Indian Railways to launch ‘Vikalp’ from tomorrow, offers confirmed seats to wait-listed passengers

Indian Railways is launching a new scheme tomorrow under which waitlisted passengers can get confirmed accommodation in next alternative train if they opt for the option while booking their tickets online.
By: PTI | New Delhi | October 31, 2015

Railways planning to introduce Communication-Based Train Control system

CHENNAI: As Indian Railways is planning to introduce semi-high speed trains, Southern Railway is gearing up to equip its signalling and communication system in such a way that there will not be human errors when trains are run at 160kmph.

Railways erects 50-km barbed wire fencing to secure tracks for Gatimaan Express

Agra: In its bid to ensure safety and punctuality of the country's first semi-high speed train Gatimaan Express, Indian Railways has erected about 50km of barbed wire fences and walls at vulnerable zones of the high-speed corridor. The barriers have been installed to stave off stray animals from crossing the track.

Workers of America, Unite! Racism is a Trade Union Issue

by CARL FINAMORE

New railway GM goes on inspection visit

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Locomotive Factories in Bihar: In cold storage for years, two Railway projects to start soon.

Sources said the Railways is giving finishing touches to the formalities and awaiting the conclusion of the Bihar Assembly elections to make the announcement for locomotive-factory projects at Madhepura and Marhowra.

New General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway

Mr Mohd Jamshed has taken over as General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway. Prior to his posting to the apex post of General Manager, he has held several important assignments in the Ministry of Railways and o­n Northern, Eastern and Central Railways including- Additional Member Railway Board, Chief Operations Manager, Chief Vigilance Officer, Chief Safety Officer, Divisional Railway Manager and Executive Director Railway Board.

Railways developing backup for signalling system to avoid another Itarsi

CHENNAI: Indian Railways is developing a backup for signalling system to prevent disruption train services as happened at Itarsi railway station in Madhya Pradesh a few month ago.

Rail safety system averts Churchgate repeat at CST

A local train exceeding speed limit was stopped by the automatic application of emergency brakes at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) on Wednesday.

DoPT scanner on Railways over creation of top posts for projects

The DoPT has also asked the Railways how many “work charged posts” have been phased out after completion of the projects.

Snag forces disruption of Central Railway services in Mumbai

THANE: Central Railway fast trains to and from Mumbai are running late following a rail fracture reported between Thane and Diva early this morning. The railways have imposed speed restrictions on the stretch, following which trains are running at restricted speed thus affecting their punctuality.

Western Railway to ban mobiles, install new communication system -

After Tuesday's incident when a guard’s cellphone output was broadcast over the public announcement system, WR plans to expedite the process of getting new radio-based communicators for guards and motormen

Submission of declaring assets and Liabilities

DOPT Order: The Annual Property Returns required to be filed under the CCS(Conduct) Rules, 1964 for the year 2015 which are required to be filed by the 31st January, 2016, may be filed in the forms prescribed under the CCS(Conduct) Rules, 1964. The returns would be required to be filed by all the Government servants belonging to Group 'A', 'B', 'C' and erstwhile Group 'D'.

Train Derailment: Railways to install Safety Device in trains to monitor Axle, alert Drivers

Mumbai: Following the derailment of seven coaches of a Churchgate-bound fast local near Vile Parle station last month, the Railway Board is now planning to install a safety device that can monitor a train’s axle and alert the motorman in case of a malfunction.

Railways Speed up Process to fill General Managers (GMs) Posts

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to bring in administrative efficiency, the railways has expedited the appointment process for top level posts to fill up 10 vacancies of general managers (GMs) of zonal railways and 50 divisional railway managers (DRMs) in 2015.

Railways engineers suggest private cabins with doors on AC coaches

CHENNAI: With train passengers demanding more privacy at a premium, a group of engineers at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai has suggested that AC III tier and AC II tier coaches can have two cabins each with light-weight aluminium doors.

