The next time you take a long train journey or lie down on your berth for a
night trip, think about the person driving your train. They may not have had
proper rest for a long time.
A recent RTI reply shows that the Southern Railway does not have enough loco
pilots. There is a shortage of 616 pilots, and the Chennai division alone is
missing 461 of them. This means that out of 2,047 approved pilot posts, 22.5%
are empty. Trichy and Salem divisions also have shortages, with 75 and 86
vacancies.
Because of this, the pilots who are working have to work longer hours.
They do not get enough leave or proper rest between shifts. This is worrying
because their rest is very important for the safety of thousands of passengers.