Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, July 10: The loco pilots, integral members of the railway family, have seen significant improvements in their working conditions over the past decade. Notably, since 2014, there have been substantial upgrades to their facilities and work environment. Previously, running rooms, where pilots rest after completing trips away from headquarters, were in poor condition. Today, almost all 558 running rooms are air-conditioned, and many are equipped with foot massagers, although this amenity has faced some criticism from certain sections of society who do not fully understand the demanding working conditions of loco pilots.
Loco pilots operate from loco cabs, which were also in disrepair before 2014. Since then, the cabs have been fitted with ergonomic seats, and more than 7,000 loco cabs have been air-conditioned. New locomotives are now manufactured with AC cabs. In addition to these physical improvements, the duty hours of loco pilots are carefully monitored. Rest periods are meticulously observed after trips, ensuring that duty hours stay within prescribed limits. In June 2024, the average duty hours per trip were less than eight hours, with any extended trips occurring only under exigent circumstances.
In recent years, the recruitment process has also seen a major boost, with 34,000 running staff recruited and an additional 18,000 currently in the recruitment process. This influx of new staff helps ensure that the railways can continue to operate efficiently and safely.
The railway family remains united in serving the country, despite attempts to spread fake news that might demoralize them. The improvements in facilities between 2004 and 2014 and the advancements made from 2014 to 2024 highlight the commitment to the welfare of loco pilots. Previously, there were no air-conditioned resting rooms or loco cabs, but now all 558 running rooms are air-conditioned, 7,075 loco cabs have AC, and 815 loco cabs are equipped with washrooms.
In June 2024, the average duty hours per trip for various railway zones ranged from 6.1 hours in the Southern Railway (SR) zone to 9.1 hours in the East Coast Railway (ECOR) zone. The Indian Railways, as a whole, reported an average of 7.7 duty hours per trip across its 46,545 crew members, who completed 952,722 trips, logging a total of 73,17,251 duty hours. These figures underscore the efforts made to maintain reasonable working hours and improve the overall working conditions for loco pilots
