The loco running staff are upset over the callous attitude of the Railways and the inordinate delay in filling vacancies of the loco pilots, assistant loco pilots, shunters and crew controllers in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad railway division and for not improving service conditions.
The shortage of the loco pilots has been cited as one of the main reasons for the cancellation of the passenger trains and Mainline Electric Multiple Units, the much-depended trains by short-distance passengers like office-goers and students, for several days in post-flood days in the State.
“The 20 loco pilots handling goods trains were trapped after their homes got inundated in the floods. They are back in action by Tuesday and the present cancellations are due to track repair and renewal works.
The 10% vacancy of loco running staff is prevailing for ages,” Divisional Railway Manager, Shirish Kumar Sinha told The Hindu.
As on August this year, 65 vacancies of loco running staff exist in Thiruvananthapuram division and 50 in adjoining Palakkad division. Of these vacancies, 71 are of the loco pilots, 36 of assistant loco pilots and eight of shunters.
Total strength
The total strength of loco pilots in the railway network is 79,000 and there are over 18,750 vacancies now.
The only solace is that recruitment process by Railways for the 20,000 vacancies notified have commenced. But, loco pilots say this will not be enough as 8% of the 79,000 will retire annually in the next three to four years.
Among the six railway divisions under Southern Railway, Thiruvananthapuram has 10.3% vacancy of the crew and Palakkad 7.7%. The highest of 12.8% is in Tiruchi division followed by 11.8% in Salem.
P.N. Soman, zonal assistant general secretary of the All India Loco Running Staff Association, said the sanctioned strength of loco pilots was much less than the actual demand.
Recruitment
The last general recruitment was held in 2002 and special recruitment for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes four years ago.
Mr. Soman said the delay of the divisional authorities in reporting the vacancies of the crew to the Zonal General Managers had led to the crisis.
Reluctance
The reluctance of the authorities to relieve loco pilots and assistant loco pilots working in other railway divisions who sought transfer to their home had compounded the problem.
The staff were working under heavy pressure and were being denied the 40-hour rest in a week and this was affecting the safety of train operations, he pointed out.
There was also no step to replace those declared medically unfit and those who sought voluntary retirement.
Demand for TA
Mr. Soman said the association was stepping up the demand for getting Travelling Allowance (TA) for loco pilots and pension parity even though they were barred from undertaking agitation.
It would take eight years for a fresh recruit to become a full-fledged loco pilot to take over mail and express trains.
The training of fresh recruits would last six months, Mr. Soman said.