Railway Ministry changes outstation rest rules for train crew; Union calls it 'unlawful order'
The Railway Ministry has announced new outstation rest rules for train crew to bring uniformity among distinct practices currently prevalent in different railway zones and divisions.
However, the All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) has strongly opposed the move in a letter to the Railway Board, calling it an "unlawful order" as, according to them, it violates the Ministry's previous orders.
A Ministry's circular dated June 3, addressed to the General Manager of the Centre for Railway Information System said that there are six different types of outstation rest in terms of duration for running staff in Indian Railways.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Bank Owned Properties For Sale In Bacoor (Prices May Surprise You)
Foreclosed Homes | Search ads
Search Now
Undo
"The matter has been examined and in order to maintain uniformity in outstation rest conforming to the extant rules, the following has been approved by the Board," the circular said, specifying three types of rest norms.
The circular has permitted 8-hour rest for those running staff who will do 8 hours of duty and 6-hour rest for those doing 5 to 8 hours of duty.
Live Events
It said that those running staff who work for 5 hours or less, they would get one hour more than the duration of duty.
"CRIS is advised to disable all other types of outstation rest in the CMS (Crew Management System) application," the Ministry added.
On the other hand, the AILRSA said that the Ministry's letter will seriously impact safe rail operations as it completely disregards the Hours of Employment rules of the High Power Committee set up by the Ministry in 2016.
The Union office bearers said that the Committee was of the view that any outstation rest which is of a duration of less than 8 hous, is highly inadequate because the running staff spend considerable time on many other activities during this period besides resting.
They said that, for instance, the crew need time to travel from lobby to the running room, to fulfil personal hygiene needs, to get meals prepared and to eat among others.
KC James, Secretary General, AILRSA, said, "Thus, the actual time available to the running staff for rest/sleep is much less than 8 hours whereas the minimum requirement for sleep is 8 hours."
"AILRSA has also mentioned in their memoranda that the actual time available at outstation for resting after the time spent by the running staff in the above-mentioned activities is less than the time required to recoup from fatigue of the incoming trip and be ready for the outgoing trip," he added.
According to the Union, the High Power Committee said that linking the outstation rest only to the duration of the incoming trip is not logical, as the rest granted is for recuperating from fatigue for the onward journey.
"If the Loco Pilot is not granted adequate rest before performing the outgoing trip, which may be too long, his alertness level may be affected due to this," James said.
Urging the Ministry to reconsider the decision, he added, "It is not only in the interest of the railway's safety, but the decision should be withdrawn on humanitarian grounds as train crews are also human first and railway servants later." PTI JP NB NB
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
10 hours ago
- India Gazette
Ministry of Mines participates in 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0' plantation drive in Delhi
ANI 08 Jun 2025, 00:58 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): In line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Mines organised a plantation drive in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, as part of the nationwide 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0' campaign, an official statement said. The event was led by the Secretary, Ministry of Mines, V L Kantha Rao, and saw active participation from senior officials and staff of the Ministry. Currently in its second phase, 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0' blends environmental responsibility with emotional connection -- encouraging citizens to plant a tree in the name of their mother. Rao highlighted the importance of individual participation in environmental protection and encouraged citizens to plant trees as a tribute to their mothers and to Mother Earth. The Ministry of Mines remains committed to supporting national initiatives aimed at building a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable India. (ANI)
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
Railway Ministry changes outstation rest rules for train crew; Union calls it 'unlawful order'
