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The story of how and when toilets were introduced in Indian Railways

Updated: February 05, 2025 15:45 IST
Can you imagine a train journey without toilets? Sounds impossible, right? But back in the early 1900s, passengers travelling by Indian Railways had no access to toilets onboard. The story of how toilets were introduced in Indian Railways is both fascinating and surprising, and it all started with a frustrated passenger’s letter.
1/8 Image Source : Adobe Stock
Can you imagine a train journey without toilets? Sounds impossible, right? But back in the early 1900s, passengers travelling by Indian Railways had no access to toilets onboard. The story of how toilets were introduced in Indian Railways is both fascinating and surprising, and it all started with a frustrated passenger’s letter.
2/8 Image Source : Pinterest
When Indian Railways began operations in 1853, passenger coaches did not have any toilet facilities. Travelling long distances was a challenge, and passengers had to wait for long halts at stations to relieve themselves. This led to severe discomfort, especially on long journeys, making train travel an ordeal for many.
3/8 Image Source : PastIndia.com
The story of how toilets were introduced in Indian Railways is both humorous and historic. It dates back to 1909 when a passenger named Akhil Chandra Sen experienced a gastrointestinal ailment while travelling. He wrote a now-famous letter to the East Indian Railway. In his humorous yet desperate complaint, he described how he had to get down at a station for nature’s call but ended up missing his train.
4/8 Image Source : Social Media
As his train halted at Ahmedpur station in West Bengal, Sen had to deboard to relieve himself on the tracks. But fate had a different plan -- just as he was attending to nature’s call, the train guard blew the whistle, signalling departure. In a desperate attempt to reboard, Akhil Chandra Sen ran after the train, holding his dhoti and earthen pot. Unfortunately, he lost his balance, fell, and missed his train.
5/8 Image Source : Indian Railways
Frustrated, Akhil Chandra Sen wrote a strongly worded complaint to the Sahibganj divisional railway office and criticised the absence of toilets in trains. His plea for toilets in trains finally caught the attention of railway officials. This complaint eventually led to the introduction of toilets in Indian Railways, changing passenger comfort forever.
6/8 Image Source : pastindia.com
Moved by Akhil Chandra Sen's incident, the British administration decided to introduce lavatories in Indian Railways. By 1909, Indian trains started getting toilets, making travel much more comfortable for passengers. However, it took several more years before toilets were included in lower-class coaches, which were used by most passengers.
7/8 Image Source : picryl.com
Thanks to Akhil Chandra Sen’s letter, millions of railway passengers today enjoy the basic comfort of toilets while travelling. By the 1940s, the Railways began installing toilets in all classes of coaches. This transformation significantly improved hygiene and travel comfort for passengers across the country.
8/8 Image Source : ixigo.com
Initially, train toilets were just open holes leading directly onto the tracks. Over the years, Indian Railways worked on upgrading sanitation by introducing flushing systems and eventually, bio-toilets in the 2010s to maintain cleanliness and sustainability.