Continuous night shifts and denied relief take a toll on loco pilots

Kozhikode: The responsibilities of loco pilots are vast and demanding. At all times, they must remain alert to signals, charging points, stations, the station master’s office, gatemen, tracks, level crossings, loading and unloading points, stretches where wild animals, including elephants, cross the tracks, speed limits and a host of other factors. Whether it is day or night, the demands remain the same, and even the slightest lapse in attention can have serious consequences. Despite this, loco pilots in many divisions are forced to work without proper rest. Recently, during the Indigo mass flight cancellation fiasco, which was allegedly created to override the new rest norms for pilots, various loco pilots' associations raised their concerns, highlighting how it can be detrimental to safety. 

Continuous night duty takes its toll
For most loco pilots in Kozhikode, continuous night duty has become the norm. After a series of train accidents, a high-level committee appointed by the Railways had recommended that no more than two consecutive night duties be assigned. However, the Railway administration later issued orders permitting up to four successive night duties, a practice that is now being implemented.

Performing night duty with unwavering concentration has begun to take a heavy physical and mental toll, said a state-level office bearer of the All India Loco Running Staff Association, on condition of anonymity. “The job demands 101 per cent attention. There have been instances where loco pilots lost their jobs for stopping even half a metre from the signal. With an excessive workload, even a momentary lapse in concentration is blamed entirely on the loco pilot,” he said.

Loco pilots are entitled under existing rules to 16 hours of headquarters trip rest and 30 hours of weekly rest after completing their trips and returning to their working station. The Labour Court and the High Court have also upheld these provisions. However, in practice, these entitlements are often denied. Citing staff shortages, pilots are repeatedly assigned duties without adequate rest. As a result, what should be a six-day duty stretch frequently extends to nine or even ten days, with rest granted only afterwards. Even then, the mandatory 16-hour headquarters trip rest is overlooked. “This is the situation across India,” said the association leader.

Denial of transfers
There are complaints that male loco pilots who requested transfers from Kozhikode to Palakkad have been denied relief. Instead, goods loco pilots are being assigned to operate several express and mail trains to Palakkad, leaving freight trains along the route stranded until these duties are completed.

VRS applications pending for years
Loco pilots say that after the COVID period, nearly ten per cent of their colleagues opted for voluntary retirement under the VRS scheme. However, this option is now being denied as well. Applications for voluntary retirement submitted as far back as 2 years ago are still pending processing.

Despite repeatedly raising grievances and demands both inside and outside Parliament and at organisational and non-organisational levels, these efforts have yielded little, according to leaders of the All India Loco Running Staff Association.