Indian Railways' free facilities for senior citizens: Everything you need to know

Senior citizens can avail these facilities for free while traveling by train, making their journey comfortable. IRCTC has stated that senior citizens can travel comfortably with these free facilities on Indian Railways. Indian Railways offers special arrangements to make train journeys more convenient for senior citizens.

However, this facility applies only when senior citizens are traveling alone or with a maximum of two people. If traveling in a larger group, the lower berth preference is not guaranteed. If a senior citizen is allocated an upper or middle berth, ticket checking staff may shift them to a lower berth if one becomes available during the journey.

Many often overlook these details, resulting in missed opportunities for a lower berth. When booking tickets, ensure the senior citizen concession is selected. This option, available on the IRCTC website and other ticket booking platforms, increases the likelihood of a lower berth for elderly passengers.

Booking tickets along with younger passengers will reduce the chance of getting a lower berth. Ensure correct age is entered during booking, as any error will prevent availing senior citizen quota benefits. This is a common mistake affecting lower berth allocation.

Indian Railways provides several facilities for the comfortable journey of elderly passengers. In addition to the possibility of lower berths under the senior citizen quota, the railways provide wheelchairs, ramps, and special counters at stations to assist senior travelers.