What happens to my berth if I miss my boarding station?
If you miss your boarding station, your berth is not handed to a waitlisted passenger immediately.
The rule
The TTE holds it for a short window past your boarding station before releasing it. If you can catch the train further down the line within that window, the berth is still yours — but tell the TTE, and do not count on it as a plan.
Other rules at this stage
Your seat, your neighbours, and what the TTE can and cannot do.
The middle berth comes down at 10 PM
A middle berth may be kept open for sleeping only between 10 PM and 6 AM. Outside those hours it stays folded.
Lower berths go to those who need them
Lower berths are allotted automatically to senior citizens and to women travelling alone, where available.
Your allotted berth is yours
Nobody may occupy your reserved berth, including waitlisted or RAC passengers, unless the TTE has reallocated it.
The alarm chain is for emergencies only
Pulling the chain without a proper reason is a criminal offence, not a fine you shrug off.
₹1,000, up to 1 year in prison
Questions
What happens to my berth if I miss my boarding station?
If you miss your boarding station, your berth is not handed to a waitlisted passenger immediately. The TTE holds it for a short window past your boarding station before releasing it. If you can catch the train further down the line within that window, the berth is still yours — but tell the TTE, and do not count on it as a plan.
What do people get wrong about this?
People assume a missed boarding station means the berth is gone that instant. It usually is not, which is worth knowing when a connection runs late.
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