Railway Driver Personal Stores Quiz

Crew Management and Training

• Running staff, after recruitment as assistant drivers or goods drivers, undergo various training types. These include oral and written examinations.
• Training durations have been revised and are detailed below, based on the type of training
• Assistant Driver (Electric) with Traffic - 103 days (79 days at ZRTI, 4 days control room, 20 days line training)
• Assistant Driver (Diesel) with Traffic - 103 days (79 days at ZRTI, 4 days control room, 20 days line training)
• Assistant Driver (Electric+Diesel) - 151 Days
• Assistant Driver Conversion (Electric or Diesel) - 48 Days
• Goods Driver (Single Traction E or D) - 60 days at ZRTI, including 6 simulator days + 18 days handling in respective division.
• Dr. Conversion (E to D or D to E) - 35 days, including 6 simulator days + 18 days handling in respective division.
• Refresher course for A/Dr. (Electric/Diesel) duration - 21 days (18 days including 3 days simulator + 3 days safety camp)
• Refresher course for Dr. (Electric/Diesel) duration - 31 days (28 days including 6 days simulator + 3 days safety camp.)
• Loco Pilot (G) to Loco Pilot (P) - 48 working days (only loco is covered, no traffic)

Training Courses for Assistant Drivers

• Zonal Railways Training Institute (ZRTI) conducts training for assistant drivers.
• Candidates must pass an exam at the end of the training course.
• Unsuccessful candidates must repeat the course.
• Candidates are booked as assistant drivers after successfully completing the training in their respective traction.

Training Courses for Shunters

• Division-level DTC/BTC conducts shunter training courses.
• Some railways have discontinued shunter training courses.
• Prior to this point, passing the shunter course was required for promotion to shunter.
• A recommended minimum course duration for shunters is two weeks and includes handling.

Training Courses for Drivers

• ZRTI of Zonal Railways conducts training for running staff.
• Senior assistant drivers and shunters undergo driver training courses
• Successful completion of driver training enables eligibility for promotion to driver.
• Drivers who passed diesel training will work on diesel traction only.
• Drivers who passed diesel and electric training will work on both diesel and electric traction.

Refresher Training Courses

• Refresher training for drivers and Assistant Drivers is given every three years.
• The refresher course covers traffic rules and technical aspects of relevant traction.
• Divisional efforts should prevent any delay in refresher courses for all drivers.
• A register is maintained to track each driver's refresher course due date.

Short Term Courses

• Basic Training Centres (BTC) conduct short-term courses for running staff.
• Air brake stock operation is a two-day course taught by BTCs.
• Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) training covers two days of theoretical and practical training for running staff.
• Special training for weak or deficient drivers is offered by loco inspectors (up to two weeks).

Road Learning Training

• Running staff receive road learning training to familiarize themselves with signal locations and operating conditions.
• Training includes identifying signal locations, visibility of signals, intermediate block signaling, automatic/semi-automatic signals, locations of spring points, approximate gradients, sidings at various points, maximum load limits, banking sections, maximum permissible speeds, capacity of loop lines, and restriction of stopping at certain stations or signals.
• The prescribed road learning period involves at least three trips for familiarization with their rostered section.
• If a driver hasn't operated on a section for over three months, they are subjected to road learning trips according to a schedule.

Monitoring and Counseling of Running Staff

• Running staff (drivers, assistant drivers, & shunters), are monitored continuously to ensure safe train operation.
• Loco inspectors, are assigned to monitor a certain number of drivers.
• Drivers are monitored based on their safety category (A, B, or C).
  • Category A drivers receive monitoring every 2 months.
  • Category B drivers receive monitoring every month.
  • Category C drivers receive monitoring every fortnight.
• Monitoring includes all sections (up and down) and night shifts, monitoring for all classes of stock.
• Inspectors submit reports on driver performance, technical knowledge, driving techniques, and safety awareness.

Regular Safety Circulars and Instructions

• The safety branch issues safety circulars detailing safety features and highlighting recent unusual incidents/accidents related to human errors.
• Mechanical and technical instructions from the TRO branch are also provided.
• Monthly bulletins are issued by some divisions.
• Case studies of recent failures are included in simple language with advice to prevent recurrence.
• Bulletins are distributed to all running staff.

Safety Camps

• Safety camps are organized by the safety branch weekly at various locations.
• Experienced safety staff facilitate the camps, providing counseling and instruction.
• Safe train operation concepts, are taught at Safety Camps.
• Doubts are addressed during the sessions.

