Rail Board changes charging rules, orders all zones to switch off sockets between 11pm and 5am: Here’s why | Today’s news
The Railway Board recently asked all railway zones to enforce a rule introduced in 2014 requiring mobile phone and laptop charging sockets in train coaches to remain switched off from 11pm to 5am as a fire safety precaution.
The instruction comes in the wake of an incident on the South Eastern Railway in which a passenger’s power bank exploded while charging and emitted smoke, news agency PTI reported earlier this week. The charging stations remained on during the restricted hours because the cabin crew did not disconnect the power.
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What does the latest Railway Authority directive say?
In a letter dated October 26, the railway board wrote: “Recently there was an incident in SER (South Eastern Railway) where cabin crew did not switch off the mobile charging station during the above period. Subsequently, a passenger’s power bank exploded with smoke while charging.”
It further said, “In view of the above, all zonal railways are advised to issue necessary instructions to all concerned employees to ensure strict compliance of mobile charging stations to remain off at all times from 11 pm to 5 am,” adding that no exception should be made during these hours.
The order also directed the zones to train the concerned staff to ensure thorough implementation and adherence to these guidelines, adding, “Furthermore, surprise checks should be conducted at both officer and supervisor levels to ensure strict adherence to these guidelines.”
Why were overnight charging restrictions introduced in 2014?
According to the report, the decision to switch off electrical outlets in trains was first taken in June 2014 on the recommendation of the Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS). The recommendations followed the 2013 fire in a three-decker AC Hazur Sahib Nanded–KSR Bengaluru Express coach in the Bengaluru division of the South Western Railway zone.
In its 2014 letter, the board said: “The CRS, Southern Circle, in its report has recommended that power sockets for charging mobile phones and laptops be switched off in air-conditioned buses between 10pm and 6am.
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The letter further states: “In this regard, it is recommended that the power sockets provided for charging mobile phones and laptops in AC coaches should be switched off between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am, keeping in mind the safety and convenience of passengers. The railways have also been advised to post stickers in all AC coaches at designated places to inform passengers of the restriction.”
A look at other events
In a separate incident in November 2023, a fire broke out in a New Delhi–Darbhanga Humsafar Clone Special sleeper class bus at around 5.25 pm. The incident occurred when the train was on the Sarai Bhopat–Etawah section of the Prayagraj division of the North Central Railway. Flames engulfed the car before spreading to neighboring cars.
Following the incident, the CRS in its report recommended that mobile charging stations be switched off overnight in sleeper coaches as well, in line with the practice used in AC coaches.
In its action taken report, the Railway Board said that the charging stations for the alternating coach were disconnected during the prescribed hours. However, he said the cost of deploying staff to enforce the same arrangement for non-AC coaches made it impractical.
The South East Central Railway (SECR) issued a similar reminder to all its divisions on March 6 after it noted that charging stations on trains passing through its Nagpur division were often left powered overnight, in violation of board guidelines.
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The SECR warned that unattended devices charged overnight could pose a fire hazard and passengers’ phones could be vulnerable to theft.
How will passengers charge their devices?
Although the railway board has not clearly specified how passengers can charge their mobile phones and laptops during the restricted hours, they would have to charge their devices in advance.