New Delhi: As part of a pilot project, the railways installed foldable "baby berths" on the side of the lower main berths of the Lucknow Mail to make train travel more comfortable for people traveling with infants, news agency PTI reported.
Officials claimed that based on customer response to the "new product," plans would be developed to spread the concept to other trains.
When not in use, the "baby berths," which are attached to the lower main beds, may be folded and locked with a stopper.
On April 27, two "baby berths" measuring 770 mm in length, 255 mm in width, and 76.2 mm in height were installed in the second cabins of 12 and 60 main berths on both ends of coaches on the Lucknow Mail.
"This has been done on a trial basis and will be expanded once we get positive feedback from passengers. Once we try it out more and record the feedbacks, we will put the necessary details on CRIS (Centre for Railway Information Systems) where it can be booked on request," an official of the Northern Railway was quoted by PTI in its report.
"The (booking) system will be like the one we currently use to offer senior citizens lower berths. So, once, a passenger says yes to travelling with a child, we will offer the berth to them. However, it is now at a nascent stage," the official said.
There is currently no mechanism for ladies travelling with infants to reserve the lower berth.
(With Inputs From PTI)