Indian Railways passenger guide
How to report a dirty train coach or toilet
If you need cleaning during your journey, contact the official railway service. RailHygiene is for checking and sharing historical passenger ratings—not for dispatching cleaning staff.
Reviewed 28 July 2026 · Independent guidance with official links
For immediate cleaning assistance during a train journey
RailMadad is Indian Railways’ official grievance and assistance channel. Its official FAQ says passengers can lodge train or station complaints through the web, app, SMS or helpline and track supported complaints. The portal includes train-complaint categories and journey fields so a request can be routed to the relevant railway team.
- Open the official RailMadad portal and choose the train complaint option, or call 139.
- Select the category that most closely matches the problem, such as coach or toilet cleanliness.
- Give accurate journey and coach information so staff can locate the issue.
- Describe the problem briefly and clearly. Add a useful photo only when it is safe and appropriate.
- Keep the complaint reference if one is issued, and update the resolution feedback honestly.
Details worth keeping ready
The official complaint form may ask for contact and journey information. Before starting, note your train number, PNR or other travel authority where applicable, coach and berth, boarding station, incident date and a concise description. Never publish your complete PNR, phone number or other personal travel details on public social media or review pages.
A useful cleanliness report is specific without being dramatic: identify whether the issue affects the toilet, floor, dustbin, linen or overall coach; say where it is; and explain whether it prevents normal use. Avoid including another passenger’s face or personal information in photographs.
RailMadad and RailHygiene solve different problems
| Need | Use RailMadad / 139 | Use RailHygiene |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning help during a trip | Yes—official assistance channel | No |
| Check past coach cleanliness | Not its main purpose | Yes—community history |
| Leave a public historical rating | Complaint-resolution feedback | Anonymous coach rating |
| Official Indian Railways service | Yes | No—independent platform |
Using both services can make sense: RailMadad for immediate official action and RailHygiene after the journey to help future passengers understand what was observed. Read the full RailMadad versus RailHygiene comparison.
After the journey: leave evidence that helps the next passenger
Once the immediate issue is handled, a structured community rating can preserve the passenger experience beyond a single complaint. RailHygiene separates overall coach, floor, toilet and dustbin observations and groups them by train and reported coach. A PNR is used in the app to connect feedback to a journey; public train pages display aggregates rather than the PNR.
Ratings are historical observations, not live certification. Check the number of reports and their dates before drawing conclusions. One report is an early signal; several independent reports provide a more useful pattern. See the data methodology and limitations.
Check your train or contribute after travelling
Search the public train directory first. The Android app is needed to submit journey-linked feedback.
Primary sources: RailMadad official FAQ and Ministry of Railways/PIB information on helpline 139. Procedures can change; confirm current options on the official portal.