Climbing upper berths on trains in India can be difficult due to a lack of handholds. A proposed concept adds a retractable ladder to each set of berths to make accessing the top and middle berths easier and safer. The ladder can be rotated out when in use, allowing travelers to climb up and sit securely on the berth while keeping one leg on the ladder for support. After positioning on the berth, the ladder can be closed again. Prototyping was done at home to demonstrate how travelers could use the retractable ladder to more easily reach the upper berths.

1. How to Reach top and middle berths easily?
• Climbing and positioning the body
comfortably and safely is a nightmare in
most of the compartments of India Railway.

2. How to Reach top and middle berths easily?
• The difficulties of climbing
the berths have not been
addressed even in the latest
coaches.
• There is no grip for left hand
to facilitate climbing.
• Grip for right hand is at one• Grip for right hand is at one
single point.
• After climbing, moving on to
the berth is inconvenient
and not comfortable or safe.

3. Climbing top and middle berth made Easy -
Concept for retrofitting in the existing berths.
Prof. P Achutha Rao
Rendering: Mr. Ravi shankar.
For retro fitting in existing compartments, each set of berths
will have one ladder.
Ladder in “closed” position”, when not being used.

4. Concept: Prof. P Achutha Rao
Rendering: Mr. Ravi shankar.
Ladder is rotated out and it remains firm in this
position.
The Traveler climbs and after reaching the required
height, “sits” on the birth, still resting one leg firmly
on the ladder.

5. Concept: Prof. P Achutha Rao
“Prototyping” at home.
Traveler climbing
on the ladder
Traveler preparing to
“sit” on the berth.

6. Concept: Prof. P Achutha Rao
“Prototyping” at home.
The Traveler climbs and after reaching the required
height, “sits” on the birth, still resting one leg firmly
on the ladder. After positioning firmly on the berth,
the ladder can be closed.