Railway Board Orders Charging Points in Trains to Be Switched Off Between 11 PM and 5 AM

The Railway Board has issued fresh instructions to all railway zones to strengthen passenger safety by ensuring that charging points in train coaches remain switched off between 11 pm and 5 am. The directive requires railway staff to strictly implement the six-hour restriction on mobile phone and laptop charging points. The move follows an incident on a Mumbai local train in which a passenger’s power bank reportedly exploded while being charged, filling the coach with thick smoke. In response, the Board has instructed railway zones to train staff to switch off charging points during the specified hours and ensure that the safety measures are followed without exception.

The Board has also directed officials to conduct surprise inspections to monitor compliance and warned against negligence in implementing the instructions. The restriction is intended to reduce the risk of fires caused by overheating, electrical faults or short circuits while passengers are asleep and may not notice an emergency immediately. Restrictions on overnight charging in trains were introduced in 2014, but the latest incident has prompted the Railway Board to reinforce their enforcement. The measure is aimed at minimising electrical hazards and improving passenger safety during overnight journeys.