Railways likely to keep middle berths empty post lockdown

Officials of Indian Railways do not seem to be averse to enforcing social distancing in travel post-curfew as it has been learnt that a few have discussed the possibility of doing away with the middle berth and middle seats to allow safe distance between travellers. 

Sources told DT Next that the officials had discussed the possibility of leaving middle berths in AC tier-III and second sleeper and middle seats vacant in second class sitting coaches of long distance trains till the Corona menace subsides. “We don’t have to remove the berths or seats. We must only keep middle berths and seats vacant or unavailable for booking. One vacant seat in between two passengers might be enough,” explained an SR officer, on conditions of anonymity. In second class unreserved coaches, the capacity could be reduced by one seat per row. Instead of four passengers, allowing three passengers per row (bench) is being contemplated by the railway officials. However, the social distancing idea might not be easy to execute because the trains would lose over 30% of their passenger accommodating capacity.

“Capacity of the coaches would be reduced by a third of the total seating/ berth capacity once a middle berth/ seat is kept vacant in each row. A 72-berth sleeper coach would lose up to 18 berths. As of now, the idea has only been discussed informally,” an official said on conditions of anonymity. When contacted, B Guganesan, chief public relation officer of Southern Railway said, “No such instruction has been received from the Railway board as yet.”