Rooting for the railways

INDIAN railways is probably one of the oldest government organisations in the country.

What was started by the British in 1853 with the first train running from Bombay to Thane, as a popular mode of transport to ferry its troops, raw material and stores, today is arguably one of the largest railways in the world and ferries approximately 10,00,000 passengers everyday not to mention the countless tons of goods.

The railway is also the largest employer in India and offers employment opportunities in different categories at various levels.

A career in the railways, while being quite challenging in terms of skills and talents needed, is also quite rewarding with excellent remuneration, scope for growth in career, and job security.

The range of operations of the Indian railways is quite diverse and wide. The Indian Railway network comprises nine zones, directly controlled by the Railway Board, which is at the helm of all operations. A General Manager heads each zone.

Nature of work in the Indian Railway Services (Officer Cadre Class I & II)

The Indian Railway Traffic Service: This branch of the Indian Railways looks after transportation and commercial matters pertaining to transportation. The branch is further divided into two divisions:

The commercial division: This division deals with all commercial responsibilities like ticket checking, catering, administration and management of stations, reservation, platform announcements etc.

The operations division: This division deals with controlling movement of the trains. Keeping a check on incoming and outgoing trains, detachment or attachment of wagons, etc., are the responsibilities of this division. The job requires traveling to inspect, supervise and direct the work at stations and control offices.

A career with the IRTS begins with 3 years of probationary training.

The training is carried out for 2 years at Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration in Mussourie, zonal training centres and incorporates on the job training.

The final year of the training period is a regular appointment posting. On completion of this tenure and passing the departmental examinations the officers get a confirmed position.

This is either as Assistant Commercial Superintendent (ACS) or Assistant Operations Superintendent (AOS) at the Divisional Headquarters.

After 4 years of service, they are promoted to the position of Divisional Commercial Managers and Divisional Operations Managers.

The next promotion is again at the divisional level as Senior Divisional Commercial/Operations Managers. The senior most position at the zonal level is that of Chief Managers (Commercial/Operations).

Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS): As the name suggests this branch of the Railways deals with the accounting and finance operations of the Indian Railways.

Working in this branch entails dealing with financial transactions and hence a thorough knowledge of accounting procedures and related practices would prove an asset for officers who opt for this branch.

Appointed officers of the IRAS begin their careers with two years of probationary service.

Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)

This division handles all matters relating to recruitment, promotions, training and even staff welfare, staff welfare activities, transfers, disciplinary actions and so on. The officers of the personnel department also undergo a 3-year probation period.

Railway Protection Service/ Railway Protection Force: This branch of the Indian Railway Services operates as other para-military forces. They are responsible for the maintenance of law and order on trains and on premises owned and used by the Indian Railways.

On recruitment a RPF officer undergoes training for 3 years at Baroda, Lucknow and Police training establishments.

Railway Engineering Services:It is the technical side of the Indian Railways and is engaged in activities like installation, maintenance, construction and planning of railway tracks, bridges and buildings.

The Indian Railways has a team of engineering professionals from the core branches of engineering to manage the planning and expansion work, its production units, maintenance, and engineering services related to the functioning of the railways.

Engineers can join the Indian Railways as Group 'A' personnel. They are selected for five branches as technical staff for the Indian Railways.

Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE)

Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME)

Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE)

Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE)- Engineers specializing in Signals and Tele - communications

Indian Railway Stores Service

Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE): Officers of this branch comprise the civil engineers of the Indian Railways. They plan the track routes; construct railway stations, bridges, tunnels and housing colonies.

They also work on projects undertaken in India or abroad under the consultancy organisations of the Railways (Rail India Technical and Economic Services Ltd - RITES and IRCON).

On recruitment, the officers go through a 3-year probation period, very much like the officers inducted into IRTS, IRAS, IRPS, and RPF. The training period is divided into eight weeks of foundation course and six weeks of induction course at the Railway Staff College at Vadodra.

Technical training is imparted at the Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering (IRICEN) in Pune.

The third year of probation is a virtual posting for on-the-job training.

The recruited officer is given training in maintaining the railway segment under his charge. On confirmation, the officer is posted as assistant engineer in a division.

The next promotion is after two years to the post of divisional engineer and then to the post of senior divisional engineer takes another 5-6 years. Promotion to zonal level comes next.

Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME): These mechanical engineers maintain diesel locomotives and the rolling stock of the railways. They ensure that the locomotives, wagons and carriages are in proper order for day to day running. They look after the periodic overhauling of the engines, carry out maintenance and repair of engines, wagons and carriages. In the case of an accident they are required to be present at the site to advise and supervise the recovery and removal of the damaged locomotives, carriages and wagons. There are two types of recruitments in this group.

