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Jargon and Technical Terms, etc. - II

Contents
This page

Technical terms contd.. (English): M - Z

Glossary - terms in Indian languages

On Page 1

Glossary of technical terms (English): A - L

Glossary of technical terms in English (M - Z)

Mail train
For this and related terms see the section on operations

Main line
Refers to the tracks used for the main running line or for long-distance trains; the relief
line or local linerefers to any other tracks that run parallel to the main line tracks but are
used for local passenger trains, suburban trains and similar traffic.

Major bridge
A bridge that spans a gap of more than 18m, or has an opening between pillars of over
12m.

Make-up time, margin, recovery time

See the section on operations

Marshalling yard

A yard where rakes (consists) for various trains are assembled and disassembled as
required; typically contains a huge maze of highly interconnected sidings and tracks, lots
of coaches, wagons, tankers, etc. being shuffled around to put together in formations as
required, and equipped with lots of shunter locos. (US: 'classification yard')

Master controller
A lever, handle, or wheel control in a locomotive that can be moved to different positions to
set the configuration of the traction motors and controlling circuits and thereby control the
speed of the loco.

Material train
A departmental train carrying equipment or material, such as ballast, for railway works.

Maximum permissible speed(MPS)

See the items related to working timetable and scheduling in the section on operations.

Megablock
A large-scale traffic block for engineering work or other reasons. See the section on
operations for more on different kinds of blocks.

Mixed train
A train that carries both passengers and freight (goods or animals). Often, such a train has
a rake that is mostly composed of passenger stock, with perhaps one or two freight cars
attached at the front (less often, at the rear).

Monomotor bogie
Refers to a bogie where one traction motor drives both powered axles of the bogie.
Derived from the term monomoteur in French.

Monsoon load
The maximum load for a particular combination of motive power in the rainy season (when
tractive effort is reduced because of the wet conditions).

Multi-diesel
A term occasionally used for diesels operating lashed up as multiple units.

Net load
Refers to the total tonnage of goods or passengers being carried in a wagon or coach or in
an entire train.

Neutral section
Also known as dead zone. Refers to a section of catenary that is not energized. It isolates
successive sections of different phases or voltages. A dynamic neutral section is one
that can be switched from one traction supply to another, e.g., DC to AC. See the section
on electric traction for more information.

Neutral temperature
The stress-free temperature for destressed and pretensioned continuously welded track.

Nil caution
A caution order issued by a notice station indicating no special restrictions to be observed
between that station and the next notice station.

No Road
See Two Road.

Nose-hung
Nose-suspended, or axle-suspended motors are those that are suspended directly from
the axle and not from the frame of the bogie (contrast frame-mounted).

Notch
One of the several available settings in controlling the speed / power / torque of the
traction motors of a locomotives. A typical locomotive may have about 30 or so notches. In
locos using tap-changers, the notches correspond to the taps. Notching up refers to
stepping up through these notches as the loco accelerates; similarly notching down for
deceleration. In some locos, some notch positions cannot be sustained for long periods of

time, whereas a few can be held indefinitely; these latter are then known as free
notches. See the section on electric traction. Also see progression and regression,
and vernier controller.

Notice station
One of the stations on a route issuing divisional caution orders for that route (in addition to
the station adjacent to the block section which requires the caution order).

Obstruction
Refers to any train, vehicle, or obstacle that is on a section of track or fouling it, so as to
present a danger to trains that might run on that track.

Occupancy chart
The Occupancy chart for a station details which platforms and sidings are occupied, and by
which trains, at different times. Sometimes the term occupation chart is used.

"Odd"
A common term for the numeral zero in spoken IR lingo. For example, '0/9' is pronounced
'odd bar nine'.

Officiate
To officiate over a train, said of a driver, is to be assigned to a train.

On line
Bringing, or putting, something on line refers to bringing it into service or commissioning
it. Used of new models of locomotives or coaches, etc.

Onward journey
An intermediate section of a trip

Operating number
A locomotive's serial number as allotted by the railway.Contrast with construction number.

Operating ratio
(For a railway) The ratio of operational expenses and payments to gross earnings.

Ordinary
An ordinary train is one that is not a mail or express train (also known as just
a passenger).