LIC to hand over Rs 2,000 cr cheque to Indian Railways today

Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) will hand over a cheque of Rs 2,000 crore to Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), the first tranche of its financial assistance, tomorrow for investment in capacity augmentation projects.
By: PTI | New Delhi | October 27, 2015 

Postal workers strike in Belgium

Postal workers at Belgium Post (BPost) struck for several days last week. The employees walked out in opposition to plans to scrap bonuses for Saturday work and to management’s demands for greater flexibility.

Workers Struggle -United States

Texas aluminum refinery workers hold rally to mark one year of lockout

Trade union burns effigies of PM, CM

Seeks fulfilment of its long-pending demands from government

Japan offers India soft loan for $15 billion bullet train in edge over China

NEW DELHI: Japan has offered to finance India's first bullet train, estimated to cost $15 billion, at an interest rate of less than 1 percent, officials said, stealing a march on China, which is bidding for other projects on the world's fourth-largest network.

Indian Railway Develops Warning System for Unmanned Level Crossings

Indian Railway has developed a vandal-proof warning system for unmanned level crossings which is working satisfactorily for the last three months on Coimbatore-Metupallayam section.

Need to double Konkan Railways track line to decongest traffic: Suresh Prabhu

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has also announced that the Railways will soon start country's first-ever double decker Shatabdi Express that would ply between Mumbai and Goa.

India's first double-decker Shatabdi train to run between Mumbai, Goa

PANAJI: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has announced that the Railways would soon start country's first-ever double decker Shatabdi Express that would ply between Mumbai and Goa.

AILRSA, 36 hrs FAST at NEW DELHI on 14 & 15 Dec 2015

AILRSA demand that the Ministry of Railway should accept / implement the recommendations of the HPC 2013, with due consideration of the modifications as suggested by us along-with some other vital demands. In order to press our demand the CWC decided to submit a petition to the Petition Committee, Lok Sabha and simultaneously hold a 36 hours fast before the Railway Board commencing on 14th December 2015.

Bengaluru-Mysuru passenger train derails

STAFF REPORTER

Train derailment: Rlys to install safety device in trains to monitor axle, alert drivers

On September 15, seven coaches had derailed due to an axle failure in a local train at Vile Parle station.

Bibek Debroy: Problems of Indian Railways in the northeast

Since broad gauge Lumding-Silchar line was opened for goods traffic in March, after about Rs 5,500 cr was spent on upgrade, there have been 9 derailments & 14 instances of track-subsiding. This gives rise to questions about construction quality


Bibek Debroy October 22, 2015 

Railway ministry invites bids for Kanchrapara coach factory

Tender likely in December, bidding to be over by March 2016
Sudheer Pal Singh | New Delhi October 24, 2015

Indian Railways to soon run Mumbai-Goa double decker Shatabdi Express: Suresh Prabhu

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has announced that the Railways would soon start country's first-ever double decker Shatabdi Express that would ply between Mumbai and Goa.
By: PTI | Panaji | October 24, 2015

Spanish rail staff demand new agreement

Staff employed by the Spanish state rail company, RENFE, and the rail infrastructure company, ADIF, have been holding three-hour strikes every Friday since the beginning of September.

Called by a group of rail unions including the CCOO, they are pressing for a new collective bargaining agreement and less arduous roles for older staff.

RAILWAY CRACKDOWN ON ON-DUTY MOTORMEN USING PHONES

Mumbai Mirror | Oct 21, 2015,    By Kamal Mishra

The latest circular issued by the Railways has strictly barred all motormen on duty from using their cellphones and have also asked the railways telecom directory to keep a record of their usage, much to the ire of the motormen.

Staff Crunch Hits Railway Security

KOCHI: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) in the State, which is responsible for ensuring safety of passengers, is functioning with the minimal staff strength that was sanctioned back in 1983, despite a steep increase in crimes in recent years.

