States » NorthPosted at: Oct 6 2026 9:12AM


Railways intensify monitoring of 11 long-distance trains, with two-hourly garbage checks and photo inspections

New Delhi, Oct 6 (UNI) Indian Railways has stepped up cleanliness and maintenance measures across 11 long-distance trains, targeting journeys of over 40 hours.
The initiative strengthens accountability and introduces time-stamped photo inspections, two-hourly garbage collection and en-route repairs to ensure passenger amenities are maintained throughout the journey.
In a directive to all zonal railway general managers, Railway Board Member (Traction & Rolling Stock) and ex officio Secretary R. Rajagopal said that cleanliness and upkeep of trains during long-distance journeys were a “matter of high priority” and called for sustained monitoring from the originating station right up to the destination.
The October 3 directive shifts the focus from initial cleanliness at departure to maintaining high standards throughout multi-day journeys.
“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 Railway Board said.
The 11 trains identified for enhanced monitoring include the Vivek Express, Awadh Assam Express, RKMP-Agartala Express, ADI-SHC Express, DNR-SMVB Express, Pune-SOU Express, Amrapali Express, Jhelum Express, RGD-LTT Express, HWH-YPR Express and ASR-Garibrath Express.
Among them, the Dibrugarh-Kanyakumari Vivek Express has the longest journey at 4,158 km, with a turnaround time of 170 hours.
The Dibrugarh-Lalgarh Awadh Assam Express covers 3,117 km and has a turnaround of 148 hours, while the RKMP-Agartala Express covers 2,490 km with a turnaround of 121 hours.

The list also includes two trains with important links to Punjab and Jammu: the Katihar-Amritsar Amrapali Express, covering 1,808 km with a 95-hour turnaround, and the Pune-Jammu Tawi Jhelum Express, covering 2,173 km with a 94-hour turnaround.
The Amritsar-Saharsa Garibrath Express, covering 1,716 km with a 66-hour turnaround, has also been placed under enhanced monitoring.
The Railway Board noted that, due to the extended duration of these journeys, lapses in housekeeping, toilets, waste management, and coach amenities can “adversely affect passenger experience if not attended promptly”.
The directive requires Divisional Railway Managers to monitor and take ownership of the performance of long-distance trains in their divisions, ensuring quality passenger services.
Divisions where en-route inspection points have been identified have been directed to ensRecurring complaints or deficiencies must be analyzed for root causes, with corrective action taken promptly.heir root causes and take corrective action without delay.
Owning depots will monitor cleanliness and upkeep during journeys, and maintenance supervisors and coach officials are responsible for their assigned trains.
Zonal railway officers will conduct weekly reviews of cleanliness, including passenger complaints and their resolution.
Passenger complaints submitted through Rail Madad will play a greater role in evaluating the performance of housekeeping contractors and railway officials.
The Railway Board said On Board Housekeeping Service (OBHS) details on the CMM portal have been integrated with Rail Madad, making complaints traceable.
OBHS agencies will be evaluated based on performance. Zonal railways are to establish key performance indicators for depot supervisors and officers managing long-distance trains.
As a result, passenger complaints about dirty coaches, toilets, and related issues may be included in the formal assessment of agencies and officials responsible for train maintenance. Photos at stations
Railways has added another monitoring measure by requiring officials to take time-stamped photographs of coaches and toilets.
Photographs documenting coach and toilet conditions must be taken at designated en-route inspection points, as well as at the originating and destination stations.
This measure provides a visual record of cleanliness throughout the journey and helps authorities identify where deficiencies occur.
Special attention is required at designated Clean Train Station (CTS) points.
Divisions responsible for CTS locations must ensure adequaDivisions managing CTS locations must provide sufficient manpower, supplies, and equipment for en-route cleaning. The owning division is responsible for the effectiveness of CTS teams.
The board has gone beyond cleanliness and directed that minor maintenance issues should also be addressed en route rather than left unattended until the train reaches its final destination.
OBHS personnel will be trained to perform minor repairs, and CTS points must be equipped for small-scale repairs.
Dedicated teams of plumbers, electricians, and other maintenance staff may be deployed at these points for prompt intervention.
If a defect is detected, details should be communicated to the relevant CTS point before the train arrives, enabling maintenance personnel to prepare for immediate repairs.
Divisional control rooms must also be kept informed about available facilities at CTS points.
They must be thoroughly checked at the originating or base depot and again at designated en-route locations to ensure “effective and trouble-free functioning throughout the journey”.
This is particularly significant for trains remaining in service for several days, where a malfunctioning toilet can become a major source of passenger complaints.
Under the newly introduced OBHS scheme, railway staff must collect garbage from coaches every two hours. The system was intended to prevent garbage from being thrown onto railway tracks, including waste generated in GS and GSCN coaches.
Collected garbage must be handed over at designated disposal or CTS points, and divisions are responsible for proper management of these sites.
Railway stations must implement garbage disposal arrangements in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Railway Board.
Depots are instructed to keep spare rakes available to allow for intensive cleaning based on train condition.
The Board has issued an unequivocal instruction: “No rake should go in service with any deficiency.”
Passenger awareness and training of housekeeping personnel will form the initiative, which also includes passenger awareness and regular training for housekeeping staff.
The Board emphasises that OBHS employees must be trained in both their duties and appropriate conduct with passengers under the new OBHS scheme, with more long-distance trains expected to be added subsequently.
Rajagopal has instructed zonal railway chiefs to give the initiative “top priority” and ensure “strict compliance at all levels” of supervisors to divisional and zonal officers — with Rail Madad complaints, weekly reviews, photographs and en-route inspections providing measurable checks on whether a train remains clean and serviceable throughout its journey.
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