Glossary · Berths & coaches

SL (berth) — Side Lower berth

The lower berth along the corridor, shorter than a bay berth and split into two seats by day. The berth RAC passengers share.

Side berths run lengthwise along the corridor, opposite the bays. The side lower converts into two facing seats by day and is the berth two RAC passengers share, each with a seat, until one of them is allotted a full berth. On older ICF coaches it is noticeably shorter than a bay berth; LHB coaches improved it.

On a ticket the code SL after the berth number means side lower; SL as the class on the same ticket means Sleeper. The two are unrelated and the context makes clear which is meant.

Also written or searched as: side lower · side lower berth · side lower RAC

Act on itWhich berths are side lowerOpen

Related terms

  • SUSide Upper berth
  • RACReservation Against Cancellation
  • LBLower Berth

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Last reviewed

September 15, 2026

Content update

Auto-updated on Jun 28, 2026

Scope: Definitions follow the published Indian Railways and IRCTC rules. Where a figure appears, it is read from the same engine as the site's calculators.

Rules reviewed