Different leadership, same story: Railways still behind on fund utilisation

Railways has already fallen short of its targets for earnings, its capital expenditure figures show that it is hopelessly lagging behind in spending money even when the funds are assured

‘Trade union leaders work for themselves, not for worker welfare’

Business Line-KPM BASHEER

Making Indian Railways safer

Accidents signify a breakdown in efficiency; railways needs a managerial transformation
By: Raghu Dayal | October 20, 2015 

Can Suresh Be The Prabhu For Indian Railways?

When Suresh Prabhu took over the mantle of Railway Minister, many thought that his last name is ironic, only God can save the Indian Railways, the largest Public Sector Undertaking from coming to a grinding halt in the near future. Utter lack of application of commercial principles to the functioning of Railways for decades has led to the financial mess that stares Prabhu in the face.

ILO: Collective bargaining on decline

The sharpest declines (by an average of 21 per cent) were seen in countries hardest hit by the crisis, such as Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Portugal and Romania.

MATTER FOR INDIVIDUAL LETTER CAMPAIGN

To
Sri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu

Hon’ Minister for Railways,

Rail Bhavan, New Delhi.

Seventh Pay Commission, OROP Will Not Impact Fiscal Deficit: Jayant Sinha

NEW DELHI: Increase in salary bill due to Seventh Pay Commission and Implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) will not strain government’s fiscal position, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha today said.

Making Indian Railways more competitive

Most travellers in India know that the start of a festival season is a testing time. If you have not planned well in advance, getting train tickets for a safe and comfortable journey is almost impossible just before and during the festival season.

AILRSA CENTRAL CIRCULAR

We decided in the CWC at NGP held on 30th and 31st Aug 2015 to stage an indefinite fast before the Railway Board in the month of December 2015 on demands of the implementation High Power Committee recommendations on duty hours, rest, night duty, periodical rest, with modification suggested by AILRSA along-with implementation of minutes of Railway Officers’ meeting on SPAD, review the measure of punishment on SPAD and implementation of High Level Safety Review Committee.

China completes production of first unmanned subway trains

Production of China's first fully automatic subway trains has been completed, officials announced on Monday.

Track maintenance module to detect rail fracture

NEW DELHI: In order to prevent accidents due to track failures, Railways is coming out with a modern track maintenance module with a state-of-the-art technology to detect rail fracture in advance.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway completes 106 years

V.S. PALANIAPPAN

Rail Neer corruption case: 2 railway officials, businessman arrested

PTI, New Delhi | Oct 18, 2015 18:47 IST

Govt to bring more workers under bonus ambit

Ajith Athrady, Oct 17, 2015: NEW DELHI: DHNS:

MASSIVE DHARNA Programs

The National Secretariat Meeting of the Confederation held at Hyderabad on 09th October 2015 while endorsing the decision of the National Joint Council of Action (Railway, Defence & Confederation) to organize massive protest dharna at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 19th November 2015 and also Nationwide Protest Demonstration in front of all works spot & offices, has decided to further intensify the protest action against the negative attitude of the NDA Government by organizing the following programmes: -

Railways to be big contributor to 'Make in India', says Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Wednesday that the Railways will be a significant contributor to the 'Make in India' programme through its focus on indigenising production of a host of segments, including state-of-the-art locomotives, high-end equipment and processes, that go into the working of the network.

Adani Power to supply 50 MW to Indian Railways at Rs 3.69 per unit

Indian Railways  today entered into a agreement with Adani PowerBSE 4.28 % for supplying 50 MW electricity at Rs 3.69 per unit for three years, which will result in saving of around Rs 150 crore annually.

India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge on Brahmaputra to be ready by June 2017

India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge, the Bogibeel bridge on the Brahmaputra river in upper Assam, will be commissioned in June 2017, an official of the Northeast Frontier Railway said here on Wednesday.

