Indian Railways has come up with another major recruitment drive; for 62907 vacancies for Group D posts: Track Maintainer grade IV (Trackman), Gateman, Pointsman, Helpers in Electrical/ Mechanical/ Signal & Telecommunication departments, porter, etc. Candidates in the age group of 18-31 years who have cleared class 10th with (or without) ITI or NAC in the relevant trade are eligible to apply. As of now official websites of the RRBs are not carrying any such updates. Candidates are urged to wait for the official notification in this regard which, as per the reports, will be available at the official websites and the coming edition of Employment News.

As per the updates, Railways have advertised for the recruitment through notification number CEN 02/ 2018. On 3 February 2018, RRBs had released official notification CEN 01/ 2018 for more than 27000 Assistant Loco Pilot and Technician posts.

Online registration for the same has begun and will continue 5 March 2018. Candidates will be selected on the basis of their performance in computer based test (two stages), computer based aptitude test and document verification. ‘The date, time and venue for all the activities viz First stage CBT, Second stage CBT, Computer Based AT and DV or any other additional activity as applicable shall be fixed by the RRBs and shall be intimated to the eligible candidates in due course.’

Online registration will, supposedly, begin tomorrow (10 February 2018) and the last date for submission of applications is 12 March 2018.

In response to the hue and cry over upper age limit in the recent railway recruitment (CEN 01/ 2018), RRBs have clarified on the matter. Through an official notification, Indian Railways has made it clear that the upper age limit set for Assistant Loco Pilot and Technician post is 27 years, as per para 137(2)(ii) of the Indian Railway Establishment Manual Vol.I revised in 1989(Reprint in 2009). The Board further mentions that as a temporary measure Ministry of Railways had allowed a relaxation of 3 years, till 3 February 2015. As per the manual, the upper age limit for OBC candidates is 30 years and SC/ ST is 32 years.

With more than 27000 job vacancy, Indian Railways recruitment notification was not received well by candidates: the reason being decrease in upper age limit. Candidates, who followed the recruitment notification of 2014, had been complaining of the upper age limit issue. ‘This has deprived many aspirants from applying for the recruitment.

However the railways have cleared the air over this confusion. Railways will reduce the age limit relaxation phase wise over a period of 4 years. For this year, the upper age limit is 28 years.

For the convenience of passengers and to clear the extra rush during summer vacation, Western Railway will run Train No. 02834/02833 Hapa–Santragachi Holiday Special train on special fare from 6^th April to 2^nd July, 2018 as per the details given as under :-

02834/02833 Hapa – Santragachi Special  Train on Special Fare (26 trips)

Train No. 02834 Santragachi – Hapa Special train will leave Santragachi at 21.05 hrs on Friday and reach Hapa at 15.50 hrs on Sunday. This train will run from 6^th April, 2018 to 29^th June, 2018.

Similarly, in return direction Train No.02833 Hapa – Santragachi Special train will leave Hapa at 10.40 hrs on Monday and will reach Santragachi at 05.45 hrs on Wednesday. This train will run from 9^th April, 2018 to 2^nd July, 2018.

The train will have 14 coaches of AC 3 Tier and will run on special fare. This train will halt at Rajkot, Wankaner, Surendranagar, Viramgam, Ahmedabad, Nadiad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Nandurbar, Amalner, Jalgaon, Bhusawal, Malkapur, Akola, Vadnera, Wardha, Nagpur, Gondia, Durg, Raipur, Bilaspur, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Chakradharpur, Tatanagar and Kharagpur  stations in both directions.

The booking for Train No. 02833 will be opened from 6^th February, 2018 for 120 days at all PRS counters and IRCTC website.

