The Indian Railways, which was formed 177 years ago, is one of the world’s major train networks. The length of rail networks across the country was last estimated to be over 68,000 km, allowing people to travel across India in comfort.
“On a daily basis, it is reported that around 23 million passengers travel by train in India, making railways a major source of commuting,” stated Sripad Vaidya, Co-Founder and COO of ConfirmTkt. To guarantee a comfortable journey, travellers should be aware of some of the essential laws established by the Indian railways.
Important Rules Every Passenger Should Understand For Indian Railways
1. Pulling the alarm chain in a running train
If you’ve ever taken a train in India, you’ve probably noticed emergency alarm chains placed at the doors of each coach. While every person has had an urge to pull the chain at some point, doing so might land you in serious trouble. According to Indian railway laws, the alarm chain must be pulled only in the event of an emergency, such as a medical emergency, a threat to passenger safety, an accident, or if a kid, old or handicapped person, or partner has missed the train.
2. You can extend your journey while travelling
During busy times of the year, it is common for a traveller to be unable to obtain a reservation for their initial destination owing to ticket availability. However, Indian Railways has one rule that benefits their passengers. If the traveller receives the ticket, he or she may buy a ticket to a different destination before the real one. Then, while travelling, they can go to the TTE and pay an additional fare to extend their journey. In exchange, the TTE may issue a ticket for the subsequent journey, however, it may be for a different seat.
3. The rule of the middle berth
A very essential regulation applies to the middle berth of an Indian Railways train. The middle beds are located between the higher and lower berths and must be folded down from the ceiling. According to the rule, passengers are not permitted to fold down the centre berth during the day since the bottom and higher berths can be used as chairs. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., passengers can only sleep in the middle bunk. If a passenger exceeds the time restriction, the passenger in the lower berth has the authority to advise you not to.
4. The two-stops rule in case you miss the train
Occasionally, an unfortunate situation occurs in which a passenger fails to board the train at the original boarding station. To offer people a fair chance, the Two-Stops rule states that the ticket collector cannot just move the seat to another passenger. At least not for another hour, or until the train arrives at the following two stations on the route.
5. After 10 p.m., passengers cannot be disturbed
A train ride might be long, and in order for it to be fun and not burdensome, passengers must not be bothered while travelling. In general, travellers cannot be disturbed after 10 p.m., which is why the TTE must examine the tickets before the time limit is reached. Another requirement is that all lights in the coach, except the night lights, must be turned off so that the passengers may have a good night’s sleep. This is why, after 10 p.m., even train meals cannot be provided.
6. Fixed price of packaged food items sold on the train
If you’ve ever travelled by bus or aircraft, you’ve probably observed that the costs of things are frequently substantially higher than their true MRPS. The regulatory body has set price guidelines for packaged food products such as snacks, meals, and beverages aboard trains. This is done to verify that passengers are not overcharged and that the items fulfil quality requirements. If a seller is discovered to be engaging in such unethical practices, he might be dismissed and face a heavy fine or have his licence revoked.
7. Avoid making loud sounds on the train
The Indian railways have established strict standards for passengers who wish to travel by train, one of which is the prohibition of loud noises aboard trains. All passengers are asked to maintain noise levels in order to prevent bothering other passengers. It is recommended that you keep the level down or use headphones or earbuds when watching a movie or listening to music on your phone or other device.
It is also recommended that when making a phone call, you keep your voice low so as not to disturb other passengers who are either resting or asleep. The regulation was implemented after the Indian Railways received several complaints about persons who caused a disturbance to other passengers. On-board Travelling Ticket Examiners (TTE), catering workers, and other railway officials are often entrusted with guiding passengers in adhering to the laws.
