Train travel

Implementing the new rules on sleeping hours in reserved sleeper coaches is easier said than done (“Railways cut sleep time by an hour”, September 18). Long-distance travel takes 20-30 hours on an average and to expect passengers who occupy the lower and middle berths to be seated throughout the day is beyond any reasoning. Even a teenager would find it tough. It is advisable that adjustments as far as sharing berths are concerned are left to passengers themselves. Whatever be the rules, there are bound to be skirmishes on board the train with no one to monitor. Instead, the Indian Railways should address other issues such as blocking unreserved passengers, especially office-goers, who occupy reserved compartments during the day and inconvenience passengers. Railway staff take the liberty of travelling in the air-conditioned coaches. There is also the class of passengers that talks loudly well past midnight, disturbing those who want peace and sleep. As far as hygiene is concerned, the Railways have to stop thinking of shortcuts. The CAG report on the state of blankets and the Railways’ plan to do away with blankets and instead increase the air conditioning temperature in coaches to 24ºC is one example.

V. Subramanian,

Chennai

The decision of the Indian Railways to do away with the pasting of reservation charts on coaches at select stations is ill-advised (Some editions, “Reservation charts on trains set to disappear”, September 18). As a woman passenger who travels alone with my child at times, I have encountered argumentative, obstinate and even mischievous travellers who board trains at stations at odd hours and then become unpleasant after misreading their berth allotments printed in small and feeble fonts on their tickets. The plight of elderly passengers in such a predicament can be well guessed. The train ticket examiners are never to be seen when it comes to dealing with difficult co-travellers. This ‘experiment’ may work well on premium and luxury long-distance trains that halt at limited stops. Not everyone is civilised or considerate towards other bona fide travellers.

Pushpa Dorai,

Nurani, Kerala