AC Coach Charging Ban: Indian Railways Implements Nighttime Rule
Indian Railways has enforced a nighttime charging ban in AC coaches from 11 PM to 5 AM to prevent fire hazards and electrical short circuits.
The Indian Railway Board has issued a strict directive to all zonal railways regarding the use of electrical outlets in AC coaches. To enhance passenger safety, mobile phone and laptop charging facilities must be suspended every night between 11 PM and 5 AM.
Reason Behind the Strict Directive
This decision comes in the wake of a recent incident involving a power bank explosion on a train operated by the South Eastern Railway. Investigations revealed that the explosion occurred because onboard staff failed to deactivate the charging points during the restricted hours.
The primary goal of this mandate is to mitigate significant fire risks. Unattended devices, such as mobile phones and laptops, can lead to overheating, short circuits, and potential fire hazards while passengers are sleeping.
A History of Fire Safety Measures
While this may feel like a new restriction, the policy was originally introduced in June 2014. It was a recommendation made by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) following a fire incident in an AC 3-tier coach back in 2013.
The CRS had initially proposed a wider shutdown window from 10 PM to 6 AM, but the Railway Board eventually adjusted the timeframe to the current 11 PM to 5 AM window.
Will Sleeper Coaches Be Affected?
Following a fire in a sleeper-class coach of the New Delhi–Darbhanga Humsafar Clone Special in November 2023, there were recommendations to extend these nighttime charging restrictions to non-AC coaches as well.
However, the Railway Board has clarified that enforcing such a ban in sleeper-class coaches is not currently feasible due to high operational costs. Consequently, charging facilities will remain operational in sleeper coaches, whereas strict adherence to the 11 PM to 5 AM cutoff is mandatory for all AC compartments.
Implementation and Theft Prevention
To ensure compliance, the Railway Board has mandated the following measures:
- Comprehensive training for onboard staff.
- Placement of clear informational stickers in all AC coaches.
- Surprise inspections by zonal railways to ensure accountability.
Beyond fire safety, the South East Central Railway (SECR) noted that disabling these outlets during the night also helps mitigate the risk of mobile phone theft while passengers are resting.