When travelling long distances by train, senior citizens often find that they are not allotted lower berths. Many elderly passengers struggle to climb up to the higher berths when they are assigned one. Although Indian Railways gives priority to senior citizens for lower berths, a video of a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) explaining why they sometimes do not receive them has now gone viral.

The video, recorded onboard the Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express, has been praised for its clarity and usefulness among regular train passengers.

In the clip, the TTE is seen addressing a group of passengers. He mentions that four senior citizens on the train had approached him because none of them had been given lower berths, even though they all qualified for the senior citizen quota. Instead, they had received middle and upper berths.
 

According to the TTE, many passengers are unaware that the senior citizen quota works only when up to two passengers are booked under a single ticket (PNR). He explained that once more than two passengers are added to the same booking, or when a senior travels with a non-senior, the system automatically switches the booking to the general quota — meaning lower berths are no longer prioritised.

How lower berths are allotted to senior citizens

Indian Railways’ Passenger Reservation System is programmed to automatically allocate lower berths to eligible passengers — men aged 60 and above and women aged 45 and above — when they travel alone or with one other senior citizen.

However, when the ticket includes more than two people or a mix of senior and non-senior travellers, the system processes it under the general quota, and lower berths are not guaranteed.

IRCTC’s clarification on the rule

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) had earlier addressed a similar query on X. In its statement, the corporation clarified that lower berth or senior citizen quota is applicable only to male passengers aged over 60 years and female passengers aged 45 years and above, provided they are travelling either alone or with one other eligible senior.

It further noted that if there are more than two senior citizens on the same PNR, or if a senior travels with a younger companion, the quota benefit will not apply.

Railways’ lower berth reservation policy

Indian Railways has reserved specific lower berths across different travel classes to make train journeys more comfortable for senior citizens and women passengers.

  • In Sleeper Class, 6–7 lower berths are set aside.
  • In AC 3-Tier, 4–5 lower berths are earmarked.
  • In AC 2-Tier, 3–4 lower berths are reserved.

In addition, at least seven seats in both the first and last second-class general coaches of suburban trains are exclusively reserved for senior citizens.

While no proof of age is required at the time of booking, passengers must carry valid identification to confirm their eligibility if asked during ticket checking.