The Indian Railways has come out with a list of washing schedules for blankets in AC coaches or Indian trains in a disturbing revelation for train travellers. Such revelations came to light after filing a Right to Information request that came into force with the news that it’s not on the priority list of Indian Railways to maintain clean blankets for those travelling in AC coaches, providing a facility for night journeys.
Blankets in AC coaches look clean – But are they really are?
Brown-covered sheets, pillows, and quilts make beds for such travellers in AC coaches. The white sheets and pillow covers seem to be clean, but the quants or blankets are dark-coloured, usually black or brown, and not so hygienic. Bedding in Indian trains is said to be cleaned regularly, while bed sheets and pillow covers are washed after every use, and beddings in AC trains are cleaned far less frequently, usually once a month.
More shockingly, Railways stated that the cost of bedding on Indian trains is already part of the ticket. On some trains, such as Garib Rath or Duronto, passengers can choose for extra bedding services at an additional fee. Yet, the question remains about the blankets in AC coaches, given how rarely they can afford to be washed. As officials maintain in interviews that the sheets and pillowcases are washed, blankets may go weeks without washing unless “literally dirty”.
The representative was quoted as saying:
“In most cases, we would give the blankets for washing only if we noticed a foul smell, wetness, vomit, etc.”
The RTI further revealed that after the train journey, bed sheets and pillow covers are directly sent to washing machines, while the blankets in AC coaches are folded and kept in a heap unless they smell or get soiled. This also causes a lot of trouble for passengers. A 2017 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General said some blankets hadn’t been washed for as long as six months, further ringing the alarm over bedding in Indian trains.
Also, see: Snake found in Garib Rath Express: Are passengers safe in the Indian train?