पश्चिम रेलवे द्वारा हापा – सांत्रागाछी सुपरफास्ट विशेष ट्रेन

मुंबई: ग्रीष्मावकाश के दौरान यात्रियों की सुविधा के लिए तथा अतिरिक्त भीड़ को कम करने हेतु पश्चिम रेलवे द्वारा ट्रेन सं. 02834/02833 हापा -सांत्रागाछी सुपरफास्ट विशेष ट्रेन विशेष किराये के साथ 6 अप्रैल से 2 जुलाई, 2018 तक चलाई जायेगी।

• ट्रेन सं. 02834/02833 सांत्रागाछी-हापा सुपरफास्ट विशेष ट्रेन (26 फेरे)

ट्रेन सं. 02834 सांत्रागाछी-हापा सुपरफास्ट विशेष ट्रेन प्रत्येक शुक्रवार को सांत्रागाछी से 21.05 बजे प्रस्थान करेगी औररविवार को 15.50 बजे हापा पहुँचेगी। यह ट्रेन 6 अप्रैल से 29 जून, 2018 तक चलाई जायेगी।

इसी प्रकार, वापसी में ट्रेन सं. 02833 हापा-सांत्रागाछी सुपरफास्ट विशेष ट्रेन प्रत्येक सोमवार को हापा से 10.40 बजे प्रस्थानकरेगी और बुधवार को 05.45 बजे सांत्रागाछी पहुँचेगी। यह ट्रेन 9 अप्रैल से 2 जुलाई, 2018 तक चलाई जायेगी।

यह ट्रेन यात्रा के दौरान दोनों दिशाओं में राजकोट, वाँकानेर, सुरेन्द्रनगर, वीरमगाम, अहमदाबाद, नडियाड, आणंद, वडोदरा,भरूच, सूरत, नंदुरबार, अमलनेर, जलगाँव, भुसावल, मलकापुर, अकोला, बडनेरा, वर्धा, नागपुर, गोंदिया, दुर्ग, रायपुर, बिलासपुर,झारसुगुडा, राउरकेला, चक्रधरपुर, टाटानगर तथा खड़गपुर स्टेशनों पर ठहरेगी।

इस ट्रेन में 14 एसी III टियर डिब्बे होंगे। और यह विशेष किराये पर चलाई जायेगी।

The Southern Railway has informed the Kerala High Court the alignment of the proposed Sabari rail line project was finalised after considering all aspects, including the cost-effective acquisition of land and the ventilation of the grievances of the majority of the public. Recording the submission, the court granted permission to proceed with the project.

The court was considering a petition filed by the Action Committee for Angamaly-Muvattupuzha-Pala-Erattupetta- Erumeli Railway line challenging the revised alignment.

According to the Railways, the old alignment approved by the Railways was changed in a meeting held on May 14, 2013, after considering various issues and evaluating the materials on record. The revised alignment has been approved by the state government. The proposed alignment was finalised as early as in 2013.

The petitioners had maintained stoic silence for over five years. When the survey was in progress through the petitioners’ area they approached the court alleging the proposed alignment was finalised taking into consideration extraneous matter. There was no illegality or malafide intention in finalising the proposed alignment, the Railways submitted.

Indian Railways is set to miss its target of 3,500 km of new tracks, gauge conversion and doubling/tripling for capacity augmentation due to a shortage in supply of rails, and available rails are being diverted for renewal of existing tracks.

The Railways is focusing on capacity augmentation as some rail routes carry traffic way beyond their capacity.

A shortage of rails supplied by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is delaying track renewal work. However, the Railways is expected to achieve 2,000 km of track renewal by the end of the fiscal year 2017-18, said a Railway Ministry official.

Data with the ministry show a worrying picture. The railway network has a total track length of 1,14,907 km, and of this, 4,500 km of track, on average, should ideally be renewed annually.

But Indian Railways has been able to carry out only 2,000-2,500 km of track renewal each year during the last five years, leading to a backlog of 5,000 km by 2016.

“The shortage of rails has slowed down capacity augmentation work. Besides, the ministry has decided to focus on track renewal to ensure passenger safety in the wake of rising derailments in the past one year. This means that we will miss the target of capacity augmentation in 2017-18,” the official said.

For the first time, the Railway Ministry in October 2017 invited a global tender for supply of rails by private players to meet the demand.

The ministry called for procurement of an additional 7 lakh tonnes of rails worth about Rs.3,500 crore.

Shri A.K.Prasad IRAS has been appointed as new Financial Commissioner (Railways), Railway Board and ex-officio Secretary to Government of India vice Shri B.N. Mohapatra, FC, who superannuated on 31st January, 2018.

Shri A.K.Prasad  has since assumed charge as the new Financial Commissioner (Railways), with effect from 1st February 2018. Shri Prasad is an officer of Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) of 1981 batch.

He has done his Masters in Economics from Delhi School of Economics in the year 1980.

