RailEnquiry

Mumbai: The railways think train drivers, or motormen as they are called in official lingo, spend too much time texting, chatting or watching movie clips while driving trains and has banned them from using the devices while at work.According to sources here, the decision was taken by the railway ministry in Delhi and accordingly circulars have been issued by all regional railway headquarters in the country. "A circular was issued last month banning motormen, guards, loco pilots and assistant loco pilots from using mobile phones while they are operating trains," a Western Railway official said.The decision to ban train drivers and guards from using mobile phones while running trains was taken based on recommendations of the Railway Safety Board and parliament's standing committee on railways, the official said. Preliminary investigations into a mishap in Tamil Nadu more than a year showed that the motorman may have been using his mobile phone because of which he did not see the signals and rammed his train into a goods rake. Fifteen persons died in the accident.As per the government order, train drivers are to provide details of their official and personal mobile phones, numbers and names of service providers so that the authorities could verify if the devices were used while the trains were in operation.The railways have also noted that motormen may use the official mobile phones only in emergencies like accidents or major equipment failure and also made it a requirement for them to enter the use of these phones in a log.

Motormen have been provided with walkie-talkies and VHF sets to communicate with station masters.

The railway unions have, however, opposed the measure. The all India Loco Running Staff Association and the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen have opposed the measure saying they were not consulted before the measure was adopted. Posters opposing the move have been put up at different places by the unions.

"The railways could have put up mobile jammers in drivers' cabins instead of banning mobile phones completely," N Raghav, office-bearer of the NFIR said. The unions have now officially protested the circular in messages sent to the railway board.

WHY THE DECISION

Investigations into a mishap in Tamil Nadu over a year ago showed that the motorman may have been using his phone because of which he did not see the signals and rammed his train into a goods rake. Fifteen persons died in the accident Motormen have been asked to use official mobile phones only in emergencies and have been told to enter use of these phones in a log Unions are up in arms and say mobile jammers could have put up in drivers' cabins instead of banning mobiles