How Train Passengers Can Get Their Coaches Cleaned with Just a Mobile Phone

Passengers on long distance train journeys don’t have to worry about the cleanliness of their coach anymore, because the ‘On board housekeeping service’ (OBHS) is now available on more than 1,700 trains. With this SMS and web-based monitoring system, passengers can get their coach cleaned during the train journey as well, instead of tolerating the filth till the cleaners come in.

The OBHS includes scheduled cleaning of coaches twice a day, and cleaning at any time when a passenger sends in a request.

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Picture for representation only. Source: Wikimedia

There are two way of sending a cleaning request:

• Enter your PNR number and mobile number in a form available on the website – cleanmycoach.com
• Send an SMS to the number 58888 by typing CLEAN < Space >< 10-digit PNR number>.

The software named OBSERVE (On Board Services), forwards the request to the cleaner present in the particular train. After the passenger’s PNR is validated, OBHS generates three SMS based actions.

This is how the notification system works:

• The first SMS, SMS-1, will be sent to the OBHS staff with details of the passenger, including the mobile number.
• The second SMS goes to the control office with the same details.
• The third SMS is sent to the passenger with details of the cleaning staff – the name and mobile number.

An auto generated four digit feedback security code is also shared by the Executive House Keeper (EHK) of OBHS after the coach has been cleaned. The EHK sends an SMS to the number 9200003232, from his/her mobile. The cleaning request is automatically closed after this SMS is received. If the coach is not cleaned within 30 minutes of the request coming in, an alert message is sent to the controlling officer.

This system has been introduced to make sure that railway coaches are clean all throughout the journey. Stickers have been pasted on all trains covered by OBHS, informing passengers about how they can complain.

The monitoring system has been recently implemented in eight more trains of the Malda Division. According to the OBHS website, the service is available in 1072 trains till now.

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