Why Do Commuters Wait When Trains Pass Over Railway Bridges? Desis Explain
When a train passes, there's a risk of human waste falling from it, as many older Indian trains still have open-pit toilets that release waste directly onto the tracks below.
A video on social media is leaving people puzzled. It shows commuters stopping on a clear road while a train passes on a bridge above. At first, it looks strange. The road is empty. The train is far above. Yet people wait.
It is not a traffic rule. It is not a safety measure. The real reason is something that only Indians know.
Here's All About The Viral Video
In the video, several bikers and drivers are seen waiting. The bridge has a train moving over it. The road below is clear. The text on the video says: 'Train is on the bridge, road is clear, but still we wait. India is not for beginners."
But Why ?? 🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/XuYXGXt5t5 — SriSathya (@sathyashrii) August 7, 2025
If you have never experienced this, you may be confused. But for locals, the answer is simple.
The Unspoken Reason
When a train passes, there is a chance of human waste falling from it. Many older trains in India have open-pit toilets. Waste can drop directly onto the tracks or anything below.
One user wrote, 'They know about their quality of construction!"
Another said, 'To save themselves from toilet waste falling directly onto them."
A comment read, 'Unfortunately, if anyone in the train goes to comfort himself or herself, the direct impact is on someone who is down below. This is learnt through experience."
Someone else added: 'Even we have this in our town. Water used to drip from restrooms. Now, railways have fixed it with bio-toilets. But 10 years back, it happened all the time."
The Change In Recent Years
Indian Railways has been installing bio-toilets in newer trains. These help process waste before it is released. But many older trains still use the traditional system. Until all trains are upgraded, people will keep waiting under bridges when a train passes — no matter how clear the road looks.
Sometimes, experience teaches lessons no signboard can.
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