Outage
In contrast to the meaning in other contexts, refers to the availability of locos for traffic
use from a shed. More precisely, it is the average number of locomotives that are in
working condition and 'outside' the shed (i.e., in productive use for hauling traffic),
sampled periodically, and quoted as a percentage of the total number of locomotives
homed at the shed. The higher the outage figure, the better the performance of the shed.
The sampling may be hourly or less often; it was every 4 hours for steam locos.

Out-Agency
A Railway Out-Agency (or Out Agency) is an organization that has made arrangements
with IR to provide connecting road services to passengers from certain stations to nearby
towns; these agencies can also issue combined road-rail tickets to passengers for such
journeys.

Out-station
(For ticketing purposes) means a station other than where the ticketing is done: the
destination, normally, or the starting point when purchasing reverse journey tickets. Also
refers to any station other than a crew's home station, where train crew may stay for a
while.

Out time
The actual departure time of a train from the originating station, as recorded in the train
report.

Pantograph

Structure on top of an electric locomotive used for collecting electric current from the
overhead catenary.

Party ticket
A ticket issued for several persons travelling as a group (usually in special categories, e.g.
educational tours).

Passenger train
See the section on operations.

Passenger fit
An annotation used for some locomotives (mostly WDM-2's) that have been certified for
use with mail/express train hauling and are earmarked for those (and not to be used with
goods trains). There are also some locos marked passenger train only which are used
only with slow passenger trains andnot with mail/express trains running at higher speeds.

Patrolman
A member of the permanent way inspection staff who is charged with walking along the
track to visually inspect it. A patrol refers to a complete inspection trip (out and back)
made by a patrolman.

Phase gap
The discontinuity in the electrical supply to the OHE at the boundary where different
sections of the catenary are supplied by different phases from the local power supply
station. Also phase break.

Pilot
A pilot, or shunting pilot, or station pilot is a shunting locomotive used at a station for
handling the chores of switching sectional carriages around, forming rakes for passenger
trains, etc. (This was more prevalent in steam days as the main locomotive for hauling a
passenger train would be getting coaled and watered at the time that the pilot was putting
together the rake it had to haul. An up pilot handles trains from the Up direction;
similarly down pilot. The term is also used to refer to the driver of such a shunting loco.

Pilot loco
An additional loco attached at the front of a train (in contrast to bankers that are usually
attached at the rear to help push up a train on inclines). Sometimes loosely used for pilot
train.

Pilot train
A pilot train (also sometimes loosely called pilot loco) is a train (often a light loco, or a loco
with a wagon or two in front of it) sent ahead of another train to check for problems with
the tracks, and bridges, looking for damage or sabotage, etc. The pilot train usually runs
one block section ahead of the train it is protecting. This practice is prevalent for guarding
trains carrying VIPs; and also for guarding all trains in in areas where terrorist groups are
active and have targeted railway infrastructure. An empty flatcar or other wagon is often
attached in front of the pilot train's locomotive so that it can trigger any explosive devices,
or bring out any problems with the track before the loco itself reaches the spot.

Platinum Pass
A pass that provided unlimited free travel on IR for current and past Railway Board
members and their friends and family, by air-conditioned first-class. It was instituted in
1997 by the Railway Board and withdrawn soon thereafter by order of the Delhi High Court
following a successful public-interest lawsuit. The plaintiff had argued that such a generous
perquisite was inappropriate given that the ordinary public could hardly get reserved
accommodation on most trains.

Plinthed
A plinthed locomotive is one that has been placed (usually after restoration or preservation
work) on a short section of track on a platform, yard, station forecourt or anywhere else

where it is no longer connected to active running lines. A list of plinthed locos in India is in
the section on locomotives.

Points
These are the same as in UK usage: equivalent to a 'switch' in US usage. Facing
points are points that control diverging routes (from the point of view of the train's
direction of motion). Trailing points control converging routes (again with respect to the
direction of motion of the train). If access to a siding is provided only by trailing points, the
train must pass over the points and then reverse to be diverted on to the siding.

Point rail
Term for a 'point' in US usage: the actual tapered rail or tongue rail that moves and abuts
a rail to cause the wheels to be deflected off on to the other track.