The Railway Ministry has announced new outstation rest rules for train crew to bring uniformity among distinct practices currently prevalent in different railway zones and divisions. However, the All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) has strongly opposed the move in a letter to the Railway Board, calling it an "unlawful order" as, according to them, it violates the Ministry's previous orders. A Ministry's circular dated June 3, addressed to the General Manager of the Centre for Railway Information System said that there are six different types of outstation rest in terms of duration for running staff in Indian Railways. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bank Owned Properties For Sale In Bacoor (Prices May Surprise You) Foreclosed Homes | Search ads Search Now Undo "The matter has been examined and in order to maintain uniformity in outstation rest conforming to the extant rules, the following has been approved by the Board," the circular said, specifying three types of rest norms. The circular has permitted 8-hour rest for those running staff who will do 8 hours of duty and 6-hour rest for those doing 5 to 8 hours of duty. Live Events It said that those running staff who work for 5 hours or less, they would get one hour more than the duration of duty. "CRIS is advised to disable all other types of outstation rest in the CMS (Crew Management System) application," the Ministry added. On the other hand, the AILRSA said that the Ministry's letter will seriously impact safe rail operations as it completely disregards the Hours of Employment rules of the High Power Committee set up by the Ministry in 2016. The Union office bearers said that the Committee was of the view that any outstation rest which is of a duration of less than 8 hous, is highly inadequate because the running staff spend considerable time on many other activities during this period besides resting. They said that, for instance, the crew need time to travel from lobby to the running room, to fulfil personal hygiene needs, to get meals prepared and to eat among others. KC James, Secretary General, AILRSA, said, "Thus, the actual time available to the running staff for rest/sleep is much less than 8 hours whereas the minimum requirement for sleep is 8 hours." "AILRSA has also mentioned in their memoranda that the actual time available at outstation for resting after the time spent by the running staff in the above-mentioned activities is less than the time required to recoup from fatigue of the incoming trip and be ready for the outgoing trip," he added. According to the Union, the High Power Committee said that linking the outstation rest only to the duration of the incoming trip is not logical, as the rest granted is for recuperating from fatigue for the onward journey. "If the Loco Pilot is not granted adequate rest before performing the outgoing trip, which may be too long, his alertness level may be affected due to this," James said. Urging the Ministry to reconsider the decision, he added, "It is not only in the interest of the railway's safety, but the decision should be withdrawn on humanitarian grounds as train crews are also human first and railway servants later." PTI JP NB NB
News18
3 days ago
- News18
Over 7 Lakh New Voters May Be Unable to Vote In Maharashtra's Local Body Polls. Here's Why
Last Updated: As per the law, local body elections must use the final electoral roll prepared for the most recent assembly polls, leaving out those who registered after 2024 As Maharashtra gears up for its long-pending local body elections, a key concern has emerged—lakhs of newly registered voters may not get the chance to vote. Following a Supreme Court directive clearing the path for civic elections, the State Election Commission has begun its preparations but officials say the voter list used in the last assembly elections will be reused for these polls, as per rules. This could leave out over seven lakh new voters who registered after the 2024 assembly elections. Several of these new voters—many of them first-time youth voters—had hoped to cast their votes in the upcoming municipal and panchayat polls, dates for which haven't been fixed yet. But as per the law, local body elections must use the final electoral roll prepared for the most recent assembly polls, and not a freshly updated list. The State Election Commission has already written to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Maharashtra, asking for a copy of this final voter list. Ministry sources confirm that the request has also been forwarded to the Election Commission of India, and the list is likely to be handed over soon. Apart from the voter list, the commission has also asked for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) required to conduct the polls. Sources say that during the assembly elections, nearly one lakh EVMs were used. Given the large number of local bodies across Maharashtra, including municipal corporations, councils, and zilla parishads, officials may need additional EVMs, possibly sourced from other states. At present, Maharashtra has around 9.8 crore registered voters, up from 9.73 crore during the last assembly elections. With nearly seven lakh new additions, their exclusion is being seen as a missed opportunity, especially at a time when young voter participation is being encouraged. While preparations are in full swing, the final election schedule is yet to be announced. Until then, the number of excluded new voters may continue to grow. The development has raised concerns among citizens and civil society groups, who have called for a more inclusive approach to ensure every eligible voter gets a say in local governance—the closest form of democracy in action. First Published: June 05, 2025, 11:36 IST
