Latest news with #AllIndiaLocoRunningStaffAssociation
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Railway Ministry directs all zones to ensure prime condition of engine ACs
New Delhi, The Railway Ministry has directed all its 17 zones to launch a month-long drive to ensure the air conditioning systems in train engines are in prime condition to beat the summer heat. Railway Ministry directs all zones to ensure prime condition of engine ACs In a written communication sent to all zones, the ministry said that improving the working conditions of running staff is a thrust area for the Indian Railways to ensure safety in train operations. Asserting that effective Cab ACs are essential in the summer, it advised the zones to make sure during the month-long drive that "no locomotive should turn out from homing sheds/base sheds with any defective Cab AC." The May 6 letter added that Cab AC abnormality reports are being filled up by loco pilots/assistant loco pilots in the Crew Management System or log book and are also relayed to Traction Loco Controller for entry in the System for Locomotive Asset Management. It asked the zones to sensitise the departments concerned about paying timely attention to any defect in Cab ACs and "chalk out an action plan for early attention of locos with non-working Cab ACs as well as expedient fitment in remaining locos". "Officers and supervisors are advised to footplate in WAG 9 locomotives to understand and observe the effectiveness of Cab AC," the ministry said. It also added that the zonal railways should cover all electric and diesel locomotives fitted with Cab AC in this drive and submit a compliance report in a month. The All India Loco Running Staff Association, which held a day-long across the vast expanse of the rail network on April 30 demanding AC in all locomotives, has appreciated the ministry's move. "Your timely initiative in directing General Managers through your letter dated 06.05.2025 to improve the locomotive cabs is highly appreciated by the loco running staff," KC James, the secretary general of the association, said in a letter to the ministry. "We also expect that the Locomotive Cabins will be provided with AC in the near future to reduce the stress level of the crew and thereby improve the efficiency and safety of Railways," James added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Loco pilots allege 90 per cent ACs in engines faulty; Railways says all ACs fully functional
New Delhi, Loco pilot unions have alleged that 90 per cent of the air conditioners fitted in engines are faulty, making it difficult for train drivers to work during scorching summer when the temperature inside engines exceeds 50 degrees Celsius. However, the Railway Ministry has dismissed the allegations saying all the air-conditioning systems are fully functional with regular maintenance. "More than 15000 locomotives are functional in Indian Railways out of which 7,075 have been equipped with air conditioning systems to enhance the working environment for loco pilots. All these are fully functional with regular maintenance," Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Railway Board, said. The loco unions have also disputed the ministry's claim that out of 15,000 locomotives, 7075 have been fitted with air-conditioning systems. KC James, general secretary of All India Loco Running Staff Association , said there are a total of 10,500 electrical engines and 4500 diesel engines in the Indian Railways, totaling 15,000 engines. "Of these, less than 700 are fitted with AC and out of that less than 50 per cent of those ACs are operational," he said. He added, "Due to the lack of staff to carry out proper maintenance and the stepmotherly policy of the authorities, the ACs in the engine cabins have become non-functional. If they were installed in 700 as a result of years of agitation, how many more years will it take the same authorities to install them in 14300 engines?" Union leaders said that the highest ambient temperature in India during the summer seasons such as April, May and June is in the states like Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar etc. "The temperature in Rajasthan has already reached over 50°C. Last year's temperature was from 40° to 55°C and every year, it is increasing," Ram Sharan, central president of AILRSA, said. He added, "Even during winters, northern areas face extreme cold with ambient temperature going below 15°C which the crew experience too. Despite such a huge variation in temperatures in the engine, train services run smoothly and regularly." Loco pilots alleged the authorities pretend not to know that the temperature in the train engine is 5°C higher than this ambient temperature. "Not a single thermometer has been installed in the engine cabin to detect this ambient temperature," Sharan said. Union office bearers maintained that while field employees are given a break from work during the afternoon and senior railway authorities work in AC rooms at 20-23°C room, loco pilots are deprived of these benefits. "One can understand how difficult it is for loco pilots to concentrate working at 40-50°C ensuring safety of the train running," James said. He also demanded that failure of AC in the cab be treated as a loco failure and moved dead to the nearest loco shed. "This association requests the Railways to instruct officials concerned and loco shed supervisors to footplate in summer season, especially from 12- 16 hours and that too in WAG 9 locos so that the plight of loco pilots can be understood," James said.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Time of India
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.
