Click it and Unblock the Notifications
If you are planning to travel by sleeper class on a train in the coming months, you may no longer need to carry your own bedsheet or pillow. The Chennai division of Southern Railway has announced that starting January 1, 2026, passengers will be able to buy clean, ready-to-use bedrolls
during their journey. This service will be available on request and for a small fee.
Kerala Passengers to be Benefited
Passengers from Kerala can also benefit from this new facility, as three train services from the state are included in the list. According to a railway official, these trains are the Chennai-Palakkad Express (22651/22652), Chennai Central-Thiruvananthapuram Express (12695/12696), and the Chennai-Alappuzha Express (22639/22640).
New Facility for Sleeper Class Passengers
The Chennai division explained that sleeper class passengers currently do not have any organised way of getting bedrolls. To solve this problem, they tried a pilot project in 2023-24 under the New Innovative Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme. Since passengers responded very positively, the Railways have now decided to make this a regular paid service. Under the new system, passengers can purchase a bedsheet, pillow, and pillow cover set for ₹50. A pillow with a pillow cover will cost ₹30, while a single bedsheet can be bought for ₹20. These items will be freshly cleaned and available on demand.
Passenger associations have welcomed the decision. P. Krishnakumar, general secretary of the Thrissur Railway Passengers Association, said that this will be especially useful for people travelling to places like Chennai or Mangaluru. Many passengers on trains such as the Chennai Mail currently use their bags as pillows and sleep on bare berths. He also pointed out that this service is optional, unlike in AC coaches, where the bedding charges are included in the ticket fare.