Graduate engineers are recruited through the Combined Engineering Services Examination and school leavers through the Special Class Railway Apprentices examination, both exams being conducted by the UPSC.

The graduate mechanical engineers too go through a 3-year probation period.

The training during the probationary period is given at the Railway Staff College at Vadodra and Indian Railway Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineers (IRIMEE) at Jamalpur in Bihar. The Special Class Railway Apprentices get four years of training. The training period is divided into 6-month periods of hands- on workshop training followed by 6 months of training at IRIMEE. Apprentices have to clear examinations every year for moving ahead with the training. On completion they are appointed as assistant mechanical engineers in a division. Future promotions are the same as in other branches.

Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE): They look after the functioning of this very massive network and technical expertise and updating of technology for ensuring efficient functioning. Engineers in this branch after recruitment are put on probation cum training at Railway Staff College at Vadodra and at the Railway Institute of Signal Telecommunication (IRISET) at Secunderabad.

On successfully completing the probation they undergo training there. On successfully completing the probation they are posted as assistant signal and telecommunication engineers.

Further promotions are very much the same as for other branches. The engineers are constantly updated on the latest technology through in-house training as well as sent on courses for learning the latest technological advances to institutes of technology.

Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE): Railways has an electrification headquarters at Allahabad for ongoing planning and coordination of developmental activities for electrification. Electrical engineers are responsible for carrying on the work taken up as part of the electrification projects as well as the maintenance and repair of electrical locomotives and coaches. They are responsible for power distribution networks, power generation, and electrical distribution systems and for monitoring continuity of supply.

The electrical engineers on recruitment are on probation during which they receive training at the Railway Staff College in Vadodara and Railway Institute of Electrical Engineering at (IRIEEN) at Nasik. On successful completion of training they are posted as assistant electrical engineers in a division in one of the departments mentioned above. Further promotions are as in other departments.

Indian Railway Stores Service: - It plans the expenditure for each five-year plan. This branch is responsible for bulk expenditure for procurement of materials required for maintenance, day-to-day functioning, developmental projects, etc. They take charge of the discarded and scrapped materials, which is either recycled or disposed.

Recruitment to this department is also followed by a probationary term. The training is given at the Railway Staff College at Vadodara followed by training in various depots, at the Headquarters of Supply and Disposal, and workshops/loco sheds where materials have to be supplied or recovered for disposal.

The career profile of a stores controller is different from the other branches. Stores depots are not in the administrative domain of a division. Stores officers on confirmation become assistant controller of stores and take charge of a depot, workshop, or loco shed. At the zonal level complete powers rest with the Controller of Stores.

Criteria for recruitment: Direct recruitment to posts and services in Class I and Class II for non-technical services - the Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS), the Indian Railway Personnel Services (IRPS), the Indian Railway Accounts Services (IRAS), and the Railway Police Service is through Union Public Service Commission.

To be considered for employment, a candidate needs to pass the Combined Civil Services Examination and an allied examination for the Railways. For the Railway Engineering Services an engineering degree or its equivalent is a must.

A separate examination is conducted in August each yearfor the recruitment of mechanical engineers, called the Special Class Railway Apprentices. These candidates between 17 and 21 years are selected at the pre-graduate level (10+2 with physics or chemistry and maths) and have to undergo practical and theoretical training at the Indian Railway Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, Jamalpur (Bihar). Those who enter this service constitute the top rung of the mechanical wing of the railways.

During the four years of training, trainees are paid a stipend.

Attributes: On the personal front there are certain attributes and traits essential for a government employee. The one that tops the list is a willingness to work in a predetermined hierarchy. Unlike the private sector, hierarchy is adhered to quite strictly in the government sector. Other qualities required are a preparedness to do monotonous and routine jobs, ability to undertake structured and rule based activities, organising skills and an ability to keep a cool head during crisis. One should also be prepared to spend time away from home and family.

Remuneration & other benefits:

Remuneration for railway officers is fixed by the government of India and follows the pattern of all other civil services. Remuneration for group 'A' officers ranges from Rs 9,000-13,500 per month at entry level. Group 'B' employees are paid between Rs 5,500-9,000 per month.

Other benefits include facilities like travel allowances, education and housing facility, pension, health care, free railway passes and so on.

Career prospects: The Indian railways has made a remarkable progress in attaining self-sufficiency in a number of areas. Working with them is considered quite meaningful and prestigious.

Being the largest employer in the country, the railways has a place for almost all kinds of workers— from the low class unskilled employees to the highly paid technical and non technical professionals. And like most government services it offers a secure career.