According to the latest instructions from the Railway Board, seats that were earlier kept reserved for railway staff in AC First Class and AC Second Class will now be available for general passengers.
The Railways has cancelled all previous orders issued in 2016 and 2018. The new rules have been ordered to start immediately so that seats can be used more efficiently.
What Was the Earlier Rule?
Earlier, some berths near the doors or in the middle of AC coaches on long-distance trains were reserved for on-board staff like cleaners, AC mechanics, and vending staff.
Because of this, the Railways faced loss of ticket revenue, and there were also occasional complaints about misuse of these reserved seats.
New System for Staff Seating
Under the new system, no berths will be reserved for staff in First AC and Second AC classes. In fully AC trains, staff will now be given a maximum of only two seats in Third AC.
If a train also has a sleeper coach, AC maintenance staff will be shifted to sleeper class instead of AC coaches.
Because of this change, about four to six extra premium seats will become available for passengers on each train.
Waiting List Likely to Reduce
With more premium seats available, waiting lists are expected to go down. This will increase passengers’ chances of getting confirmed tickets in AC classes.
New “Spread Model” for Housekeeping Staff
A new “spread model” has been introduced for on-board housekeeping staff (OBHS). Instead of staying in one coach, staff will be given side-lower berths in different coaches.
A minimum distance will be maintained between their locations so they can monitor cleanliness across the entire train more effectively.
Rules Tightened for Vending Staff
Strict rules have also been introduced for vending staff who sell food.
On trains with pantry cars, vending staff will not get seats in passenger coaches and must stay in the pantry car.
On trains without pantry cars, they will be given a maximum of two berths in sleeper class.
Benefits for Passengers and Railways
This decision will reduce waiting lists and improve the chances of getting confirmed seats in premium coaches. Seat management will become better, and railway revenue is also expected to increase.
The main aim of the Railways is to improve transparency, provide better facilities to passengers, and make the best use of available resources.
