‘The baby should be on the other side’: Netizens react after Northern Railway introduces baby berth

The trial began on Lucknow Mail on Mother's Day on Sunday.

baby berths in Railway, Northern Railway, Lucknow Mail, baby berths in train, berth, Railway

The Northern Railway shared photographs of the foldable baby berth which has a railing to prevent children from falling and has also been secured with a stopper. (Source: Northern Railway@RailwayNorthern/Twitter)

In a bid to make travelling comfortable for mothers, the Northern Railway has introduced a baby berth on an experimental basis in one of its trains. However, while applauding the initiative many pointed out the flaws in the design and wondered if any mothers were consulted before installing it.

The Northern Railway shared photographs of the foldable baby berth which has a railing to prevent children from falling and has also been secured with a stopper.

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The trial began on Lucknow Mail on Mother’s Day on Sunday.

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“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,” said Northern Railway in a tweet.

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 Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of the Northern Railway’s Lucknow Division also shared the news and greeted women on Mother’s Day.

Happy Mother’s Day.
A baby berth has been introduced in Coach no 194129/ B4, berth no 12 & 60 in Lucknow Mail, to facilitate mothers traveling with their baby. Fitted baby seat is foldable about hinge and is secured with a stopper. @AshwiniVaishnaw @RailMinIndia @GM_NRly pic.twitter.com/w5xZFJYoy1

— DRM Lucknow NR (@drm_lko) May 8, 2022

Netizens appreciated the initiative with many urging baby berths to be set up in other trains as well. “Great changes।।। I hope this will be applicable to all coaches,” commented a user. Another user wrote, “This is great initiative, which would help most of the parents. Request this initiative should be expanded to Southern Railway trains also in Tamilnadu.”

However, many users also urged the railways to improve the design and pointed out that the current one may not stop babies from falling. “Very good initiative. But the stopper seems to be big enough for the baby to fall off when it rolls while sleeping. Please ensure additional pipings are welded within the stopper to fill the gap. Thank you,” wrote a user.

Very good initiative. But the stopper seems to be big enough for the baby to fall off when it rolls while sleeping. Please ensure additional pipings are welded within the stopper to fill the gap. Thank you.

— Sudhanva P Joshi (@sudhanvapjoshi) May 9, 2022

Well done & Very thoughtful of the IR. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to more such innovative, passenger friendly ideas. 👍🏻👍🏻👏👏

— C A PEREIRA (@CAPEREI54252028) May 9, 2022

Still needs proper designing and barricades with less width so the child does not slip from the metal rods and also strap required for the child safety if possible……..

— Dhimant Kapadia (@kapadiasir) May 10, 2022

No overhead protection. Upper berth wala can drop his bottle cap or spill hot coffee on the baby!
Unsafe – toddlers can walk away! Or worse be kidnapped
Unclean – would be tucked under legs when not in use.

— Balaji (@balatweets) May 10, 2022

I can find many flaws, first it will most of the time will tucked inside, very unhygienic, then no mother would make their child sleep outside, with risk of falling and also no cover from upper birth.

— Snigdha (@Thetaurusgirl16) May 10, 2022

😅

Meanwhile.. a proven design in just about every commercial aircraft in the world begs for attention pic.twitter.com/spgyVezfve

— Anish Matthai (@anishmatthai) May 11, 2022

The design speaks for itself. Parents sleeping with children in trains always keep the baby / toddler towards the wall so that they don't fall. The chance of a fall in a moving train remains in this design, which is out of touch with reality, at best.

— Sayantani (@Sandy_tweet) May 11, 2022

It's very simple… How can a mom keep a baby in aisle side and sleep peacefully??? The baby should be on the other side!!! Basic parental logic 🤷‍♂️

— Sir Ezra Richard (@ezrarichard) May 10, 2022

Please do it for all trains, being a mother I also want to feel comfortable with my baby while traveling

— Richa Choudhary (@RichaSchoudhary) May 9, 2022

@DrmChennai @DRMTPJ @SalemDRM This is great initiative, which would help most of the parents. Request this initiative should be expanded to Southern Railway trains also in Tamilnadu

— Vimal R (@Vimal4mTJ) May 10, 2022