India’s Vande Bharat Express trains are semi-high-speed trains known for offering comfortable and modern facilities. But recently, a passenger took to social media to express concern over the poor condition of a Vande Bharat train he was travelling on. The Indian Railways have now responded to the complaint.
Passenger Complaints About Filthy Vande Bharat Express Train
A passenger travelling on 20664 Vande Bharat took to his X account (@PranavBalakrish) on Monday, sharing frustration over the train’s condition. He posted a few images and mentioned that the rake was in a pathetic state and quite dirty. He also complained about missing hand dryers in the toilets and soiled seats.
The X user further added that the train he travelled on was less than two years old, pointing out that authorities were failing to maintain even the newest trainsets. His caption on the post read, “Today’s 20664 Vande Bharat is a different set than usual. It’s in a pathetic condition. Seatbacks are filthy, tables are dirty, the accessible toilet is inaccessible, hand dryers are missing, and seats are soiled. What happened to the normal Orange rake, & why is this supposedly flagship train so bad?” He also added, “The normal Orange rake is actually not badly maintained; this one is disgusting.”
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Indian Railways Responds Quickly
The complaint quickly prompted a response from Indian Railways. Authorities clarified that the original Rake No. 59 had been taken for maintenance and was temporarily replaced by Spare Rake No. 29. They wrote, “This is to inform you that original Rake No. 59 has been replaced with Spare Rake No. 29 from 06/10/25, as Rake No. 59 was taken for SS-1. Rake No. 29, received from SMVB on 04/10/25, underwent pit attention on 05/10/25.”
Indian Railways also stated that during the inspection, interior cleaning was done, seat recliners were attended to, and hand dispensers and dryers were also restored. They further thanked the passenger for reporting the issue. The authorities also said the team would investigate other deficiencies and address them in a consolidated report.
The complainant, Pranav Balakrishnan, replied to their clarification and wrote, “Thank you for the clarity. In the future, a rake should not be put into service if it’s not deep-cleaned. It makes a mockery of the steep prices you’re already charging.”
Though the complaint was addressed quickly, some X users shared their own opinions. One wrote, “Even the newer ones (trainsets) look and feel substandard as compared to trains in other parts of the world.” A few users also blamed other passengers, saying the lack of civic sense contributes to the poor condition of trains.
Also Read: Lucknow To Mumbai Sleeper Vande Bharat Express Coming Soon; Travel Time To Drop From 22 To 12 Hours
What do you think of this situation? Have you ever travelled in a train which is in poor condition? Share your thoughts with us.
Cover Image Courtesy: @PranavBalakrish/ X
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