To commemorate Mother’s Day, the Indian Railways came up with an idea to help new moms, traveling with their infants, sleep comfortably on train births. For this, they introduced seats installed with an extended space called a ‘baby berth’ on an experimental basis.
For trials, the Northern Railway has installed these foldable baby berths on Lucknow Mail in the lower berth, reported The Indian Express.
On Mother's Day, Lucknow Divn of N.Rly. introduced a baby berth on experimental basis in Coach No.194129/B4, berth No 12 & 60. This will facilitate mothers travelling with their babies.
The fitted baby seat is foldable & secured with a stopper. @AshwiniVaishnaw @RailMinIndia pic.twitter.com/4jNEtchuVh
— Northern Railway (@RailwayNorthern) May 9, 2022
The berths are also equipped with a stopper to prevent kids from falling off the seat. The divisional railway manager of the Lucknow Northern Railway, Satish Kumar, shared a video showing the usage of the extended baby seats.
On trial basis Delhi Division has started baby berth in selected trains for facilitating mothers to comfortably sleep along with their babies. IR under the leadership of Hon MoR @AshwiniVaishnaw Sir & Hon MoSR @DarshanaJardosh ma'am is taking Service to another level pic.twitter.com/zQ8pD3V3bd
— Sanjay Kumar IRTS (@Sanjay_IRTS) May 10, 2022
The intention behind this move is definitely laudable. People online appreciated the efforts of the Indian Railways.
Very interesting customer focused solution. https://t.co/v7znyDKHSZ
— Gajohr (@gajohr) May 10, 2022
Good initiative…need more implementation on all coaches https://t.co/xX9du5A737
— Ashok Mistry (@AshokMi09977456) May 10, 2022
Makes total sense and a welcome move.
Will help mothers and babies!
Thank you @AshwiniVaishnaw Sir for yet another innovative approach! https://t.co/7mv1Pj1yBU
— 01Cliffer (@01Cliffer) May 10, 2022
It is a surprise and shows that railway think-tank is walking along with the time. https://t.co/XbphXuWzd8
— Karan Gurani (@karangurani) May 10, 2022
Worthy Berth.
Congrats Indian Railway ! ♥️ https://t.co/rMeC3UXbNr— praveen ayyampilly (@ayympilly) May 12, 2022
However, several also expressed concern about the safety measures and said the design and execution could have been better.
Did they consult a single women while designing this? No one is going to put a baby to sleep on the outter side, which isn't even properly protected. 🙄🤦♀️ https://t.co/dWS4AJf6Uc
— Manisha Shastri (@ManiFaa) May 10, 2022
apart from the impracticality of this rubbery straightjacket contraption & that huge gap which screams mishaps, no mother (or dad) will be comfortable placing their kid towards the outside while she/he sleeps snuck next to the safety of the carriage wall @RailMinIndia https://t.co/I7hFTRx9qq
— Richa Lakhera (@RICHA_LAKHERA) May 12, 2022
Unsafe for babies .. https://t.co/SoCBuBocmN
— justice to Garlic and onions (@rockyrock916) May 12, 2022
Dear Indian Railways, i don't think this was designed using the baby in mind.
Will your lady officers or the wives of male officers put a baby to sleep next to a steep drop?
who is coming up with these ideas? https://t.co/qgVNBSLZaW
— abhaychawla13 (@abhaychawla13) May 12, 2022
Good intentions. But another obvious design fail ☹️☹️ very dis-heartening. U can't get any further removed from ur consumer than this-no 1 mother will use this side 4 baby. In this age of focus on Ux / design thinking etc, it's mind boggling how this passed approvals. https://t.co/5H1K6lUSGy
— ranjith (@ranjithsid) May 11, 2022
Which mother will keep the baby like this? Baby's are put always to the side of wall….. https://t.co/pQmm8fhFHz
— Santosh Verma (@vsankumar) May 12, 2022
Not for mine, unless the mother manage to sleep on the side arm https://t.co/MRXdsCMfmS
— Rabble Tweetervi (@rabblerazz) May 11, 2022
I don't think the design committee had a woman.A simple design would have been to increase the breadth of the main seat to let the child & mother sleep on the same seat. & allocate these special seats who travel with infants. #IndianRailways https://t.co/XDN2uUDph9
— Randomtalks (@mindfooly) May 11, 2022
#IndianRailways-Appreciate the thoughtfulness. But mothers would secure babies with their arms rather than a baby berth that surely needs a lot of improvement to make it safer.
Hoping to see improved & tested baby berths across all coaches and trains soon. @RailMinIndia https://t.co/hHH8JL5c26
— Swati (@swati_gouri) May 11, 2022
Great idea but what if someone drops something from upper or middle berth.. https://t.co/aGfPuCgqCF
— Satyam Kumar bhardwaj (@Satyam04380385) May 12, 2022
Since this is a trial run, we hope the authorities acknowledge the feedback of the public and upgrade the facility accordingly. New moms, what are your opinions on this feature?