Freight Operations Management Quiz

Tata Steel Webinar: SAKSHAM IL6 Logistics - Railway Commercial Workflow

• Webinar focused on Tata Steel logistics and railway commercial workflow.
• Topic covered different zones of Indian Railways, railway sections, operating controls at Khurda Division, railway sidings, abbreviations in railway terms, Indian Railway wagons, freight calculations, free time of rakes, demurrage charge calculation.
• 16 main zones of Indian Railways are detailed
• East Coast Railway Zonal Map, Khurda Road Division, Waltair Division, Sambalpur Division are mentioned
• Different types of Indian Railway wagons are listed: open wagon, covered wagon, flat wagon, hopper wagon, brake van wagon, tank wagon, container wagon, and special purpose wagon.
• Important abbreviations for railway terms (FOIS, CRIS, RR, FNR, PCC, GPWIS, etc.) are defined.
• Detailed line capacity statements are noted for Khurda Road, Waltair, and Sambalpur divisions, including specific section details.
• Operating controls at Khurda Division are broken down by sections (Talcher, Bhadrak, Kendujhar, Palasa, Khurda, Paradeep).
• Various types of railway sidings were detailed, ranging from departmental to colliery sidings.
• Specific siding details for Tata Steel Ltd are included

FOIS (Freight Operations Information System)

• FOIS is a freight operations information system used by Indian Railways to track and monitor wagon movement, locomotives, and unit trains.
• It manages freight train handling, billing, and revenue collections.
• FOIS provides continuous cargo visibility and allows customers to view consignment status in transit.

RMS (Rake Management System) & TMS (Terminal Management System)

• Two sub-systems of FOIS, RMS and TMS, were discussed after field trials and validation.
• RMS tracks rake-based consignments and pipelines.
• TMS handles computerized booking, delivery of consignments, and station accounting, with improved customer interface and freight registers for inward and outward freight.

Indian Railway Wagon Types & Specifications

• Specifics for different wagon types (BOXN, BOXNHS, BOXNS, BOXNHL, BOST, BCNA, BCNHL, BCNAHS, etc.) are detailed in terms of capacity, length, width, and height
• Each wagon type is categorized by its intended use (e.g., open wagons for carrying various goods or hopper wagons for bulk materials.)

Freight Calculation

• Freight calculation details on train load and basis, normal tariff rate (NTR), development surcharge (DS), destination/originating terminal charges (DTC/OTC), public sidings, carrying capacity (CC), and GST rates specific to rail freight.

Online Waiver & Its Process

• Online waiver system for demurrage charges is available within a month in the railway portal.
• Demurrage charges are assessed for holding railway stocks beyond stipulated free time, potentially increasing freight costs.
• The process typically involves requesting cancellation, updating records in GPWIS/SFT programs, and conducting updates in the FOIS railway system. Late cancellations incur penalties.

e-Indenting Process & Registration

• e-Indenting process has two types (normal and premium) and involves providing details like wagon type, destination, commodity details, HSN codes.
• Registration of indent is carried out in the FOIS e-Demand portal.

Rake Release & RR Generation in FOIS

• Rake release time is handled by railway commercial staff after materials reach the yard.
• Supporting documents (e.g., weighing slips, loading annexures, waybills) are submitted.
• Railway personnel verify records for rake release in FOIS and initiate the RR generation.

e-RR Circulation, Surrender & Transfer

• e-RR automatically transfers to the account after generation.
• Outward rake materials are unloaded after e-RR transfer to consignees.
• Inward rake RRs are surrendered in the FOIS system.

e-Customer Portal

• This e-customer portal provides direct access to important details like rake position, payment log, refund particulars, and e-payment facility for customers.

Digitalization Project: STARS (Shipment Transport And Raw Material System)

• STARS facilitates digital shipment transport and raw materials handling, tracking, and related processes.
• Accessing STARS involves a specific URL and login.

Outward Steel Rake Placement in STARS

• This system enables the placement of wagons for outward steel rakes, including details like wagon receipt, train creation, and filling required details before submission.

Wagon Addition in STARS

• Process involves adding specific wagon details, repetition for each wagon, and final submission.

Create Rail Allotment in STARS

• This step involves inputting allotment number, date, destination code, siding code, rail vendor, and rake details.

Create In-Pilot in STARS

• Filling details like in-pilot number, date, pull-through, yard details, clear time, and line number is required.

Attach in Pilot

• Proper allotment number selection is required for attachment.

Mill Placement in STARS

• Mill Placement is maintained by OBL Billing Team.

Rake Confirmation

• Ensuring consistency in wagon numbers for allotment, C-note generation, and placement.

RR Attachment in STARS

• Attachment of railway receipts and declaration of printing of the receipts.

STARS Inbound and its functions

• Details related to inbound rake selection process based on the month, placement, unloading details, and out pilot are listed.

Rake Receipt and In-Pilot Attachment

• Users select wagons, enter relevant data for the rake, and submit.

Gross Weighment and Placement

• Steps for completing gross weighments, including relevant data selection and submission, filling out data on placements, and submitting.

Unloading Details

• Unloading details, including wagon selection, pilot details, and records are included.

Out-Pilot Attachment

• Entering pilot number, date and time, yard details, train details, and empty yard details is required to complete this function

Load Rake From SAP

• Function related to loading, sending data by mines, etc.

RMHS Control Tower/RM Canvas and details required for it

• This describes the process of maintaining and updating rake information, including materials, locations, and related details