The railways “running staff” which includes the crucial category of loco pilots (train drivers) is crucial for the safe running of trains. And yet, it is this very important band of railway employees that appears to be battling not only a shortage of hands but also increased pressure when new trains are introduced.
In a harsh indictment of railway minister Mamata Banerjee’s department, P.K.Bajpai commissioner of rail safety, north-eastern circle had noted earlier this year that he has got “a number of communications from representatives of running staff highlighting the perpetual shortage of staff in this category and frequent addition of new trains without positioning extra staff to man these trains, leading to extra pressure on existing staff which is not conducive for smooth and safe working.”
Importantly, Mr Bajpai had called upon the railways to “look into this issue seriously and set right the deficiencies which lead to such a state of affairs”. His telling comment on the pressure faced by the running staff of the Indian railways—other than loco pilots it includes guards, shunters, brakesmen, firemen, etc — came following an inquiry that he had conducted into another train collision. It occurred when the Goa Express hurtled into the stationary Mewar Express near Mathura on October 21, 2009 killing 22 persons.
Mr Bajpai’s observation assumes even greater significance given that the railways is increasingly veering towards the theory that it was “human failure” that led to Monday morning’s horrific train collision at the Sainthia railway station in West Bengal killing over 60 passengers.
Railway officials note that it was just about a month ago that an electronic inter-locking route panel had been installed in this track section which performs the task of preventing a train from coming onto a track that’s already “blocked” by another train and thus prevent collisions.
While accidents do happen, a senior railway official admitted that the “human element” which is so crucial for the safe running of trains is not being given due importance. With the loco drivers of Uttarbanga Express which rammed into Vananchal Express being blamed for Monday’s tragedy, the official noted, “It could be lethargy, complacency or fatigue that possibly led to the loco drivers of Uttarbanga to go onto a track even while another train was stationary on it
As statistics since 2000-01 available with the railways clearly indicate, it is the failure of railway staff that contributes to the largest number of rail accidents. Failure of non-railway staff and equipment failure are in second and third place respectively in terms of causing rail mishaps.