About 200 loco pilots from the South Western, Southern and South Central Railway organised a safety march to the office of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) in the City on Thursday, demanding an inquiry into causes of human failure in train accidents.
Sunish C, General Secretary, All India Loco Running Staff Association, complained of inhuman working conditions which had affected the morale of the loco pilots. “Twenty per cent of the sanctioned posts are vacant and there is a blanket ban on creation of new posts for additional trains. We are unable to take sick leave or weekly off. This has resulted in lack of concentration.” he said.
A memorandum was submitted to the CRS, S K Mittal, in this regard. They also demanded an inquiry into railway accidents, mainly the Hampi Express mishap that occurred on May 22.
“The existing railway rule insists on 13 hours of duty continuously as an upper limit per day, even though the weekly working hours are 48. The International Labour Organisation convention allows only nine hours . The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Safety, in 2004, had recommended eight hours of duty, but railways refused to accept it. The long duty hours develop fatigue in crew; this can lead to operational lapses and sleep,” the association has stated.
Factors like limiting outstation detention to 36 hours, limiting the level of decibel in the diesel locomotive and the need for air-conditioning the cab to reduce operator fatigue were highlighted. Lack of visibility of track and signals ahead and dysfunctional wipers in rainy season were also mentioned. A dharna was later held at Freedom Park.
Crack on track delays trains
Trains between Mysore- Bangalore-Mysore were delayed for some time on Thursday, as the fish plate of the track near Mandya developed a crack, reports DHNS from Mysore.
Sources said the crack, classified as technical fault by railway police, was noticed near the sugar factory on the Mandya side in the morning. The Cauvery Express that was coming from Chennai to Mysore was stopped near Mandya for half an hour. It was only after the crack was welded, that the train resumed its journey.
Following this, railway authorities installed Caution Drive board instructing the drivers to maintain a speed of 10 km for 100 metres from both the sides.
