Loco Pilots Demand Work-Hour Cap, Citing IndiGo Fatigue Crisis

The crisis that gripped IndiGo following issues related to pilot fatigue and duty hour compliance has brought renewed focus on the strenuous working conditions faced by loco pilots in the Indian Railways.

The All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) has seized this moment to amplify its long-pending demand for a scientific, globally-aligned Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) and strict limits on duty hours to ensure public safety.

Parallels with Aviation Fatigue

AILRSA points out that the operational meltdown in the aviation sector, caused by airlines’ inability to implement revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, mirrors the risks inherent in the railway system.

Loco pilots operate under immense pressure, often enduring continuous night duties and working beyond stipulated hours due to a significant shortage of staff—estimated to be over 30,000 against a sanctioned strength of 1.47 lakh.

The union argues that, unlike the advanced automation in aviation, Indian Railways depends critically on the continuous alertness of its crew, making fatigue a far more immediate danger.

Loco Pilots Core Demands for Safety and Rest

The association has put forth a set of concrete demands aligned with international practices in the US, EU, and Australia, where duty schedules are designed using advanced biomathematical models:

1. Duty Hour Limit: A cap of six hours for passenger (coaching) trains and eight hours for goods trains (from sign-on to sign-off).
2. Mandatory Rest: Strict adherence to 16 hours of rest after every duty shift, along with 30 hours of periodic rest in addition to the daily rest.
3. Night Duty Cap: Limiting continuous night duties to a maximum of two, with sufficient rest intervals.
4. Return to Headquarters: Ensuring crew return to their headquarters within a maximum period of 36 hours.

Government Scrutiny and Safety Compromise

AILRSA criticised the government’s approach, alleging that while public sector staff face disciplinary action for protests related to working conditions, large private corporations like IndiGo are treated with a softer touch, even when safety regulations are involved.

The union claims that this dual standard raises concerns that the Railways could adopt similar compromises on safety.

Past safety review committees, including the Anil Kakodkar Safety Review Committee (2012), have repeatedly recommended scientifically designed working hours based on human physiology and circadian rhythms.

The union warns that the continued deferral of these safety-critical reforms could lead to a crisis far more catastrophic in the railways, where millions travel daily.

Loco pilots recently launched a 48-hour hunger strike nationwide to push for these reforms, emphasising that fatigue risk is not a negotiable labour issue but a fundamental requirement for operational safety.

The union stressed, “Whether in the skies or on the rails, worker fatigue directly translates into dangers to passenger safety.”

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