Railway Trials Drone Technology to Wash Trains at Surat-Udhana stations

Surat | Gujarat — A breakthrough in railway maintenance has taken place in Gujarat, where drones were successfully used to wash train coaches at Surat and Udhna stations, drastically reducing both time and manpower requirements. The trial, conducted on the Udhna-Brahmapur Amrit Bharat train, has sparked hopes of transforming the way Indian Railways maintains cleanliness.

Until now, washing a full train was a laborious process that required multiple workers and nearly three hours of manual scrubbing and hosing. With drone technology, 24 coaches were washed in just 30 minutes, officials confirmed.

“This is a game-changer for Indian Railways. A task that earlier took hours and heavy manpower was completed swiftly and efficiently with drones,” said a railway official present during the trial.

How the Drone Washing System Works

The drones, developed by two young innovators from Surat, are equipped with high-pressure water jets. They hover at the height of the train coaches and spray water evenly across the surface, cleaning grime and dirt within minutes. The estimated cost of making one such drone is around ₹3 to ₹4 lakh, making it a relatively affordable investment for large-scale railway use.

“Seeing our innovation being tested on a real Amrit Bharat train is a proud moment for us,” said one of the Surat-based developers. “We wanted to create something practical that can save time, water, and labor for the railways.”

Wider Applications and Safety Benefits

Apart from washing trains, the drones can also be deployed to clean platforms, high-elevation areas, and hard-to-reach sections of railway stations, where manual cleaning poses risks to workers.

“This technology not only improves efficiency but also reduces human risk, especially when cleaning high structures or during night operations,” another railway source added.

Past Trials and Future Prospects

Interestingly, this is not the first instance of drone-based washing in India. In May 2025, a parked train at Kamakhya railway station in Assam was also washed using drone technology. With Surat and Udhna now joining the list of successful trials, Indian Railways is evaluating whether the system can be scaled across the country.

The proposal has been forwarded to the Railway Board for approval. If sanctioned, drones could soon become a regular feature of train maintenance nationwide.

Local commuters welcomed the innovation. “Cleanliness has always been a concern in Indian trains. If drones can wash trains faster and better, passengers will definitely benefit,” said Surat resident Mehul Patel.