Prior to this assignment, Shri Prasad was Additional Member/Finance in Railway Board.

In his distinguished career, Shri Prasad has earlier headed the Finance and Accounts wing as Principal Finance Adviser in Northern Railway, North Western Railway, North Central Railway etc.

He has also worked as Divisional Railway Manager, Solapur and on deputation as Financial Adviser NDMC and has wide experience of rail management and general administration.

आरसीसी स्लैब को लॉंच करने तथा रेल पथ पर संरक्षा को अधिक बेहतर बनाने के क्रम में लकड़ी के स्लीपरों के बदलाव हेतु रविवार 4 फरवरी, 2018 को वैतरणा एवं सैफाले स्टेशनों के बीच अप लाइन की पुल संख्या 99 पर तीन घंटे 30 मिनट का ब्लॉक लिया गया था। कार्य को सफलतापूर्वक पूर्ण करने के पश्चात ब्लॉक क्लीयर कर दिया गया, परन्तु उल्लेखनीय है कि पश्चिम रेलवे के मुंबई मंडल द्वारा इसी ब्लॉक अवधि में निकटवर्ती खंडों पर भी विविध कार्य पूरे किये गये।

पश्चिम रेलवे द्वारा इसी ब्लॉक अवधि में कुछ अन्य कार्य जैसे घोलवड – उमरगाम खंड पर 260 मीटर लम्बी रेल पैनल की अनलोडिंग, भिलाड – संजान खंड में बकाया टीआरआर तथा संजान यार्ड में बीसीएम के उपयोग द्वारा प्वॉइंट संख्या 109 की डीप स्क्रीनिंग जैसे कार्य भी किये गये। संरक्षा को अधिक बेहतर बनाने तथा 75 कि.मी. प्रति घंटा के अस्थाई गति अवरोध को सामान्य करने के उद्देश्य से अप लाइन पर पुल संख्या 445 पर लकड़ी के स्लीपरों को स्टील चैनेल स्लीपरों के साथ बदला गया। पश्चिम रेलवे ने वैतरणा तथा सैफाले के बीच के रेलवे ट्रैक को लकड़ी के स्लीपरों से पूर्णतः मुक्त कर दिया है। अतः इस व्यस्त रूट पर बिना कोई अतिरिक्त ब्लॉक लिये पश्चिम रेलवे द्वारा अनुरक्षण तथा अपग्रेडेशन के विविध उल्लेखनीय कार्यों काट अंतिम रूप दिया गया।

A block was taken on Sunday, 4^th February, 2018 between Vaitarna and Saphale on UP line at Br. 99 for three and half hours to launch RCC slab & to eliminate wooden sleepers and improve safety on the tracks. The block was cleared right after the successful completion but Mumbai Division of Western Railway also carried out multiple tasks in nearby sections in this block alone.

Western Railway simultaneously carried out few other tasks such as unloading of 260m long rail panels at in Gholvad- Umargam section, 520m TRR that was due in Bhilad- Sanjan section also completed in the shadow block and deep screening of point no.109 done using BCM in Sanjan yard. Wooden sleepers replaced with Steel Channel Sleepers on Br. No. 445 UP line improving safety & relaxing TSR of 75kmph to normal. Western Railway made full use of the block between Vaitarna-Saphale and made an UP line from Virar to Surat free of wooden sleepers, thereby completing multiple maintenance & upgradation works simultaneously to avoid need for separate blocks on this busy route.

Railways has planned to run an extra DEMU train between Indore and Ratlam stations. The Divisional Railway Manager of Ratlam Division on Sunday said that they were expecting to receive rake of a DEMU train, which is being run on Ratlam and Mathura rail section. “The rake is expected to be freed from the Ratlam-Mathura section in the second week of February.

We have requested for the rake to run an extra DEMU train between Indore and Ratlam railway stations,” said DRM Sunkar.

The DRM said the plan is to fulfil the demand of passengers for an additional DEMU train service between Indore and Ratlam during early morning and late in the evening.

Sunkar had come to Indore to inspect the railway station. “We are also planning to set up a stabling line between platform 1 and 2 of the station,” he said, adding that it will be for parking engines and trains with less number of coaches at the station.

