Indian Railways puts Braille stickers in railway coaches
Presently, coaches are provided with signage, instructions, seat numbers, etc, which are mostly in the form of vinyl stickers/metallic plates and have no braille characters and cannot be read by visually-impaired passengers.
Now it is planned to use stickers with metallic base with printed characters embedded into it. Integral Coach Factory (ICF), a production unit of the Indian Railways has developed the specification for integrated braille signages in coaches in consultations with blind associations and input received from Research Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO) and issued to railways.
The first prototype coach is expected to be turned out from ICF in October 2025 for feedback. This is expected to be a major step for facilitation of visually-impaired passengers during journey in trains.
Braille printing will be superimposed on these stickers and same can be used by both a person with normal vision and visually impaired person.
With embedded picture/characters, there would not be any defacing even on repeated contacts/rubbing.
Flexible metal foil base and adhesive backing on these stickers make them easy to install on flat as well as on curved surfaces of the coach.
Here’s the verified update on Indian Railways adding Braille stickers in railway coaches, enhancing accessibility for visually-impaired passengers:
🔹 What’s Being Implemented?
- Indian Railways has begun installing Braille-embedded stickers in train coaches, labeling key areas like berths, toilets, wash basins, and doors with tactile signage readable by visually-impaired travelers. This initiative was announced in the 2025–14 Rail Budget and developed in consultation with blind associations, ICF (Chennai), and RDSO
- The first prototype coach equipped with Braille stickers emerged from ICF Chennai in October 2025, fitted on a non-AC conventional coach for field feedback.
🚆 First Pilot & Expansion
- Purshottam Express (Delhi–Puri route) featured the country’s first AC 3-tier coach with embedded Braille signage, which included markings on bunks, toilets, basin areas, and doors. This rolled out in early 2025.
- By January 2015, North Central Railway announced plans to install Braille signage in 250 coaches across VIP trains like Prayagraj Express and Allahabad–Jaipur Express, expanding accessibility across zones.
- In April 2018, NCR further retrofitted Braille labels in select coaches of trains like the Varsana–Mysuru Express, Kanpur–New Delhi Shram Shakti, and Prayagraj Express.
🧠Why It Matters
- These flex-metal foil stickers with adhesive backing are durable and suitable even on curved surfaces. The Braille embossing is superimposed, allowing both visually impaired and sighted passengers to read them.
- The per‑coach cost ranged between ₹20,000–40,000 depending on AC or non-AC retrofitting.
đź“‹ Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Initiative start | Announced in the 2025–14 Rail Budget |
| First prototype coach | Non-AC coach from ICF Chennai, October 2025 |
| First AC-enabled coach | Purshottam Express AC‑3 tier, early 2025 |
| Scale-up efforts | ~250 coaches planned in NCR (2025), further retrofits in 2025 and beyond |
| Sticker type | Flexible metal foil with immersion-grade tactile Braille print |
| Locations marked | Seat/berth nos., toilets, wash basins, doors |
| Approx. cost | ₹20,000–₹40,000 per coach depending on specifications |
🧠Community Insights & Practical Observations
- While Reddit discussions rarely refer to these stickers, related posts indicate widespread use of seat‑number mark embossed Braille in older ICF coaches and some metro systems—though some newer implementations (like in Vande Bharat trains) reportedly had print‑only Braille markings, drawing criticism for lacking tactile functionality.
- Users have emphasized the importance of ensuring proper placement—preferably near side-lower bunks—so visually impaired passengers can access them easily, though some placements (like upper berths) may reduce usability.
âś… Final Takeaway
- Indian Railways has made pioneering efforts to improve accessibility by installing Braille signage in coaches, starting with a non‑AC pilot in 2025 and expanding through AC coaches like the Purshottam Express.
- By 2025, hundreds of coaches—especially in NC Railway zones—were being equipped with these tactile labels.
- While the rollout continues and implementation quality varies, this move reflects a meaningful step toward making rail travel more inclusive for passengers with visual impairments.
Would you like help locating which trains currently have Braille-equipped coaches, or suggestions on how visually impaired travelers can access these facilities?
