Parliament Question: Availability of Railway Accommodation for Pilgrims to Rameswaram

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 542 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2026 AVAILABILITY OF RAILWAY ACCOMMODATION FOR PILGRIMS TO RAMESWARAM 542. SHRI NAVASKANI K: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that people travelling for pilgrimage to Rameswaram are often unable to obtain confirmed railway tickets even immediately after the opening of reservations, resulting in a large number of waitlisted passengers and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether Government has assessed the demand for sleeper class accommodation in long-distance trains serving Rameswaram and the adequacy of the existing coach composition and if so, the details thereof; (c) the details of the average waitlist position, coach composition and lower berth allotment for senior citizens in major long-distance trains originating from/terminating at Rameswaram during the last three years, year-wise; (d) whether the Government proposes to introduce new trains to and from Rameswaram and augment sleeper coaches in existing trains to meet the growing demand of pilgrims and other passengers and if so, the details thereof; and (e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure timely confirmation of tickets and availability of lower berths for senior citizens travelling to and from Rameswaram? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) (a) to (e) The demand pattern of reserved accommodation on Indian Railways including in the trains serving Rameswaram is not uniform § Page 1 of 4throughout the year and it varies over lean and peak periods. Further, the trains running on popular routes and convenient timings are generally well patronized, however, in other trains, accommodation is generally available. Demand pattern of passenger traffic is monitored on regular basis and based on this assessment, new trains are introduced, special trains are operated during festivals/holidays/summer/winter/pilgrimage seasons and load of existing trains is augmented on temporary/permanent basis to meet the unmet demand, subject to operational feasibility. During 2025-26, Indian Railways, with a view to facilitate the passengers of Rameswaram station, have introduced 16621/16622 Rameswaram - Mangaluru Central Express (w.e.f. 14.03.2026) and 16103/16104 Tambaram - Rameswaram Express (w.e.f. 06.04.2025). Accordingly, Rameswaram station is presently being served by 34 train services including the following 28 Mail/Express services: SN Train No. & Name 1 16103 Tambaram - Rameswaram Express 2 16104 Rameswaram - Tambaram Express 3 16343 Thiruvananthapuram Central - Rameswaram Express 4 16344 Rameswaram - Thiruvananthapuram Central Express 5 16617 Rameswaram - Coimbatore Express 6 16618 Coimbatore - Rameswaram Express 7 16621 Rameswaram - Mangalore Central Express 8 16622 Mangalore Central - Rameswaram Express 9 16733 Rameswaram - Okha Express 10 16734 Okha - Rameswaram Express 11 16751 Chennai Egmore - Rameswaram Express 12 16752 Rameswaram - Chennai Egmore Express 13 16779 Tirupati - Rameswaram Express Page 2 of 414 16780 Rameswaram - Tirupati Express 15 16849 Tiruchchirappalli - Rameswaram Express 16 16850 Rameswaram - Tiruchchirappalli Express 17 20497 Rameswaram - Firozpur Cantt Humsafar Express 18 20498 Firozpur Cantt - Rameswaram Humsafar Express 19 20849 Bhubaneswar - Rameswaram Express 20 20850 Rameswaram - Bhubaneswar Express 21 22535 Rameswaram - Banaras Express 22 22536 Banaras - Rameswaram Express 23 22613 Rameswaram - Ayodhya Cantt Express 24 22614 Ayodhya Cantt - Rameswaram Express 25 22621 Rameswaram - Kanniyakumari Express 26 22622 Kanniyakumari - Rameswaram Express 27 22661 Chennai Egmore - Rameswaram Express 28 22662 Rameswaram - Chennai Egmore Express Besides, introduction of new train/augmentation of existing train services on any route/section, which is an on-going process, depends on various factors which include: ● Capacity of that section ● Availability of path ● Availability of required rolling stock ● Availability of matching infrastructure for rolling stock ● Maintenance requirement of railway tracks and other assets. ● Occupancy and the traffic requirement of the section. Further, Indian Railways continuously strive to provide various facilities for the convenience of all categories of passengers including Senior Citizens. Some of the facilities extended to Senior Citizens are as under: Page 3 of 4 Allotment of lower berths to Senior Citizens, Female passengers of 45 years and above automatically, even if no choice is given, subject to availability  Earmarking of a combined quota of six to seven lower berths per coach in Sleeper class, four to five lower berths per coach each in Air Conditioned 3 tier (3AC) and three to four lower berths per coach in Air Conditioned 2 tier (2AC) classes (depending on the number of coaches of that class in the train) for senior citizens, female passengers 45 years of age and above and pregnant women.  Allotment of lower berths falling vacant in the train to senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities & pregnant women (who have been allotted middle/upper berth) on priority.  Earmarking of unreserved accommodation for senior citizens in 2nd class general compartment on suburban sections of Indian Railways.  Earmarking of separate counters at various Passenger Reservation System (PRS) centers for dealing with the reservation requisitions received from senior citizens subject to demand pattern and availability of counters. ***** Page 4 of 4