No. AIRF/55
Dated: 08.07.2026
To
The Executive Director (Safety),
Railway Board,
Rail Bhawan,
New Delhi.
Sub: – Request for formulation of a policy prohibiting the practice of calling Running Staff for duty immediately after expiry of approved leave at 00:00 hours – reg.
Dear Sir,
The All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) seeks to draw your kind attention towards an important issue having direct bearing on railway safety, operational efficiency, and employee welfare. AIRF earnestly requests the Railway Board to formulate a suitable policy to discontinue the existing practice of calling Running Staff for duty immediately at 00:00 hours upon the expiry of their sanctioned leave.
It is respectfully submitted that Running Staff on Zonal Railways, especially on N.E. Railway, are presently being booked for duty from 00:00 hours on the very day their approved leave period ends. In practice, this means that an employee whose leave expires at midnight becomes liable to report for duty immediately thereafter, without any reasonable transition period for rest, preparation, or adjustment.
AIRF submits that such an arrangement is neither practical nor consistent with the principles of humane administration. More importantly, it is contrary to the broader objectives of railway safety and safe train operations. Running Staff constitute one of the most critical components of the railway safety framework, and their alertness, mental preparedness, and physical fitness are indispensable for ensuring safe movement of trains.
It is a matter of common experience that employees on leave often remain engaged in family, social, personal, or other unavoidable responsibilities during their period of absence. When they are required to report for duty immediately after 00:00 hours on the expiry of leave, their normal sleep cycle and adequate rest are likely to be disturbed. Such disruption can adversely affect alertness, concentration, vigilance, reaction time, and decision-making ability, all of which are essential attributes for Running Staff performing safety-sensitive duties.
From a safety perspective, any condition that compromises proper rest and alertness of Running Staff deserves serious attention. Fatigue and inadequate rest have long been recognized as contributing factors in operational lapses, including Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) incidents and other safety-related occurrences. Therefore, continued adherence to the present system may expose railway operations to avoidable risks and is not in consonance with modern safety management principles.
In view of the above, AIRF most earnestly requests that the Railway Board may kindly examine the matter on priority and issue comprehensive instructions laying down a uniform policy whereby Running Staff are not called for duty immediately at 00:00 hours on the expiry of sanctioned leave. A reasonable post-leave reporting arrangement, ensuring adequate rest before resumption of safety-sensitive duties, would be in the larger interest of railway safety, operational reliability, and employee welfare.
AIRF is confident that, under your able guidance, this important issue will receive urgent consideration and that an early and positive decision will be taken in the larger interest of Indian Railways.
AIRF, therefore, sincerely requests your kind and expeditious intervention so that a just, practical, and safety-oriented policy decision is taken at the earliest in the interest of railway safety, fairness, employee welfare, and sound administrative practice.
Yours faithfully,
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary
Copy to:
General Secretaries, All Affiliated Unions – For information.
