General Rules for Running Allowance

These are the regulations that come under the payment of running and other special allowances to running employees in the railway.

The term ‘Running Duty’ refers to the duty performed by appointed running staff directly associated with the operation of trains, including moving trains and engines, along with shunting engines.

The following are included in running employees:

• Driver, Motorman, Rail Motor Driver
• Shunter, Tower Wagon Driver
• Assistant Loco Pilot, (Diesel Loco and Electric Loco)
• Instructor (Loco Pilot)
• Guard, Assistant Guard, etc.

The meaning of running allowance is a regular allowance provided to running employees, which includes distance allowance for kilometers covered and exchange allowance for kilometers exchanged. However, it does not include compensatory allowances.

In running allowance, the wage element is considered as 30% of the basic wage for running employees, which signifies the wage element in running allowance.

Running employees are provided with dearness allowance (DA) at government-approved rates on the basic wage and wage element of running allowance, which amounts to 30% of the basic wage from time to time.

Calculation as wage in the form of running allowance – The following cases will be counted as wage:

• Eligibility for Pass and PTO
• Educational Assistance, Reimbursement of Tuition Fees
• House Rent Allowance
• Determination of wage in permanent positions
• Eligibility for Railway Quarters
• Recovery of House Rent/Lease
• Dearness Allowance/Additional Dearness Allowance
• Overtime
• Leave Salary, even on Casual Leave
• Bonus
• Health-related check-ups and treatment
• Benefits in retirement

Partial donation/advance in Provident Fund

Relief up to 70% in income tax calculation

Generally, running employees are entitled to the following allowances subject to specified conditions, the rates of which are stipulated by the Railway Board from time to time –

• Kilometer allowance for running duty
• Allowance in lieu of kilometer allowance
• Special compensatory allowances:
  • Allowance in lieu of Running Room facilities
  • Allowance for Breaking Rest
  • External Station (Rukuni) Allowance
  • External Station (Relieving) Allowance
  • Accident Allowance

Allowance for higher grade duty performed by running employees or posting in permanent appointments.

Other Allowances:

• Waiting Duty Allowance
• Trip Allowance
• Shunting Duty Allowance
• Ghat Section Allowance for Passenger and Goods Trains
• Incentive for Thermal Wagons
• Kilometer Allowance for Slow-moving Goods Trains
• Kilometer Allowance for Learning Routes
• Allowance for Travel as a passenger on duty
• Guarantee of minimum kilometer allowance

Main Rules for Providing the Above Mentioned Allowances

• The rates of running allowances for every 100 kilometers will be determined by the competent authority of the Railway Board at regular intervals.
• For shunting engine duty on shunting engines, the rates specified in the cases of shunters and assistant locomotive pilots will be applicable for every hour of work after considering 15 kilometers as equivalent work (from signing on to signing off).
• The calculation of kilometer distances will be done based on actual or calculated kilometer distances as per the prevalent working time table on the railways.
• The rates of kilometer allowances are applicable for all duties performed from signing on to signing off. This includes all incidental matters related to the inspection and maintenance of the train or engine, all ad-hoc detentions, and all subsidiary works related to running duty.
• When running staff are engaged in the following non-running duties, they are eligible for kilometer allowances for each calendar day:
  • When such non-running duty is performed at their home headquarters, they will receive 30% of the basic pay for one day as running allowance.
  • If non-running duty is performed at an external station, they will receive compensation for kilometer distance.
• The rates for compensation in lieu of kilometer distance are determined by the Railway Board according to the time-to-time prevailing rates.
• In the above cases, running staff are eligible to accept/claim the payment of kilometer allowances for duties performed in accordance with the circumstances mentioned.
• For participating in inter-divisional meetings, divisional, departmental meetings, and zonal meetings with Mandal, Division, and General Managers.
• For attending primary medical treatment classes.
• For undergoing training in goods wagon sheds, training institutes for promotions, refresher courses, and for obtaining training as a qualified teacher under the Employees Education Scheme.
• For undergoing sterilization operations in the Family Planning Scheme.
• For appearing in Hindi exams.
• For being present in the treasure or other insured parcels in the guard’s duty.
• For operating special trains for VVIPs, where the locomotive pilot/assistant locomotive pilot is kept on standby for one or two days to allow them to inspect and clean the engine thoroughly before departure.
• For any other duty performed in emergencies.
• In lieu of kilometer allowances, when going for training programs related to promotions/rehabilitation courses at training institutes and Lok Sahayak Senas (where free meals are provided), they are eligible for payment at half the prescribed general rates.
• In lieu of kilometer allowances, when attending middle Sunday/holiday during training programs related to promotions/rehabilitation courses at training institutes and Lok Sahayak Senas.
• As per the Railway Service (Revised Pay) Rules 2008, the element of pay in running allowance for running employees will be 30% of the basic pay. The counting of benefits of retirement benefits for running employees will be counted at 55% of the basic pay in the Railway Service (Revised Pay) Rules 2008. In the case of Loco Inspectors, only the element of pensionary benefits will be counted at 30% of the basic pay.
• The rates of kilometer distance allowance and headquarters out of kilometer distance allowance (ALK) for running employees under the Railway Service (Revised Pay) Rules 2008 will be as follows:

