Railways orders 6-hour ban on charging phones on trains at night

Passengers travelling by train will not be able to charge their mobile phones using onboard charging points between 11 pm and 5 am, as the Railway Board has reiterated its directive to keep the facilities switched off during these hours.

In a letter dated October 26, 2026, the board instructed all zonal railways to ensure strict compliance with the restriction. It made clear that no exceptions should be allowed and directed railway authorities to ensure that staff switch off charging points at the prescribed time.

The renewed directive follows an incident on the South Eastern Railway (SER) network in which a passenger’s power bank reportedly exploded with smoke while charging. Onboard staff had allegedly failed to switch off the charging points during the restricted hours.

No charging points available overnight

Under the directive, charging points in train coaches must remain switched off from 11 pm until 5 am. Passengers travelling overnight will therefore need to charge their phones and other electronic devices before the restriction begins or wait until charging facilities are switched back on after 5 am.

The instruction is not a new rule. The Railway Board first issued directions to switch off mobile charging points during these hours on June 19, 2014. The latest communication reiterates the requirement following the reported safety lapse.

The Railway Board has directed zonal railways to brief, counsel and train the concerned staff to ensure the restriction is followed. Surprise inspections by officers and supervisors have also been ordered to check compliance.

The board has stressed that charging points must invariably remain switched off during the specified hours, placing the responsibility on railway staff to implement the instruction consistently.

For passengers, the key takeaway is simple: do not rely on train charging points between 11 pm and 5 am. Charge essential devices in advance and alert onboard staff if a phone or power bank overheats, emits smoke or gives off a burning smell.