📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Raybellrich
National
Indian Railways orders night-time shutdown of coach sockets to curb power load
✍️ Livemint
🗓 01 Nov 2026, 06:34 AM
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The Railway Board has revised its charging policy, directing all zones to switch off passenger‑coach power sockets between 11 pm and 5 am to cut electricity consumption and prevent overloads.
The Railway Board issued a circular on Monday that mandates the de‑activation of all passenger‑coach power socket points from 11 pm to 5 am across the country. The move comes as part of a broader effort to rationalise electricity usage on trains and to avoid peak‑hour overloads on the railway’s power grid.
Under the new charging rules, railway zones will be required to ensure that the sockets are switched off automatically during the specified window, with provisions for passengers to request power at other times. The board has instructed zone offices to update their operational manuals and to train staff on the new procedure within the next two weeks.
Officials say the policy is expected to reduce nightly power draw by several megawatts, translating into measurable cost savings and a lower carbon footprint for Indian Railways. The change also aims to improve safety by minimising the risk of short‑circuit incidents during low‑traffic hours.
The Railway Board will monitor compliance through periodic audits and will review the impact after three months, with the possibility of extending the shutdown period if the results are favourable.
Under the new charging rules, railway zones will be required to ensure that the sockets are switched off automatically during the specified window, with provisions for passengers to request power at other times. The board has instructed zone offices to update their operational manuals and to train staff on the new procedure within the next two weeks.
Officials say the policy is expected to reduce nightly power draw by several megawatts, translating into measurable cost savings and a lower carbon footprint for Indian Railways. The change also aims to improve safety by minimising the risk of short‑circuit incidents during low‑traffic hours.
The Railway Board will monitor compliance through periodic audits and will review the impact after three months, with the possibility of extending the shutdown period if the results are favourable.