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After each use, the bedrolls – sheets, pillow covers, and blankets – are collected by railway staff and transported back to the station.
Railways uses industrial washing for bedrolls.
Railways is a preferred mode of travel for crore of people across the country, offering both affordable options and premium services. From general coaches to First AC compartments, the railway system accommodates passengers of all financial backgrounds, making it accessible to all. For those travelling in higher classes, such as 3rd and 1st AC, the railways provide bedrolls – sheets, pillows, and blankets – to ensure comfort during the journey.
But have you ever wondered how these bedrolls are cleaned and maintained? Behind the scenes, there’s a large-scale operation to ensure that each passenger receives fresh, hygienic bedrolls for their journey. Let’s take a look at how this intricate process works, which many may not be aware of.
The Enormous ‘Dhobi Ghat‘
A recent glimpse into the cleaning process shared on social media revealed an impressive operation at one of the railway stations, where the bedrolls are cleaned. After each use, the bedrolls – sheets, pillow covers, and blankets – are collected by railway staff and transported back to the station. These used bedrolls are then taken to a central location at Danapur Railway Station, where they undergo a thorough cleaning process.
Here, the sheets are first sorted to separate out the ones with stubborn stains. Once sorted, they are transferred to massive industrial washing machines that handle the heavy-duty task of cleaning large quantities of bedrolls efficiently. This is no small feat, as the volume of laundry to be washed is substantial.
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Drying Without Open Space
While most of us are familiar with the sight of laundry drying under the open sky, the vast scale of Railways’ cleaning operation means there’s simply not enough space for that. Instead, after the sheets are thoroughly washed, they are placed in huge dryers that quickly remove moisture, ensuring the bedrolls are dried without relying on natural drying methods.
Pressing and Folding: The Finishing Touch
Once the sheets are dry, they move on to the next phase of the process: pressing. In a fascinating display of technology, the sheets are pressed using large heating rolls, which smooth out wrinkles and give the bedrolls a crisp, fresh look. This process is crucial, as passengers expect clean, neatly pressed linens during their travels.
After pressing, the bedrolls are manually folded by staff members, ensuring each sheet is perfectly folded for packaging. Women working in a dedicated section of the factory then pack the clean and pressed sheets into paper packets, ready to be distributed. These packed bedrolls are then transported back to the stations, where they are handed out to passengers, ensuring that the next traveller receives a fresh and hygienic set of linens.
