Title - Staff crunch, overwork stress out motormen

CHENNAI:: P Rajaratnam (name changed), after 15 years of shunting trains and running goods trains, was posted as a motorman on suburban trains in Chennai. A few months into his first assignment, he fears his efficiency level is dipping because of increased fatigue.Many motormen say staff shortage, overwork and poorly designed running rooms where it is difficult to rest are increasing their fatigue levels.Around 325 motormen operate 766 suburban train services a day. There is a shortage of more than 90 motormen. According to unofficial estimates, around 360 motormen are required to operate trains.The issue was raised as part of a nationwide agitation recently, but little seems to have been done. "When an accident occurs, the loco pilot or motorman is blamed. But they fail to realize that a variety of reasons make a motorman lose efficiency," said a motorman on the suburban route.A suburban train is operated by a motorman unlike long-distance trains piloted by two people. The unions want additional staff to be sanctioned as soon as a new suburban service is introduced, but usually it is more than a year before additional staff are sanctioned.Poorly-designed running rooms are another problem. "Suburban drivers stay in running rooms in Tiruvallur, Beach, Avadi, Arakkonam, Gummidipoondi, Chengalpet and Tirumalpur after the last night service and return with the morning service. Here, motormen can't have uninterrupted sleep," said a union member.

A senior railway official said recruitment of assistant loco pilots had begun.