HYDERABAD, JULY 10 :  M Gopal, Additional Divisional Railway Manager/Infra, Secunderabad Division, has announced that the South Central Railway (SCR) prioritises the frontline running staff involved in train operations.

SCR organised a guided tour for the media to showcase the facilities and amenities provided to loco pilots, assistant loco pilots, and train managers (running staff) at the Crew Booking Lobby & Running Room, Secunderabad on Wednesday.

Addressing the media, Gopal emphasised the vital role of frontline running staff in maintaining the punctuality and safety of train operations. He highlighted that the running room offers a convenient and relaxed environment to help loco pilots maintain their well-being and alertness for smooth train operations.

“The Secunderabad running room provides comfortable accommodation for 60 staff members arriving from various directions daily,” he said.

“Staff are provided with healthy and hygienic breakfast, lunch, and dinner at subsidized rates, along with amenities such as a lounge/reading room and a yoga room for meditation.”

Gopal added that the running room is equipped with various other amenities, including lifts for all floors, laundry facilities, a shoe-shining machine, clean washrooms, solar water heaters, a reception with a digital bed occupancy system, mechanized washed linen, branded quality cots and mattresses, a dining hall, a modular kitchen and store, and fresh water supply.

SB Venkatesh, Divisional Electrical Engineer, gave a detailed presentation on the working conditions of loco pilots and the facilities provided for crew members at the Crew Booking Lobby & Running Room.

He emphasised the high level of concentration and skill required for the loco pilots’ job and the importance of providing proper accommodation and rest between shifts.

“The Secunderabad running room enables crew members to rest in disturbance-free, air-conditioned rooms, preparing them for their duties safely,” he said.

“The crew booking lobby is the hub for booking running staff for duty and is equipped with integrated kiosks (breath analyzer, biometric, and webcam) for signing on/off of loco pilots, assistant loco pilots, and train managers (guards). Before undertaking duty, loco pilots must perform a breath analyzing test, take an oath on ‘No SPAD’ (Signal Passing at Danger), and acknowledge all new circulars to ensure smooth and safe train operations.”

In his welcome address, A Sridhar, SCR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), detailed the role of loco-running staff in safe operations and the priority given to providing the best possible facilities to the staff. He stated that great care is taken to provide a comfortable atmosphere for crew members while they rest before signing on for duty.

He noted that the Secunderabad crew booking lobby is one of the busiest workplaces, with around 800 staff members signing on/off duties every day. They are involved in running trains in various directions from Secunderabad to Vijayawada, Guntur, Guntakal, Balharshah, Sholapur, and Parli.(UNI)