Railway reports: "Woman claims her period stained the bed sheet and demands 180 yuan compensation"

On March 20th, @Lanzhou Passenger Transport Section issued a statement:

Recently, regarding the online rumor that “a woman’s period on the train stained the bed linen, and the train attendant demanded cleaning or compensation of 180 yuan,” our section conducted an investigation. By reviewing the train’s video surveillance footage from that day, ticketing system data, and train operation records, and by speaking with the train conductor and attendants on duty, we fully restored the events. The details are as follows:

At 9:39 PM on October 9, 2025, passenger Zhang boarded train K228 operated by Lanzhou Passenger Transport Section in Lanzhou and arrived in Zhengzhou at 3:06 PM the next day. Around noon on October 10, when the train was near Gongyi City, Henan Province, a train attendant noticed a female passenger standing near the washbasin area in carriage 6. Her pants and clothes had large bloodstains, and the attendant inquired about her condition.

The passenger told the attendant that she was on her period. The attendant checked her ID and found her assigned berth was in upper bunk 1 in carriage 6, traveling alone without an accompanying person. The attendant examined the bed linen and blanket, which were stained with blood, and informed the passenger that the contaminated bedding needed to be cleaned or compensated at a rate of 180 yuan. The passenger said she had no money to pay and was willing to clean it herself. Considering her menstrual period, the attendant used a bucket of warm water to help her soak and wash the stained bedding. After washing, bloodstains remained, so the passenger rinsed it again at the washbasin.

When the train conductor arrived at carriage 6 and inquired about the incident, the passenger explained that she had started her period during the night of the 9th, which caused the bed linen to be stained. The conductor then asked other staff to help find sanitary pads; none were found, so they provided her with toilet paper. The conductor also suggested that, since the water was cold and she was menstruating, she should stop washing and let the train staff handle it. The passenger insisted on cleaning herself, and the train attendant took over, using disinfectant powder and detergent to wash the bedding.

During the cleaning process, the passenger sat on an empty lower bunk in carriage 6. After the attendant finished cleaning and found her again, she had stained the bed linen on that bunk as well. The attendant cleaned the second stained sheet again. During this process, the passenger also sat on a bench in carriage 6, which became stained. After arriving at Zhengzhou station, the passenger disembarked on her own.

Throughout the entire process, neither the train conductor nor the attendants charged the passenger any compensation. The Lanzhou Passenger Transport Section has never conducted any form of assessment or disciplinary action against the crew involved.

To show human care, starting December 1, 2025, our section has launched the sale of disposable female hygiene products on passenger trains with retail qualifications. Passengers in need can contact train staff at any time.

Next, we will continue to optimize service measures and improve service quality to provide a better travel experience for all passengers.

Editor: Lü Jingwen