The railways had earlier announced to develop a garden on this vacant space but after finding the need of a stabling line at the station it was changed.

Sunkar also issued instructions to officials concerned to start escalator facility at the station at the earliest. “Indore has always been the most important station of the division, and efforts are being made for provision of best class passenger amenities at the station,” he said.

Officials are also identifying areas, which are not in use, on the station’s premises. “The vacant space will be identified and developed in a manner so that they can be utilised for passengers’ interest,” he said.

Speaking about expansion of Dr Ambedkar Nagar railway station, the DRM said that they were waiting for land acquisition process. “The expansion project would be executed as soon as we get the land,” he said.

With gauge conversion being one of the core areas of ministry of railways, the Nagpur division of South East Central Railway (SECR) has removed one of the biggest hurdles in expediting broad gauge work between Nagpur-Chhindwara by constructing a rail under rail (RUR) bridge in record 44 hours on Saturday.

“RUR is a bridge which allows movement of trains simultaneously from above and beneath when trains criss-cross at a point. It was a challenging task completed it in 44 hours train block,” said SECR divisional railway manager (DRM) Amit Kumar Agarwal.

SECR is undertaking the massive project of 149-km Nagpur-Chhindwara gauge conversion and wants to complete it by December 2018.

Agarwal said, as part of this project, the new rail line had to cross the existing network in Nagpur area. There were three surface crossings (lines) — Kalamna-Koradi line, Nagpur — Kalamna and Kalamna-Itwari main lines. To avoid the surface crossings, which would have led to detention of trains on the main line, it was decided to have RUR. It cost railways Rs4.21 crore.

RUR is uncommon in the railways due to its execution, logistics and drainage issues. “In this case, drainage problem was resolved by keeping zero surcharge above reinforced cement concrete (RCC) boxes. For execution, ‘cut and cover’ method was planned by taking a fixed time span block and diverting traffic on alternate routes,” he added.

The construction wing of the SECR took up the challenge and built 24-metre-long RUR in only 44 hours. The work started around 12 midnight on Friday and was completed at 8pm on Saturday.

Agarwal said that during the 44-hour block, de-launching of nine RCC boxes of narrow gauge (NG) line, dismantling of existing abutment of narrow gauge RUR and existing six girder bridges, launching of 16 precast RCC boxes of 6mx6m size was literary an arduous task.

Chief engineer (construction) AK Pandey said the job was accomplished through use of heavy machinery including high capacity (600m & 300m) cranes, two hydraulic excavators and hydraulic concrete breakers, tippers and other equipment for executing the most challenging work.

Pandey said since it was not a Greenfield project, the work involved intricate planning for not only the bridge but also the movement of goods and passenger trains.

“It was a mammoth task to keep the freight trains moving on alternate routes, which could be done with detailed planning and monitoring. The work involved 180 workers besides 30 odd supervisors,” he added.

A major block has been taken from 11.20 hrs to 14.50 hrs on Up line and from 11.20 hrs to 13.50 hrs. on Down  line between Vaitarna – Safale stations on Sunday,  4^th February, 2018  for launching of  girder on bridge no. 99. Due to this following train will be cancelled/Short terminated:-

Train Cancelled (Down Direction) :-

• 59039 Virar – Valsad Passenger
• 93015 Churchgate – Dahanu Road EMU
• 93017 Virar – Dahanu Road EMU
• 93019 Virar-  Dahanu Road EMU
• 93021 Virar- Dahanu Road EMU

Train Cancelled (Up Direction ) :-

• 93014 Dahanu Road – Virar EMU
• 93016 Dahanu Road – Churchgate EMU
• 93018 Dahanu Road -Virar EMU
• 93024 Dahanu Road – Virar EMU
• 59046 Valsad – Bandra Terminus Passenger

Trains to be  short  terminated :-

• Train no 59440 Ahmedabad – Mumbai Central Passenger will be terminated at Palghar Station and will be reversed as Train no 59439  i. e. Train no 59440/39 will be remain cancelled between Palghar – Mumbai Central – Palghar.
• Train no 19116 Bhuj – Dadar Express will be terminated at Borivali and will be reversed as train no 19115  from Borivali.
• Train no 12996 Ajmer/ Udaipur – Bandra Terminus Express will be terminated at Borivali and will be reversed as train no 12995  from Borivali.