10 Hour Duty Rule

• The calculation of running duty for the 10-hour rule will be done from wheel movement to reaching the changing point or headquarters of the destination station.
• After the signature to start duty, the duty period should generally not exceed 12 hours. After this, running employees have the right to claim relief.
• The continuous duty from the departure of the train should not exceed 10 hours, and the employee should have the right to claim relief after this.
• If the need arises, running duty can be extended from 10 to 12 hours, but the control should inform the employee at least 8 hours before the completion of the duty.
• If the train does not reach its destination or the place where crew change is done within 12 hours of the previous day, and it takes about an hour to reach there, the employee should ensure that the train reaches that place.
• In cases of emergency situations like accidents, floods, earthquakes, strikes, or machinery breakdowns, the employee may have to work more than the prescribed limit. In such a situation, the controller should provide the employee with appropriate notice.
• After running duty, rest at headquarters/outside headquarters will be as follows:
  • Rest hours after running duty at headquarters
  • Rest hours after running duty outside headquarters

Note:

The term “running duty” refers to the time from signing in to signing off. Except for unforeseen circumstances, a rest period of 6 hours should be completed before booking without fail. In the case of short trips, if the rest between two trips is one hour or less, it will be considered as part of the running duty. The following period will not be counted in the running duty, but will be considered for subsequent duty calculations.

The upcoming crew member is provided with time for engine inspection.

Time before departure.

If the running staff travels like a passenger before or after operating a train:

• Up to 4 hours of travel time will not be counted in the running duty.
• For travel time exceeding 4 hours, two-thirds of that time will be counted as running duty.

Time taken from destination station to shed.

Available rest period:

Running staff should be provided with rest periods as follows:

• 4 periods in 30 hours per month, or 5 periods in 22 hours per month, with one overnight stay in a bed.
• Running staff should not be assigned duties exceeding 6 consecutive nights.
• Running staff are generally not kept away from the headquarters for more than 3 or 4 days in a row.
• Advance notice of available rest should be provided to running staff.
• If a running staff member is on spare travel for up to 4 hours, they will not be provided rest after such travel.
• For spare travel exceeding 4 hours, one hour of rest at the outstation and two hours at the headquarters, for spare travel exceeding 7 hours, two hours of rest at the outstation and three hours at the headquarters, and for spare travel exceeding 10 hours, three hours of rest at the outstation and five hours at the headquarters should be provided.

Sign in:

Loco Running Staff:

For diesel shed, 30 minutes before departure, and for electric loco shed, if there is servicing facility, 30 minutes before, otherwise 40 minutes before sign in.

To charge loco outside the shed (diesel / electric), 15 minutes.

Traffic Running Staff:

For goods trains, 45 minutes at the initial or train examination station, and 15 minutes at other stations.

For passenger trains, 30 minutes at the initial or terminating station, and also 30 minutes or less at other stations, but at least 15 minutes.

Sign off:

Loco Running Staff:

For both diesel and electric cases, 15 minutes after the arrival of the train.

Traffic Running Staff:

For goods trains, 30 minutes, at the initial or train examination station, and 15 minutes at other stations. For passenger trains, 30 minutes at the initial / terminating station, and 15 minutes at other stations.

Medical examination interval: Running staff with periodic medical duty will not be booked for line duty. The medical examination interval will be as follows based on age groups (in years):

• Up to 45 years: Once in 4 years
• Above 45 up to 55 years: Once in 2 years
• Above 55 years: Every year

Even if a staff member’s medical examination was conducted at 44 years of age, they will be sent for the next medical examination at 45 years of age. Similarly, if a staff member’s medical examination was conducted at 54 years of age, they will be sent for the periodic medical examination again at 55 years of age.