CR motormen ask for leniency in SPAD cases

The motormen on Central Railway (CR) demanded that the Indian Railways should lessen the degree of punishment if while maneuvering a train, it passes red signal. Right now, a motorman can be suspended or removed depending on the fault. Passing the red signal — called Signal Passing At Danger (SPAD) — is a serious offence considered an accident by authorities.

On January 12, when the Chairman of Railway Board Ashwani Lohani visited the Motorman and Guard lobby at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), the motormen demanded that the Railway Board listen to their demand of going lenient in SPAD cases. “There are currently 13 SPAD cases that are being heard. As per the rules, a motorman could lose his job and so we want the punishment to be little lenient,” said a motorman from Central Railway.