Indian Railways Reserves Special Seats for Women in Trains Like Rajdhani, Duronto — Know Your Rights!
Every Indian Woman Should Know These Railway Rights! Reserved Berths for Women in Trains Like Rajdhani, Duronto
Indian Railways offers dedicated travel facilities to ensure safe and comfortable journeys for women passengers, including reserved berths and exclusive coaches across long-distance trains. Whether it’s a Rajdhani, Duronto, or a regular mail/express train, women of any age are entitled to these reserved services under provisions laid out in the Railways Act, 1989.
Reserved Seats for Women in Trains: Know Your Rights
According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Article 58 of the Railways Act ensures six berths reserved for female passengers in the Sleeper Class of all mail/express trains, as well as in the 3AC coaches of fully air-conditioned trains, including Garib Rath, Rajdhani, and Duronto. This provision applies to all women, regardless of age.
Additionally, specific lower berths are reserved under the same act:
- Sleeper Class: 6–7 lower berths per coach
- 3AC Class: 4–5 lower berths
- 2AC Class: 3–4 lower berths
These are set aside for senior citizens, pregnant women, and women aged 45 and above.
Exclusive Coaches for Women
To further enhance safety and convenience:
- Most long-distance trains provide a special reserved area for women in the SLR (Second-class Luggage-cum-Guard) coach.
- In suburban routes operated by EMU, DMU, and MMTS, unreserved ladies-only coaches can be added based on demand.
- Ladies Special trains are already in operation in cities like Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Kolkata, Chennai, and Secunderabad.
Safety Measures for Female Passengers
To ensure women’s safety on board, Indian Railways has implemented the following:
- RPF and GRP escort sensitive and identified train routes.
- Helpline 139, integrated with Emergency Number 112, is available 24×7 for any distress situations.
- Social media support via Twitter and Facebook is monitored for real-time assistance.
- Public address systems issue frequent safety announcements at stations.
- CCTV surveillance is installed at stations and inside coaches to monitor suspicious activity.
‘Meri Saheli’ – A Special Initiative for Solo Women Travellers
Railways has introduced the ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative, which provides dedicated safety and assistance for women traveling alone on long-distance trains. RPF/RPSF teams monitor and support these passengers from boarding to destination. Railway zones are directed to deploy male and female security personnel in escort teams for better efficiency and gender-sensitive operations.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and is based on current Indian Railways policies as of the date of publication. Rules, quotas, and operational guidelines may vary by train, route, or region and are subject to change. Passengers are advised to verify the latest reservation and safety details through official Indian Railways sources or consult railway personnel before traveling.
