New Delhi/Patna : Indian Railways has tightened the rules for deploying loco pilots on Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains, with a greater emphasis on experience, safety records and adequate rest.
Under the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Railway Board, only loco pilots meeting the prescribed grade and experience requirements should be assigned to premium passenger trains.
The new guidelines also cover the deployment of loco pilots and train managers, their safety records and mandatory rest periods. Zonal railways have been directed to strictly implement the revised norms.
Stricter Rules for Premium Trains
The revised system will particularly affect the deployment of crew on premium trains such as Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto.
Railways has emphasised that these trains should be operated by loco pilots with the required experience and grade. The move is aimed at ensuring that important passenger services are handled by crew familiar with the operational requirements of such trains.
Rules regarding the deployment of goods-train loco pilots on mail and express services have also been tightened.
Separate Panel for Emergency Requirements
The Railway Board has directed zonal railways to prepare a separate panel of A-grade goods loco pilots for emergency requirements.
However, even pilots included in this panel will have to undergo mandatory safety screening. A goods-train loco pilot cannot be assigned to a mail or express train link without completing the prescribed safety checks.
This means that even in situations where an experienced goods-train driver is required to operate a passenger service, the necessary safety requirements must be fulfilled first.
Adequate Rest Made Mandatory
The new SOP also places strong emphasis on the working hours and rest periods of loco pilots and train managers.
Crew members who have not completed the prescribed rest period will not be booked for duty. If a crew member is assigned duty without adequate rest, departmental action may be taken against the officials responsible.
The focus on rest is intended to prevent fatigue from affecting the alertness and decision-making ability of train crew during operations.
Crew Monitoring Through CMS
The Crew Management System (CMS) will be used to monitor the deployment and working hours of loco pilots and train managers.
Railways has instructed officials to regularly monitor and cross-check crew duty schedules. If a loco pilot has been continuously working or has not received adequate rest, the duty can be stopped.
The system is intended to ensure that critical passenger services are not operated by fatigued crew members.
Safety Records and Experience to Matter
The revised guidelines reportedly follow complaints regarding the deployment of goods-train loco pilots on certain mail and express services.
Under the new approach, factors such as seniority, safety record, relevant operational knowledge and experience will receive greater importance when selecting loco pilots for passenger trains.
Zonal railways and crew lobbies have been instructed to implement the new system strictly, particularly while assigning crew to premium trains.
Focus on Passenger Safety
The revised SOP is aimed at making train operations safer and more systematic. For Vande Bharat and other premium passenger services, the availability of a driver alone will not be the deciding factor.
The crew member’s experience, grade, safety record, knowledge of the relevant operations and adequate rest will also be considered before deployment.
The Railway Board’s latest move is expected to strengthen safety standards across premium and mail-express train operations.
