensure passenger convenience and a comfortable journey, the Indian Railways periodically enacts various regulations. Travelers often find themselves confused about when they can use the middle berth. Sometimes, arguments and fights arise over the use of the middle berth. Some may want a place to sit at night, while others may want to sleep. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand the rules regarding middle berths in advance. Let’s explore the timings and regulations for using the middle berth on a train, and the railway’s rules regarding this.
What time can you use the middle berth?
According to Indian Railways rules, the sleeping time in reserved coaches is from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Therefore, passengers in the middle berth can open their seats and sleep from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. According to this rule, if a passenger wishes to sleep on the middle berth after 10:00 PM, passengers in the lower berth cannot stop them. This time is considered the official sleeping time, and all passengers must follow this rule.
Middle berths cannot be opened during the day
According to railway rules, the middle berth must be kept closed after 6:00 AM to allow passengers in the lower berths to have a place to sit. During the day, the middle berth cannot be used for sitting or sleeping. If a passenger opens the middle berth before 10:00 PM, the passenger in the lower berth can refuse to do so and can also complain to the passenger waiting in line.
It’s also important to know the rules regarding lower berths.
Lower berths can be used both day and night, but passengers in middle berths have the right to sleep between 10 pm and 6 am. During the day, passengers in lower berths must give way to middle and upper berth passengers. The Railways instituted this rule to ensure equal access to all passengers and to avoid inconvenience.
These Railway Rules Are Also Important to Know
There are some other important rules passengers should be aware of during train travel. Smoking and drinking alcohol are prohibited on trains under Indian Railways. Passengers caught doing so may face action. Fighting, loud talking, or playing music on the train are also prohibited, as this can disturb other passengers. Furthermore, according to Railway rules, TTs cannot check passengers’ tickets between 10 pm and 6 am, allowing passengers to sleep peacefully. However, this rule does not apply to passengers boarding the train after 10 pm.


