Lok Sabha Question No. 984 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Rail Accidents
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  984 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2016

## RAIL ACCIDENTS

984.     SHRI   B. SRIRAMULU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that human error was the single major reason for most of the rail accidents;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Railways thereto;
- (c) whether it is also a fact that a large number of vacancies of staff under safety category have not been filled up till date;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the measures taken to put an end to human errors and filling up of the vacant posts?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) to (e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  984  BY  SHRI      B.  SRIRAMULU  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.03.2016 REGARDING RAIL ACCIDENTS.

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam.  Human error on the part of Railway staff is one of the causes of consequential train accidents. However, in the current year  during  the  period  from  April,  2015  to  January,  2016,  number  of consequential train accidents attributable to failure of Railway staff has decreased from 55 to 47 in comparison to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Indian Railways is tackling the issue by upgrading the process of recruitment  and  training  of  its  human  resources.    All  staff  are  given extensive theoretical & practical training before induction into the job. Periodical  refresher  training  is  imparted  to  update  the  knowledge  & upgrade skills.  Modern training methods & equipments like simulators etc. are also used in the training schools. At the same time disciplinary action is also taken against the erring staff.

(c) to (e): Arising  and  filling  up  of  vacancies  is  a  continuous  process and concerted efforts have been made to fill up the vacancies in safety category,  viz.,  Assistant  Loco  Pilots,  Guards,  Station  Masters,  Junior Engineers,  Trackmen,  Technicians,  etc.    As  on  01.04.2015,  the  total number of vacancies in safety category vacancies was 124201 (provisional).

Railways have taken various measures to reduce failure of railway staff which includes the following:

- (i) To  improve  transparency  in  recruitment  -  a  decision  has  been taken to make all Group 'C' recruitment by Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) online.
- (ii) Implementation  and  monitoring  of  Railway  Servants  (Hours  of Work and Period of Rest) Rules, 2005 to provide proper rest to railway staff including running staff,
- (iii) Periodic  medical  examination  of  safety  category  employees including running staff,
- (iv) Structured training at various stages, namely, initial and promotional stages alongwith refresher courses for safety category employees including running staff to help them assimilate new technologies and enable skill upgradation,
- (v) Improvement in running rooms to provide stress free environment to the outstation crew   and to enable them to take proper rest at outstations,
- (vi) Yoga/meditation and physical training lessons have been introduced  in  training  centers  especially  for  safety  category staff to enable them to cope with the stress involved in their job,
- (vii) Progressive mechanization of maintenance of track and rolling stock  including  locomotives,  coaches  and  wagons  to  reduce human dependence and enhance productivity,
- (viii) Devices/systems  like Block Proving Axle Counters  (BPAC), Auxiliary Warning System (AWS), Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS), Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), etc. are  being  progressively  introduced  to  aid  decision  making  by frontline staff and to reduce human dependence.

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