General coaches to be cleaned every 60–90 minutes under new Railway upgrade

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that general coaches of long-distance trains will now be cleaned to standards comparable with first-class coaches. Initially, 80 long-distance trains will undergo the enhanced cleaning initiative within six months. Dedicated staff will clean cabins, toilets, and garbage bins at intervals of one to one-and-a-half hours.

Previously, linen management and other services were handled by multiple agencies. The new system assigns these responsibilities to a single agency to improve accountability and efficiency.

Gati Shakti cargo terminals

Vaishnaw also highlighted that 124 Gati Shakti cargo terminals will be established over the next three years across 18 states and Union Territories. These terminals will provide enhanced multi-modal connectivity, reduce logistics costs, and strengthen India’s position as the second-largest cargo carrier in the world.

Passenger impact

The combined effect of these measures ensures:

• Reserved seats are efficiently reassigned, reducing disputes.
• Improved cleanliness and hygiene in general coaches.
• Streamlined logistics and cargo operations benefiting overall rail infrastructure.
• Indian Railways has tightened rules for passengers with reserved tickets and launched an enhanced cleanliness initiative for long-distance trains, aiming to improve passenger convenience, safety, and hygiene.

Reserved seat rules tightened

Passengers travelling with reserved tickets must now board at the boarding station specified on the ticket. Failure to do so will result in the reserved seat being immediately reassigned. Previously, TTEs (Traveling Ticket Examiners) held the seat for up to two stations, but the new HHT (Hand Held Terminals) system allows instant updates, giving the seat to waiting list or RAC passengers without delay.

Passengers are notified via SMS when their seat is reassigned. However, the SMS will only be sent to the mobile number provided during booking. Tickets booked through travel agents may list the agent’s mobile number, leaving passengers unaware of reassignment notifications. To avoid losing a seat, passengers must board on time or update their boarding station at least 24 hours before departure through the IRCTC website or app.