Indian Railways has suffered a loss of more than 1.27 crore linen items, bedsheets, blankets, towels and pillow covers, from air-conditioned (AC) coaches over the past four years. The statistics have once more turned the spotlight on the persistent theft and misuse of railway property, leading to significant loss of money and operational problems for one of the world’s biggest railways.
The missing items are included in the complimentary linen kits provided to passengers in AC classes. These kits are designed to provide comfort for long-distance trips and are cleaned, sanitized and reused after the trip. But the very disappearance of these items has been a persistent problem for railway authorities.
According to official data, the stolen linen consists of lakhs of bedsheets, blankets, towels, pillow covers and other reusable items that are supposed to remain on board the trains. The cumulative loss over four years has not only increased replacement costs but has also added to the pressure on railway’s housekeeping and logistics systems.
Indian Railways operates thousands of passenger trains every day, carrying millions of passengers across the country. Managing linen operations for AC coaches is a huge logistical task and involves collection, washing, sanitization, transportation and redistribution. When large quantities of linen are lost, the railways are forced to use replacements and incur high operational costs that ultimately impact public resources.
Board members have told passengers to treat railway property as public property and to do so. They say that taking blankets, towels, or bedsheets out of trains is not only unethical, it’s theft. Every missing item must be replaced, further depressing maintenance costs that may otherwise be spent on passenger comfort, safety measures or infrastructure upgrades.
It’s not just money lost. Linen shortages can disrupt services, especially when demand for AC accommodation is high in peak travel seasons. Train station staff often face complaints from passengers when there is no fresh linen to be found due to theft or damage.
Over the years Indian Railways has taken several measures to address the problem. This includes enhanced monitoring for linen distribution and collection, better inventory management systems, awareness campaigns and increased supervision of onboard staff. Some railway zones have also looked at digital tracking systems and improved accountability structures to minimize their losses.
The railway administration has encouraged passengers to report any misuse of linen or suspicious activity to train staff. Public cooperation is important for railway asset management and ensuring safe transport services for all passengers.
The same goes for civic responsibility. Public transport infrastructure and amenities are funded by taxpayers and passengers’ fares. Poor use or theft of public resources will not only hurt the person in question but will also affect millions of travelers who need these services in their daily lives.
So it is likely that awareness campaigns on responsible travel habits will reduce such incidents. Educating passengers about the cost of replacing stolen items and the effect on railway services may also help them to respect the shared public resources.
Indian Railways has made major investments in improving passenger experience over the last few years with new coaches, upgraded stations, better cleanliness standards, enhanced catering services and digital ticketing. These improvements will be protected if passengers are involved and when the government is strong enough to enforce the law.
As Indian Railways is working on upgrading its facilities, it is important that onboard amenities are preserved. Technology and monitoring will be able to curb theft but long-term success will depend largely on passengers’ sense of civic responsibility.
We always talk about the civic sense people travelling in general compartment but what about civic sense of passengers travelling in AC coaches.
— Saurabh👺 (@introvert1703) July 14, 2026
An RTI investigation by The Indian Express found 1.27 crore bedroll items like bedsheets, towels, blankets, pillows, and covers stolen… pic.twitter.com/L9DgpKqS6a
The theft of more than 1.27 crore bedsheets, blankets, towels and other linen items over four years is a reminder that preserving public property is a shared responsibility. By respecting railway assets and using facilities responsibly, passengers can contribute to a more efficient, comfortable and sustainable travel experience for everyone.
