Train Loco pilots, guards facing summer scorch

The Hitavada Date: 15 May 2016 

Staff Reporter,, RAIPUR, May 14,

Not only for passengers, but even for Loco-Pilots and Guards, traveling in scorching summer is a Herculean task. The rise in mercury level has toughened the challenges of the railway staff too. 

While talking to The Hitavada, on condition of anonymity a train driver informed that they are the one who suffer the most during summer season as they have no substitute. Two years back the drivers and guards observed agitation demanding better arrangements before Zonal office in Bilaspur, but so far no action has been initiated. The modern electrical engines itself produce lot of heat which is felt by the drivers in the cabin during journey. 

The railway engines are fitted with a fan which blows out hot air and during summer this becomes a painful experience. 

Some of the modern trains have Air Conditioned Electric Engine but the numbers of such trains are very few in our country. When the train reaches any station the co-pilot (Assistant Driver) step out to collect water and eatables, they are also forced to use the washrooms on platform. 

On the other hand the guard travelling in the same train is somewhat better equipped than the driver with fan, small washroom, emergency breakdown tools room and dog cage. 

One of the guard informed that he consumes lot of water to beat the heat in summer and to overcome dehydration. He mentioned that since the age of British rules, no major changes have taken place in Indian railway and specially the guard rooms. 

All the guards are supplied with a book in which they write down various important information as record during journey. He informed that during summer the entire SLR turn hot and it becomes challenging for them to perform duty. The condition of guard traveling in goods train is even worse. As during journey the train passes through forest, tunnels, mountains, etc. The guard faces extreme heat during summer and extreme cold during winter. Divisional Railway Manager, Rahul Gautam said in our division there are no Air Conditioned Locomotive engine available. He stressed that very few such engines are running on trial basis in some parts of the country. But despite all these odds, the Railways drivers and guards are performing their duty commendably and its because of their this commendable approach to their duty that the Indian Railway is on track.