Train Toilets in India: What to Expect and How to Prepare

When you ride a train in India, you’re not just traveling between cities—you’re stepping into a system that moves millions every day. And one thing you can’t avoid? The train toilets, the basic sanitation facilities on Indian railways, often shared, open-air, and located on moving platforms. Also known as railway toilets, they’re a defining part of the journey for both locals and foreigners. Forget what you’ve seen on luxury trains abroad. Indian train toilets are raw, real, and surprisingly common—even on overnight journeys across the country.

They come in two main types: the basic open-air squat toilets, simple pits with a hole in the floor and no door, often found on older or slower trains, and the newer enclosed flushing toilets, small cubicles with a flush mechanism, usually found on premium trains like Rajdhani or Shatabdi. You’ll find both depending on your ticket class and train age. Don’t assume better seating means better bathrooms—some AC coaches still have the old-style pits. The key difference? Privacy and whether water flows when you flush.

What makes these toilets unique isn’t just their design—it’s the culture around them. You’ll see people carrying toilet paper in plastic bags, using water bottles to clean up, or even bringing their own seat covers. It’s not about discomfort—it’s about adaptation. Many travelers bring hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and disposable seat liners. Some even carry a small flashlight. Why? Because lights often go out, floors get wet, and the smell? It’s part of the experience. There’s no universal standard, and cleanliness varies wildly—from spotless after a station stop to overwhelming after hours on the move.

And yes, they’re used while the train is moving. That’s normal. The waste drops directly onto the tracks—no holding tanks here. That’s why you’ll often see signs saying "Do not use while the train is at station"—because the waste would land on the platform. It’s not ideal, but it’s how the system works. If you’re nervous, plan your stops: use the toilet before boarding, and wait until the train is moving before heading in. Avoid peak hours when the lines are long and the smell lingers.

There’s no magic fix, but you can control your reaction. Bring your own supplies. Wear easy-to-remove shoes. Avoid eating heavy meals right before long rides. And don’t panic if you see someone cleaning the floor with a bucket of water—it’s just part of the routine. These aren’t luxury facilities, but they’re functional. Millions use them every day without issue.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real stories from travelers who’ve navigated these spaces—from the shocking to the surprisingly manageable. You’ll learn what to pack, which trains have the least awful toilets, and how to handle the unexpected. No sugarcoating. Just facts from people who’ve been there. Whether you’re heading to Varanasi on a local train or cruising from Delhi to Mumbai in AC First Class, this isn’t about avoiding the toilet—it’s about knowing what you’re walking into, and walking out with your dignity intact.