[Resolved]  Indian Railways — Ridiculous idea of adding side middle berths and unscrupulous Ticket collectors

I travelled in Mysore-Myladuthurai train (6232) on 11th July, 2008 on S11 coach with my husband. Our berth numbers were 15 and 16, which are supposed to be Side Lower and Side Middle. The Ticket Collector came and checked our tickets. A passenger approached us and said that he was alloted a side berth. We told him we have been alloted the side lower and side upper. The ticket collector then came and told us that that side middle berth is alloted to that passenger. Then only we realized that there is additional berth. The space was so cramped. I believe the allotment of side middle berths have not been started because we still have the old numbering (1 - 64), the ticket collector has taken money from people with waiting list tickets and alloted seats to them. The space was so cramped. The reserved compartment was like a general compartment where anyone can get into the train with a general ticket, pay money to the ticket collector and get a berth. I really wonder who gave this idea of adding side middle berth. Side berths are so cramped and messy. The idea of adding an addition middle berth to side berth has only created inconvenience to the passengers. Passengers quarrel among themselves because of the faults of ticket collectors.

My return journey was even more worse. I came back from Trichy to Bangalore on July 13th, 2008 on Train 6231 (Myladuthurai - Mysore express) on S1 coach. We have confirmed tickets but no place to even sit in the coach. We have tickets with old numbering system (1-64) but the numbering system in the train is new (1-81 - 9 berths per cabin). When I asked the Ticket collector, he was blaming another ticket collector that he has allotted seats to people with waiting list tickets. It took 1 hour for him to give us berths. I heard from one couple with 11 months baby who had been originally alloted a lower berth travelled from Myladurai to Pettavathalai on Upper berth. This is ridiculous. The ticket collectors should not create so much inconvenience to the passengers. People with waiting list tickets are sititng on the berths but passengers with confirmed tickets have no place to sit.

I'm not sure if there is anyway or anyone to take action against such unscrupulous ticket collectors. Trains are no longer comfortable. The idea of adding side middle berth is ridiculous. Passengers do not have sufficient place to sit, neither they do have place to keep their luggages. Ticket collectors should prohibit people with waiting list tickets to enter into the reserved compartments till they are alloted berths. Because of such unscrupulous ticket collectors, trains are no longer safe as anyone can just get into the reserved compartments, pay money to the ticket collectors and get a berth.

I request to the Indian Railways department to take action against such ticket collectors. If Indian Railways cannot do anything to increase the comfort level of the train journey, it is ok, but they much not take such steps that make our train journey worse.