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Tengrinews.kz – A Kazakh passenger has complained that he is regularly asked to give up his lower berth on trains to elderly travelers, despite purchasing it in advance. As a solution, he suggested introducing an age restriction when selling upper berths, so that senior passengers would not be offered top bunks in the first place.
According to the passenger, such conflicts often arise on Talgo trains, where older travelers insist on taking lower berths, citing customs and respect for elders. Conductors usually do not intervene, he added.
He proposed that Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) consider an age-based rule for ticket sales to prevent such disputes. However, the company’s press service responded that no such restrictions are planned.
“All seats in a carriage are equal, and a passenger has the right to occupy the place they selected and paid for,” the company stated.
The complaint quickly went viral, sparking heated discussion online. While some supported the idea, others opposed it:
“Give up your seat. Soon enough, others will do the same for you.”
“What do you mean demand to give it up?! The person who paid for the lower berth decides – no one has the right to dictate.”
“It would be nice. Parents really struggle to find lower berths. I often see young people sitting there, while I have to buy an upper one.”
“The best option is to introduce pricing tiers: make lower berths more expensive, then there won’t be a problem.”
When asked whether such a pricing system was possible, the Passenger Transportation company explained that only the Ministry of Transport can change fare rules. At present, no adjustments to ticket prices for lower berths are being considered.
Passengers are instead advised to buy tickets early to secure the most comfortable seats.