Railway men complain of delay in payment of bonus

Two unrecognised unions of Southern Railway, Southern Railway Employees Sangh (SRES) and Dakshin Railway Employees Union (DREU) have complained about the delay in disbursement of productivity-linked bonus in Southern Railway, except for Salem railway division, announced by the Railway Board.

'Railways will prefer to buy technology instead of products’

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 14 :
Indicating a shift in the approach of the core underlying principle of Indian Railway’s product procurement, Hemant Kumar, Member (Mechanical), Railway Board, said they would prefer to buy “technology” rather than “products”. He was speaking at a conference on railways here on Wednesday.

Over 20 lakh commuters affected

Financial loss to Rlys touches Rs 200 cr | Import-export, tourism, goods transportation hit

29 trains cancelled on Sunday
Protesting farmers continued to block rail traffic at Mansa, Rampura, Shergarh, Pathrala (Bathinda), Dagru (Moga), Mucchal (Amritsar) due to which Ludhiana-Ferozepur, Ludhiana-Amritsar, Bathinda-Ambala and Ambala-Ferozepur routes were hit

Mumbai had a plan for an underground railway in 1963 – 50 years before it cleared Metro 3

The detailed plan was drafted and submitted by engineer PG Patankar, and the cover of his report was designed by iconic poet Arun Kolatkar.
Aarefa Johari ·

China plans four new railway lines

Chinese authorities on Tuesday approved the construction of four new railway lines stretching over 2,000 km, at a total investment of 253.3 billion yuan ($39.6 billion).

Shri S. Mookerjee takes over as the New Financial Commissioner (FC) of (Railways) on 01/10/2015

Shri S. Mookerjee has taken over today i.e. 01/10/2015 as the new Financial Commissioner (FC) (Railways) and ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India. He takes charge after Smt. Rajalakshmi Ravi Kumar retired as FC on superannuation on 30.09.2015. Prior to this posting, Shri S. Mookerjee was posted as Director General, National Academy of Indian Railways(NAIR), Vadodara.

Railway Board to shut premier Jamalpur institute

NAGPUR: A controversy over the railway ministry's quixotic move to close down its prestigious British-era graduate institute for railway mechanical engineers is fast gathering momentum.

Productivity-linked bonus for non-gazetted railway employees

In a move that is likely to benefit about 12.58 lakh non-gazetted railway employees, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the payments of productivity-linked bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for the financial year 2014-15 to them. The total payments is estimated at Rs.1,030.02 crore, according to an official release.

Indian Railways to get fresh design upgrade this Diwali

The proposed colour scheme of the trains is supposed to liberate the designers and break the monotony.

Trade unions slam government's proposed industrial relation draft bill

NEW DELHI: Trade unions, including the RSS-backed Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), have said the government's proposed industrial relation draft bill cannot be supported as it will make it easy for companies to hire and fire workers.

'Stone-pelters’ turn train journeys dangerous

MADURAI: Miscreants pelting stones at trains are putting passengers at risk, with some of them managing to cause serious injuries. Three such incidents took place in a period of 10 days recently, in which five people, including a loco pilot, suffered injuries. Rail users and employee unions have urged railway authorities to take immediate action to curb this menace.

Staff Shortage Puts Railway Loco-pilots in The Lurch

KOCHI: Loco-pilots of the Railways fear that the imminent festival season would be a taxing time for them, like in the previous years, as the additional train services would worsen their already burdened schedule, owing to severe manpower shortage.

Indian Railways workers likely to get 78-day bonus

Indian Railways employees are likely to be given 78-day wages as productivity-linked bonus (PLB) for the fiscal 2014-15, the same as in the last three years, despite the financial crunch.
By: PTI | New Delhi | 

Ministry report may put brakes on PM Modi’s Railway varsities plan

In-what could prove to be a setback to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan of setting up railway universities in India, an internal report of the Railway Board has suggested that such universities are not necessary.

