The railways has decided to allow supervisory station masters to travel in drivers’ and guards’ cabin in local trains to reach their destination. This is the first time that the railway administration has taken such a decision. Until now, only those officials deputed for the inspection of a section were permitted to travel in these cabins.

Recently, in a meeting with station masters of suburban stations, the Operating Department has decided to distribute passes to station masters to authorise them to travel in drivers’ and guards’ cabins. In the meeting, it was discussed that most of the station masters stay away from the stations where they are posted. Even during the peak hours, they are forced to travel in compartments.

“As per the rule, station masters should be given quarters near the stations where they are posted so that they can easily reach the station. But railway accommodations are not available at most of the stations,” said a station master posted at a suburban station.

“This is the first time when the railways has allowed station masters to travel in cabins. For that, we thank our senior Khushal Singh at Divisional Operation, Mumbai. But yes, in emergency, every staff in railways use driver’ or guards’ cabin though they are not allowed to do so,” he added.

Shyam Sunder Gupta, chief public relations officer, Western Railway (WR), said, “WR is planning to give passes to only those station masters who are in supervisory position so that in emergency they can travel in the cabin officially.”