Indian Railways bans mobile charging in trains from 11 pm to 5 am: Here’s why

Indian Railways has directed all railway zones to switch off mobile phone and laptop charging points inside train coaches between 11 pm and 5 am. The Railway Board issued the instructions on October 26, following an incident in which a passenger’s power bank exploded during charging, filling a coach with smoke. The decision is aimed at reducing fire risks during overnight train journeys.

For passengers travelling on long-distance trains, this means charging phones, laptops and other electronic devices before 11 pm. The Railway Board has made it clear that there should be no exceptions to the six-hour restriction. The latest directive, reported by PTI, is actually a reminder of an existing safety rule introduced in 2014, which railway authorities have now been asked to enforce strictly.

Why has Indian Railways restricted mobile charging at night?

The latest instructions follow a power bank explosion reported in the South Eastern Railway zone.

According to the Railway Board, onboard staff had failed to switch off the charging points during the restricted hours. A passenger’s power bank subsequently exploded and produced smoke.

In its October 26 letter, the board instructed railway zones to keep charging points switched off between 11 pm and 5 am without exceptions.

Railway officials and supervisors have been asked to conduct surprise inspections. Staff will receive instructions and training to improve compliance.

The charging restriction was introduced in 2014

The overnight charging rule is more than a decade old.

Indian Railways first introduced the restriction in June 2014 following a fire aboard the Hazur Sahib Nanded-KSR Bengaluru Express in 2013.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety had recommended switching off charging sockets in air-conditioned coaches overnight.

The Railway Board subsequently fixed the restriction between 11 pm and 5 am.

The issue resurfaced after another fire involving a sleeper coach of the New Delhi-Darbhanga Humsafar Clone Special in November 2023.

Safety officials recommended extending similar precautions to non-AC coaches, though railway authorities previously cited operational costs as a challenge.

What should passengers do during overnight journeys?

Passengers should charge essential devices before the restricted period begins.

Phones and laptops can be charged during permitted hours, subject to available facilities.

The restriction is intended to reduce risks from unattended charging and potentially faulty electronic devices.

For passengers accustomed to leaving their phones plugged in overnight, the latest enforcement drive could mean changing a familiar travel habit.

Railway authorities have directed officials to monitor implementation and take steps to prevent further safety lapses.