Shillong: Indian Railways only washes one bed sheet after a single use. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared this detail in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. A standard bedroll kit includes two sheets, one pillow cover, and a hand towel. The minister explained the setup. "Each bedroll packet contains two bed sheets, one pillow cover and a hand towel. One bed sheet is intended for keeping on the sleeper seat. In contrast, the additional bed sheet provided in the standard bedroll kit is intended as a covering layer under the blanket so that the blanket is not in direct touch with the passenger's body. This blanket cover sheet is washed after single use."
The revelation left passengers asking questions. They want to know how attendants distinguish the sheets. They also want to know why the sheet covering the sleeper seat goes unwashed after a single trip. The ministry is trying to fix linen quality. North Western Railway and the new Vande Bharat Sleeper train between Kamakhya and Howrah are testing blanket covers for all AC passengers.
Laundries now use white-meters to verify cleaning effectiveness. Officials also installed CCTV cameras to monitor daily work. Pune Division, Central Railway, and the Jaipur and Jodhpur divisions of North Western Railway are testing automated AI-camera stain detection technology. Equipment lasts for specific periods under railway rules. Handloom sheets last 12 months, and Polyvastra sheets last 24 months. Pillow covers and face towels last nine months. Pillows and blankets last 24 months before workers pull them from service.
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