Officials forcing goods train loco pilots to work 13-14 hrs continuously, finds rly probe

NEW DELHI: An investigation by South Central Railway (SCR) has uncovered "serious irregularities", including crew lobby officials forcing goods train loco pilots to work 13-14 hours continuously in a day and making them feed incorrect work time records across divisions. As per Railway Rules, a loco pilot cannot be asked to work more than 11 hours at a stretch.

Referring to the finding, the SCR, in a circular, said: "It's a serious irregularity and should be stopped immediately. Practically such practices make data favourable and stifle the initiative to improve train running."

The circular said it leads to the crew being under-rested, which is against safe running of trains. It instructed officials not to resort to such practices and take action against erring employees.

The investigation was carried out after a loco pilot of goods train from Secunderabad division refused to attend to his 'call for duty' last week, alleging he was not given enough rest time. On analysis of his duty schedule it was found that Shankar's working hours were 13.55 hrs as per the crew management system (CMS) report.

The circular added that the loco pilot had confirmed that his actual working hours were 14:26 hrs, but 31 minutes were deducted to avoid more than 14-hour driving reported in the CMS. The probe also showed that there were 620 cases of loco pilots of good trains working for around 14 hours and 545 of these were only in the Secunderabad division. "Such high number of cases (working hours between 13.55-14 hours) indicates that while signing off crew are being forced to feed incorrect time," the circular mentioned.

Meanwhile, the All India Loco Running Staff Association on Thursday warned govt of "intensifying their struggle" for the Railway Board accepting the recommendation of a panel that "legislation of breaks for meals and attending nature's call is operationally not feasible."

Railway ministry officials said that the national transporter has initiative to provide waterless urinal facilities in locomotives since 2018 and 883 have got them and toilets are being fitted in all new locomotives that are being manufactured. Older locomotives are being retrofitted with toilets as well.