In a recent policy decision taken by Indian Railways, all the luxury trains will be equipped with green toilets similar to those in planes. According to a spokesman of the Railway Ministry, a special green toilet project has been launched for the selected trains. Newly designed washrooms will be fitted with vacuum toilet system, like the one seen in planes. The Ministry of Railways has floated global tenders for installing vacuum toilets in the Shatabdi at a cost of Rs 25 crore. Five multinational companies, including two from Germany, one from the USA and one from China, have shown interest in manufacturing and installing the system in selected trains.
Delhi-Amritsar Swarna Shatabdi Express is going to be the first train to have vacuum toilets. The introduction of vacuum toilets in Swarna Shatabdi is being undertaken on a pilot basis, the official said. 80 new vacuum toilets will be fitted in the train. The coaches will be fitted with vacuum toilets at the Kapurthala coach factory. All Palaces on Wheels, special tourist trains, would have this facility.