2014 local train derailment: Parents of deceased file FIR against railway’s electrical dept -

EIGHTEEN months after the Kasara-bound CST train derailed between Titwala and Ambivali station on March 20, 2014, leading to the death of 18-year-old HSC student Dhaval Lodaya and injuries to 12 other passengers, parents of the deceased boy have filed an FIR against Central Railway’s (CR) electrical department blaming the latter for the mishap.

Three-member panel recommends a 400% hike in basic salary of Delhi MLAs

New Delhi: Salary and allowances of Delhi MLAs may see a whopping two-and-half fold hike from current Rs 88,000 per month to Rs 2.10 lakh if recommendations of an expert panel are accepted by the government.

JCM Staff side meeting on 9th Oct

F.No.3/1/2015-JCA   Government of India    Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
North Block, New Delhi                                               Dated 5th October 2015


OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) for Railway staff

Payment of Bonus (Amendment) ordinance 2007 according to which section 12 of the payment of Bonus Act 1965 had been amended raising the ceiling for calculation purpose from salary of 2500/- P.M. to Rs.3500/-P.M. w.e.f. 01.04.2006. Also amended the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 to raise the eligibility limit for payment of bonus from the salary or wage of Rs. 3500/- per month to Rs. 10000/- per month.

Indian Railways Maharajas’ Express flagged off for new tourist season; check irctc.co.in

Indian railways Maharajas’ Express, the world’s leading luxury train, chugged out of a Delhi station on Sunday on a royal odyssey to take its patrons across the famed ‘Golden Triangle’, signaling the beginning of its first journey of the new tourist season.

SCRA: Railways favour scrapping of special classes apprentice exam

NEW DELHI: Railways has decided to close down the Special Class Railway Apprentice Examination (SCRA).

Started in 1927, the SCRA, one of the oldest programme in India involved selection of about 30 candidates by the UPSC to the undergraduate programme in Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (IRIMEE) at Jamalpur.

High speed rail project signals new phase of Sino-US ties

China’s ties with the United States are quietly moving to the next level, signaled by a high-speed rail contract and a string of hi-end investments that could help Beijing's transition towards an innovation based economy.

Mysuru-Bengaluru track doubling to be completed by March

Shifting of Tipu’s armoury may take time

2 railway cops caught while taking bribe from tea-vendor

Nagpur, Oct 1: The anti-corruption wing of CBI has arrested two officers of Railway Protection Force for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 5,000 from a tea vendor.

Strike on 23rd November postponed.

National Joint Council of Action in the meeting on 30.09.15 at New Delhi decided to defer the Indefinite Strike from 23rd November 2015 to FEB 2016. Since 7th CPC is likely to submit their report by December and Govt may not take any decision due to Bihar election.

Loco pilot, deputy exchange blows inside the engine

An altercation between a Loco Pilot and an Assistant Loco Pilot on board a diesel locomotive at Tiruchi Junction led to a fisticuff between them with both of them sustaining injuries.

50 cm rail track missing near Lucknow, train mishap averted near Mohanlalganj

LUCKNOW: A major train mishap was today averted near Mohanlalganj, on the outskirts of the state capital, due to alertness of Prayag-Lucknow passenger train driver when he noticed 50 cm rail track missing.

Is Cheque Bouncing a Crime?

Can one pin-point an evil mind in all cases of cheque bouncing?

There are two types of cases that come before our courts of justice. There are civil litigation cases and those that involve crimes. The trial courts are different for these two types of cases. Civil courts are presided over by judges. Criminal courts have magistrates deciding over crime matters. Of course, in smaller towns, the distinction gets blurred.

European Trade Union Confederation Urges Revamp of Asylum Rules

European Trade Union Confederation Urges Revamp of Asylum Rules

Do not ignore constructive role of trade unions'

'Do not ignore constructive role of trade unions'
by Elamaram Kareem (State general secretary, CITU)

Conservatives plan trade union movement of their own to win over “moderate” workers

Deputy chairman Rob Halfon argues that militant unionists alienate many members who have sympathy with Tory party policies