Indian Railways has always given priority to the convenience of its passengers. Especially for senior citizens i.e. elderly passengers, Railways have taken several important steps that make their journey more comfortable and convenient. In the year 2025, Indian Railways made some new and big announcements for the elderly. The purpose of these announcements is to make the journey of the elderly safe, convenient and less stressful.
In this article, we will give you detailed information about the new features and their benefits introduced by the Indian Railways in 2025 for senior citizens. Also, we will also explain how you can avail these facilities.
Senior Civil Railway Benefits 2025
Indian Railways has implemented several new schemes for the convenience of elderly passengers. A summary of these schemes is presented in the table below:
| Plan details | Acquaintance |
| Name of the scheme | Senior Citizen Railway Benefits 2025 |
| Date of implementation | From 1 January 2025 |
| Beneficiary | Citizen over 60 years of age |
| Main advantage | Priority seats, special counters, lower birth allotment |
| Rented discount | Currently discount closed, demand for restoration continues |
| Objective | Make the journey of the elderly simple and comfortable |
| Applied area | All over India |
| Operated department | Indian railway |
New facilities and their benefits
Indian Railways has included many new facilities for the elderly. These facilities will not only make their journey easier but will also make it more secure.
Lower Birth Allotment
- Special provisions: Lower berths will be allotted to elderly passengers in sleeper class, AC3 tier and AC2 tier class.
- Security: Traveling on lower berths is more safe at night.
- Relaxation: The problem of climbing the upper berth can be avoided.
Wheelchair facility
- Free wheelchair facility will be provided at railway stations.
- This feature is useful for passengers who are unable to move.
Special reservation counter
- Separate reservation counters will be made for senior citizens so that they can book tickets without any hassle.
Battery operated vehicles
- Battery operated vehicles will be available at large railway stations, which will help the elderly reach the platform.
Status on rent discount
However, till some time ago, senior citizens were exempted on train tickets. Women were given a discount of up to 50% and men up to 40%. But the facility was discontinued during the Covid-19 epidemic in March 2020. It has not been restored so far, and the government has clarified that there is no plan to resume it due to financial reasons.
How to use these features?
- Use IRCTC Senior Citizen Quota:
- While booking tickets, choose Senior Citizen quota on the IRCTC portal.
- This increases the chances of getting lower berths.
- Book different tickets:
- If you are traveling in the group, then book the ticket of the elderly passenger separately. This increases the chances of getting lower berths.
- Request wheelchair service at the station:
- To avail the wheelchair service, request in advance at the station.
Other features
Priority seats
Railways have also reserved priority seats for senior citizens in general coaches of the train. This facility is available in both local trains and long distance trains.
“Yatri Mitra Seva”
This service has been introduced by IRCTC, in which elderly passengers are provided wheelchairs and porter services at the station.
conclusion
These steps taken by Indian Railways for elderly passengers are commendable. However, fare discounts have not yet been restored, but services such as lower birth allotment, wheelchair facility and battery operated vehicles are making their journey more comfortable.
In future, it is expected that the government and the railway departments will bring even more better schemes for senior citizens.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on the facilities available by Indian Railways for senior citizens. The rented discount is not restored at the moment. Passengers are advised to get information from the official website of the railway or the officials concerned before their visit.