Safety Meetings

• Divisional Depot incharge conducts safety meetings bi-monthly.
• Safety circulars, general instructions issued during the month, are presented and explained to all depot staff.

Loco Visits

• Loco inspectors will conduct trips to workshops/electrified sheds.
• Trainee drivers are taught practical trouble-shooting techniques.

Watch on Driver Performance

• Special attention is paid to 'C' category drivers, to improve their performance.
• A list of accident-prone and alcoholic drivers are maintained, to be closely monitored.

Safety Category Classifications

• Drivers are assigned safety categories (A, B, or C) based on specific criteria.
• The marking scheme for these categories (A,B,C), is detailed in the document.

Accident Records

• A lump sum score of 20 marks is awarded for accident record performance over the previous five years.
• Deductions from the score, occur based on the severity and type of accident involvement.
  • Primary accident involvement results in marked deduction (20/n, 15/n, 10/n based on incident type).
  • Secondary-accident involvement results in lower marked deductions (10/10 etc). For secondary incidents, 5/n marks reduction applies.

Crew Booking Points

• Crew change points are strategically located in divisions, considering driver duty hours.
• Some points are solely for goods drivers, while others serve both goods and passenger drivers.
• Each crew booking lobby is overseen by a designated "Engine Turner".
• Crew booking points might also have indoor or outdoor shunters, depending on the workload.
• A crew controller, who has the grade of (Rs. 9300 - 34800 GP Rs. 4600/-), may be present in busy scenarios.

Facilities at Crew Booking Points

• Medical examination records (periodical, PME) are kept
• Road learning register to document road learning details
• Register to track working hours of drivers
• Register to track periodical rest for drivers
• Safety camp/meeting records
• Registers for personal stores of drivers.
• Register to track individual's sign-on and sign-off times
• Track records for track and signal defects
• Caution order display register detailing driver availability in the HQ and running rooms.
• Various operational information/instructions displayed on the board along with a wide range of safety bulletins.

Working Procedures at Crew Booking Points

• Engine turners track the arrival time of trains along with associated details/numbers of the loco and the relevant train details.
• Call lists for drivers and assist. drivers are issued as per the availability of staff
• Sign-on and sign-off registers allow drivers to log their working hours accurately.

Personal Stores of Drivers

• Drivers receive toolboxes containing essential tools.
• A range of hand tools are provided, including hammers, pliers, spanners, pin punches, chisels, and various sized spanners.
• Other items include green flags, detonator boxes, contact wedge clamps, lamps, and more (as provided).

Foot Plate Inspection

• Railway officers and supervisors conduct foot plate inspections regularly reviewing operational procedures.
• The officials check for accurate working mechanisms to assess accuracy, and alertness.
• Safety and operational aspects are checked across the train's various components.

Duty Hours and Running Allowances

• Running staff duty hours are classified into continuous, intensive, essentially intermittent, and excluded duty types.
  • Max Hours are 104 hrs.
  • Rest periods for staff in a month are 4 rests of 30 hrs. each, or 5 rests of 22 hours each including a night in bed.
• Special allowances apply to running staff, including those working in ghat sections with steep gradients.
• Allowances are provided in accordance with travel distance in ghat sections.
• Depending on the type of work performed (higher gradient or steep gradient)
• Some stations may include waiting duty, or temporary staff duties.

Trip Allowances

• Running staff who work on high-speed trains or Rajdhani Express are paid different trip allowances.
• The allowance rates are based on the category of staff.

Shunting Duty Allowances

• R/Staff working for goods trains, or shunting vans, receive different shunting duty allowances.

Minimum Guaranteed KM Allowances

• Each railway determines areas/conditions where drivers won't meet the minimum KM requirements.

Computation of KM for Slow-Moving Trains

• Shunting and van goods train allowances are based on double, and triple times km.

Allowance in Lieu of R/Room Facilities

• Different amounts are allocated for drivers, guards, assistants in the event of a need for alternative accommodations.

Periodical Medical Examinations for Staff

• Specific medical standards apply to drivers inducted at different ages.
• Examinations cover visual acuity, blood pressure, diabetes, cardiac conditions, hearing, and mental conditions.
• Examination frequency varies depending on completion of the prescribed duration.

Competency Certificates

• Drivers receive competency certificates after completing required training.
• Competency certificates authorize specific tasks, such as operating locomotives in the given area.
• Competency testing involves written tests, practical demonstrations, and evaluations.
• The certificates outline the specifics of operating areas and locomotive types.