New- look appearance and condition of railway coaches

Southern Railway drive for new-look coaches

Southern Railway is planning to launch “On Board HouseKeeping Services (OBHS)” in select trains, besides taking up a drive to improve the appearance and condition of coaches.

The OBHS is being introduced initially on 16 trains and would be extended to 50 more in one year.

In the first phase, Grand Trunk Express, Tamil Nadu Express, Vaigai Express, Pandiyan Express, Maveli Express, Kerala Express, Chozhan Express and Navajeevan Express will have OBHS. One supervisor will travel on the train and there will be janitors one each for three coaches, according to a senior railway official.

Cleaning of coaches and toilets will be done from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. using disinfectants and sanitizers.

Janitors will replace the tissue paper rolls in the toilets as and when required. Window panes in AC coaches will be cleaned regularly.

As part of the efforts to enhance the travel experience, the Southern Railway is planning to have more Clean Train Stations (CTS). At present, Erode Junction in Salem Division is a CTS, where long-distance trains will be cleaned at the junction.

It is now planning to make Mangalore Junction as CTS. For cleaning and water filling, the train needs to be detained for 12 to 15 minutes and this may affect the running schedule.

Taking this into account, the Railways are exploring the possibility of having one or two more CTS in Tamil Nadu especially for South-bound trains.

Housekeeping services being introduced initially on 16 trains and will be extended to 50 more in a year