The Indian Railways is not just a mode of transport; it is a lifeline that connects the diverse fabric of India. Over nearly two centuries, it has transformed from a colonial enterprise into a modern, technology-driven public utility symbolic of national unity and progress. However, at the same time, when India’s railway network becomes more modern and passengers’ expectations grow, there is an increasing necessity for bridging the gap between technological advancement and everyday service quality.
As Indian Railways continues to introduce high-speed and semi-high-speed trains under its modernization drive, the task of keeping its thousands of trains clean remains paramount. Tugged in the same kind of situation, one passenger’s social media post pointing at the poor cleanliness of a train coach has elicited a quick response from Indian Railways, as the debate over the state of hygiene in public transport goes on.
ADVERTISEMENT
A passenger criticizes Indian Railways for not cleaning the coaches of the Vande Bharat train
On X, formerly Twitter, a user named Ashish Prakash criticizes Indian Railways for not properly cleaning the coaches of premium trains such as Vande Bharat. In his post, he also tagged Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, RailMinIndia, and East Central Railway. The post included two photographs of visibly dirty train areas, including dusty windowpanes, grimy walls, and litter on the floor. In his tweet, he wrote,
@AshwiniVaishnaw @RailMinIndia @ECRlyHJP if this is the way you keep cleaning trains days are not far when vande Bharat is going to turn into shit. Most people India don’t follow civic sense.
@AshwiniVaishnaw @RailMinIndia @ECRlyHJP if this is the way you keep cleaning trains days are not far when vande Bharat is going to turn into shit. Most people India don’t follow civic sense. pic.twitter.com/IhaV34bOEC
— ashish prakash (@ashishprakas) November 2, 2025
How did Indian Railways react to the incident?
Upon seeing it, RailwaySeva, the official social media handle that handles passenger complaints solely, responded to the complaint right away. Additionally, RailwaySeva offered a link to the RailMadad WhatsApp Bot, a toll-free grievance redressal number that enables travelers to immediately report issues with cleanliness or service. Their reply says,
We regret the experience you had. Please share your PNR number and mobile no. preferably via DM to enable us to take immediate action. You may also raise your concern directly on RailMadad WhatsApp Bot https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone=917982139139&text=hi&type=phone_number&app_absent=0
We regret the experience you had. Please share your PNR number and mobile no. preferably via DM to enable us to take immediate action.
You may also raise your concern directly on RailMadad WhatsApp Bot https://t.co/BoZqjybg4E https://t.co/utEzIqB89U
— RailwaySeva (@RailwaySeva) November 2, 2025
Meanwhile, this is not the first time that complaints about dirty train coaches have been raised. Sometimes, it is their cleaning facilities, and sometimes, it is their food facilities. Indian Railways has been under fire quite lately. Despite recent efforts by Indian Railways to improve cleanliness, including the introduction of bio-toilets, robotic cleaning, and onboard housekeeping services (OBHS), passenger complaints over filthy coaches, discolored flooring, and inadequate waste disposal are still common.
While recently launched or high-end trains like Vande Bharat Express, Tejas Express, and Amrit Bharat Express frequently begin with perfect cleanliness standards, reports and social media posts have revealed that maintenance frequently deteriorates over time, particularly on long-distance routes.
What do you think about this? Do share your thoughts with us in the comment section of this article.
Advertisment
