Railways Bring Back Pillows, Bedsheets for Non-AC Sleeper Coaches From January 2026
Southern Railway has announced that travelers in non-AC sleeper coaches will have the option to rent essential bedding items for a fee.
In 2025, Indian Railways introduced a series of reforms aimed at enhancing passenger comfort during travel. This includes mandating Aadhar Card details for online ticket bookings and allowing travelers to change their journey dates, reflecting a commitment to making train travel more convenient. And now, the Southern Railway has announced that, starting January 1, 2026, travellers in non-air-conditioned sleeper coaches will no longer need to carry their own pillows and bed sheets. Instead, passengers in the Chennai division will have the option to rent these essential bedding items for a fee. Read on for more information!
To enhance comfort and hygiene for passengers in non-AC sleeper coaches, the Chennai Division of Southern Railway will introduce this service starting January 1, 2026.
Also Read: Indian Railways To Roll Out Airport-Style Baggage Rules With Screening, Weight Limits, And More
Non-AC Sleeper Coaches Passengers Can Now Rent Pillows Starting INR 20
Passengers will now have the option to order sanitized bedrolls for a fee. The charges will be INR 50 for a bedsheet and pillow, INR 30 for just a bedsheet, and INR 20 for a pillow. Initially, this service will be available on 10 selected train pairs in the Chennai division before any potential nationwide expansion.
The Chennai division will be offering this service for a period of three years and anticipates earning approximately INR 28.28 lakh. Launched in the 2023-24 fiscal year under the New Innovative Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme (NINFRIS), the program received such a favorable reaction from passengers that the Railways decided to make it a permanent Non-Fare Revenue (NFR) initiative.
Non-AC Sleeper Coaches On These Routes Will Get The Service First
The program will be implemented on the following train routes:
- Nilgiri Superfast Express from Chennai to Mettupalayam - Superfast Express from Chennai to Mangalore - Mannargudi Express from Chennai Egmore - Superfast Express from Chennai Egmore to Tiruchendur - Express from Chennai to Palakkad - Silambu Superfast Express from Chennai Egmore to Sengottai - Superfast Express from Tambaram to Nagercoil - Superfast Express from Chennai to Thiruvananthapuram - Express from Chennai to Alleppey - Mangalore Express from Chennai Egmore
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Yogita Chainani is the website content head for unstumbled and has previously served as the social media head for CurlyTales Middle East. She has collaborated with brands such as PinkVilla, Connector, TopSpots Dubai, Thatscoop, and several other publications in the food and travel space. An avid traveler, Yogita is on a quest to explore the world, one country and city at a time. She studied journalism at IIJNM Bangalore and HR College in Mumbai. With her strong expertise in travel guides,...
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