Railways targets 11 trains with 40+ hour journeys: Passengers may soon see a big change in how coaches are cleaned en route

The Railway Board has identified 11 long-distance trains, each with a journey time of more than 40 hours, for enhanced cleanliness and service monitoring. The move is aimed at ensuring that hygiene standards are maintained throughout the journey rather than only at the originating station. The Board has asked zonal railways to pay particular attention to housekeeping, toilets, waste disposal, minor repairs and other passenger amenities on these trains.

11 trains selected for enhanced cleanliness monitoring

The trains identified by the Railway Board are:

• Vivek Express
• Awadh Assam Express
• Rani Kamalapati-Agartala Weekly Express
• Ahmedabad-Saharsa Express
• Danapur-SMVT Bengaluru Express
• Pune-Supaul Express
• Amrapali Express
• Jhelum Express
• Rajgir-Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Janta Express
• Howrah-Islampur Express
• Amritsar-Saharsa Garib Rath Express

The Board said the trains were selected because their extended journeys can create additional challenges in maintaining cleanliness and serviceability.


“Cleanliness and upkeep of trains during long-distance journeys is a matter of high priority for Indian Railways,” the Board said in a written communication to the general managers of all zones.

Indian Railways focuses on cleanliness throughout the journey

According to the communication, trains that remain en route for extended periods can see problems related to housekeeping, toilets, waste management and minor coach amenities if deficiencies are not addressed promptly.

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The Railway Board has therefore asked the concerned zones to strengthen monitoring of on-board housekeeping staff and ensure that cleaning activities are carried out at designated points during the journey.

The focus will also be on en-route petty repairs, garbage collection and disposal, and the effective functioning of bio-toilets.

Weekly review of passenger complaints and cleanliness

Zonal railway officers have been directed to review the cleanliness status of these trains and monitor passenger complaints and their redressal on a weekly basis.

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The Board has also stressed the need to ensure that bio-toilets remain functional throughout the journey.

“Bio-toilets to be thoroughly checked and attended to at the originating/base depot and identified enroute locations for their effective and trouble-free functioning throughout the journey,” the letter said.

The instructions are intended to ensure that sanitation-related problems are identified and addressed before they affect passengers for long periods.

Clean Train Station points to get special attention

The Railway Board has also directed railway zones to focus on cleaning at identified Clean Train Station (CTS) points along the routes of these trains.

“Special attention to be accorded to enroute cleaning at identified Clean Train Station (CTS) points,” the Board said.

The owning divisions of these CTS points have been asked to ensure that adequate manpower, consumables and equipment are available for cleaning operations.

The Board also made the owning division responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of the work carried out by the CTS teams.

DRMs told to monitor long-distance train services

Divisional railway managers (DRMs) have been directed to take responsibility for the performance of long-distance trains under their respective divisions and ensure quality services for passengers.

The Board has also asked officials to examine recurring complaints and identify their root causes instead of addressing individual issues temporarily.

“Recurring complaint/deficiency shall be analysed for its root cause and suitable corrective action shall be taken without delay,” the letter said.

Railway Board wants sustained cleanliness till destination

The latest instructions make it clear that the focus is not limited to improving the condition of trains before they leave their originating stations.

“The objective should not merely be improvement at the originating station but sustained cleanliness and serviceability of the train throughout its journey till destination,” the Board said.

Officials have been asked to treat the exercise as a priority and ensure strict compliance across all levels. The initiative is aimed at improving the overall passenger experience on some of the country's longest train journeys.


Inputs from PTI