On the eighth day of the Indigo airline crisis, which has resulted in the cancellation and delay of several flights, India's loco pilots have also urged the government to take fatigue management seriously. The All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) said the government should adopt a modern system to manage loco pilots' fatigue. AILRSA reportedly alleged that while a private airline could pressure deferring safety rules in aviation, compromises and changes are possible in railways, too. Fatigue science should guide our transport policy, and the modern Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) should be immediately adopted, said the body. 

The body also said that the Railways should adopt work-hour systems, ensuring a predictable rest schedule, 16 hours of break after every shift, a six-hour daily duty limit, and weekly rest, along with daily rest. The railways reportedly have around 1.47 lakh loco pilots, but the current strength is only around 1.15 lakh. The shortage of around 30,000 loco pilots is overworking the existing workforce.  

A certain number of lower berth seats in all the compartments are reserved for senior citizens, women, and people with disabilities. Photo: iStock/SBstock
The shortage of around 30,000 loco pilots are resulting in the overwork of the existing workforce. Photo: iStock/SBstock

Over the years, many safety review committees have recommended the implementation of scientific working hours for loco pilots. However, the railways have not implemented them effectively, and according to AILRSA, when loco pilots highlight them or stage agitations, they are met with disciplinary action citing 'causing inconvenience to passengers.' A week ago, Karnataka's loco pilots launched a 48-hour hunger strike, accusing the railways of rejecting their demands. They also said that their work has increased due to technical and infrastructural developments. 

train-route-rep
The All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) said that the government should adopt a modern system to manage fatigue of loco pilots. Representative image/Manorama

Why is fatigue dangerous in trains
According to AILRSA, in railways, safety is much more dependent on human alertness than in flights. AILRSA secretary general KC James said that train tech upgrades are far behind those in planes. The body also noted that in many train accidents, the loco pilots involved were working for far longer than their timings. This is despite the 2016 Railway Board order capping duty hours at 12. 

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