Sleeper Class in trains refers to the reserved coaches in all long-journey trains that are not air-conditioned. The coaches consist of lights, fans, and charging points. Sleeper coaches are the most affordable reservation train tickets available on IRCTC trains. You can book your journey ticket online by creating an account and completing your IRCTC login with your IRCTC login credentials.
In India, train tickets can be booked offline at reservation counters or online by IRCTC login. Here are the steps you need to follow to book a Sleeper Class ticket online.
Register and create an IRCTC account.
Enter your Date of Journey along with Departure and Destination Stations.
Choose from the available train options.
Enter personal details like name, age, phone number, and berth preference, along with IRCTC username and password.
After confirming the details, the payment portal will open where you can choose to pay through UPI, e-Wallet, Netbanking, or Debit and Credit cards.
After payment is completed, you will receive your ticket via message and/or email. Your ticket will also be displayed on the screen.
Additionally, you can use the IRCTC website to check your train running status, PNR status, train seat availability, and other details.
Two types of Sleeper Class coaches are available for pre-booking and Current Reservation. The Integral Coach Factory (ICF )coaches are built of steel and are the older ones that have 72 seats per Sleeper Class coach. The Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB), on the other hand is built with stainless steel and has 80 seats, increasing the number of train tickets available per train.
The LHB coaches are gradually being introduced in every train, making the journey faster, safer, and more comfortable with their advanced suspension system, higher speeds, lower weight, and anti-climbing features to prevent accidents. The ICF SL coaches are blue, whereas the LHB coaches are red.
A Sleeper Class coach in a train offers a wide range of advantages to its passengers.
Available: There are more Sleeper Class coaches in trains than any other class. Therefore it is easier to avail and get confirmed seats in sleeper class coaches due to the high volume of seats. There are 72 to 80 seats per Sleeper Class coach in a train.
Affordable: The biggest advantage of sleeper class coaches is their price. It is the cheapest one that passengers have to pay to travel from one place to another compared to other means of transport.
Experience: Travelling in Sleeper Class coaches for long-distance routes is an experience in itself. It evokes a sense of belonging amongst bustling crowds from various ethnicities, regions, and cultures of the country.
Most trains that are run by IRCTC contain Sleeper Class coaches. They are the most preferred type of train among passengers. Hence, the highest number of coaches always belong to the Sleeper Class. However, certain special trains do not have Sleeper Class tickets, such as Rajdhani Express, which is an exclusive train service connecting Delhi, the capital, with the rest of the country. Furthermore, trains that are meant for shorter distances to be covered during the day, like Vande-Bharat Express and Shatabdi Express, also do not have any Sleeper Class coaches.
Sleeper Class on Train is the most popular mode of transportation with all its merits and despite the demerits. Due to India’s intricate railway network, travelling in Sleeper Class coaches is the most cost-effective way to travel anywhere in the country. There is also an additional quota for confirmed lower berth seats for women above 45 years travelling alone in Sleeper Class coaches.
While you can take precautions for personal safety, travelling in sleeper class is completely safe.
Bedsheets and towels are only given in the various AC compartments. The Sleeper class does not offer any additional amenities.
Most of the long-journey trains have Sleeper class coaches. Some of the exceptions are Rajdhani Expresses and Shatabdi Expresses, which are completely air-conditioned. Garib Rath trains are another exception that was inaugurated to provide affordable air-conditioned train tickets to passengers. All of these trains do not have Sleeper Class coaches.
You can upgrade your ticket from SL to 3AC by visiting a reservation counter at the station and requesting the upgrade by submitting the fare difference. This process can also be done online. Additionally, you can opt for auto-upgradation of tickets while booking online. In this case, you might get upgraded without any additional charges on a lottery basis of available seats. You can find this during IRCTC chart preparation.
Confirmed Sleeper Class tickets can be cancelled by paying the IRCTC cancellation charges worth Rs. 120 if you are cancelling before 48 hours of journey commencement. For 48 hours to 12 hours before the journey, the cancellation charge is 25%, and for 4 hours to 12 hours, it is 50%.