Mumbai: WR motormen want to keep cabin door open

The April heat and humidity are taking their toll on the Western Railway motormen, who are forced to keep the cabin doors shut.

The April heat and humidity are taking their toll on the Western Railway motormen, who are forced to keep the cabin doors shut.

The motormen have complained of inhuman working condition, saying it becomes difficult to work as the cabin gets hot and stuffy as the day progresses.

According to the motormen, the recent incident of trains overshooting the platforms at Borivli and Goregaon stations were a result of the locomotive pilots losing concentration because of the heat.

The railway administration, however, did not see any such co-relation.

“We are unable to concentrate as the motorman’s cabin is as hot as an oven by noon. How can someone drive a train when he is drenched in sweat?” said a senior motorman, requesting anonymity.

Motormen said they received orders to keep the cabin door shut around six months ago.

“The cabin has no proper ventilation system. In the old rakes, there was an air duct below the windscreen,” said another WR locomotive pilot.

They are now demanding that either the cabins be fitted with air-conditioners or another ventilation system be put in place.

The railway administration, however, said the rule was in place to ensure the motormen’s safety. “There are windows in the cabin that remain open. The rule is for their safety; to ensure they don’t fall from a running train,” said Shailendra Kumar, divisional railway manager, WR’s Mumbai division.