Pink Book
IR's annual compendium of Works, Rolling Stock, and Machinery & Plant programs,
detailing allocations from the capital expenditure for the year; the Blue Book is a similar
compilation detailing revenue expenditure allocations.

Power
A power is a locomotive. A dead power is a nonfunctional locomotive that has to be
hauled away for repairs. An unbalanced power refers to a (steam) loco with broken or
damaged side rods which can still be driven but only slowly. A power failure is a
breakdown of a locomotive.

Power plan
The schedule of all up and down trains from a station and expected locomotive and crew
requirements for them, used to determine actual locomotive and staff allocations.

Prepone
This word is not really an IR-specific one but is widely encountered in Indian English. To
prepone something is to advance its scheduled occurrence and is the opposite of
'postpone'.

Private handle
A dual spanner that can be used to operate the Master Conroller as well as the Brake
Controller in an EMU or locomotive, but without the mechanical interlocking provided by
the spanners normally used to operate these controls. This allows use of either or both
controls while at the same time allowing the spanner to be removed from the control panel
(and returned to the motorman's pocket).

Private number
A number that is provided by a station master to a signal cabin or level crossing gateman
when some action is to be taken, such as pulling off a signal to accept a train, or to open
or close the level crossing gates. The person performing the action notes the number down
in his records as proof that the action was authorized. The numbers are not in a sequence,
and are made up by the station master or his deputy in some way known only to them, so
that there is little chance of anyone guessing a private number for the purpose of covering
up an unauthorized action.

Progression
Term used to refer to the sequence of steps or notches on the master controller through
which a locomotive is taken when increasing speed; regression is the term used for the
sequence when slowing down. Also see auto-regression.

Proper
Term used for the connecting train which a driver is supposed to take back to his home
station after having driven a train out of the home station.

Proportioning valve
A valve found on most recent models of locos that allows the loco brakes to be applied
automatically when the train brakes are applied, to increase the braking power. Older locos

such as the WCM-1 and WCM-2 lacked this valve, making their train brakes and loco
brakes truly independent in application.

Punctuality
Punctuality as a figure (e.g., 90%) is measured as the fraction of trains that arrive and
depart within a certain threshold of the scheduled time (e.g., within 15 minutes), at
stations in a particular division or zone over a period of time.

Push-pull
This type of operation refers to a train set up so that the locomotive is not moved around
when the train has to reverse direction the locomotive stays in the same position, and
either pushes or pulls the train as appropriate. Of course, when the loco is at the rear of
the train, a driving cab must be used at the other end. Sometimes there may be two locos,
one at either end; one pushes and the other pulls in one direction, and the roles are
reversed for the return trip. A twist on it in IR is that an arrangement where a single loco
in the middle of the rake provides the motive power, with unpowered driving cabs at either
end of the rake, is also known as a push-pull.

Python rake
An informal term used by some on NR / NER to describe a freight rake that is composed of
two or three other rakes (sometimes including their locomotives) that are simply
marshalled together to form one rake for the shared part of their journeys. At an
intermediate point the constituent rakes are uncoupled and go their own ways.

Quick Transit
A class of freight service providing faster delivery times than normal.

Quill drive
A method of connecting a traction motor to the axle of a bogie by means of a hollow tube
(the quill) around the axle.

Quota
The number of seats or berths earmarked for a particular category of passengers. Most
often refers to the seats/berths set aside for passengers entraining at an intermediate
station. (referred to as the quota for that station). This was essential in the days before
computerized reservations, for controlling the number of tickets issued at intermediate
stations.
Return journey quota is the number of seats/berths on a train for which tickets can be
issued by a station for a journey terminating at that station. Tourist quota : for tourists
paying in US dollars or other foreign currency. Similarly, senior citizens quota, VIP
quota, emergency quota, etc. General quotarefers to the generally allocatable
seats/berths that don't fall into any of the above quotas. Pooled quota refers to the quota
for several stations that has been combined following the introduction of networked
computerized ticketing.

Railneer
Trade name for a brand of bottled drinking water marketed by IR.

Railway Board train (RB train)

Also known as a board-monitored train) this is any of a few selected trains chosen for
political or other reasons and given high operational priority and therefore tending to be
very punctual (on-time running for a division or zone may be measured by these trains).
Delays in such a train's running are promptly reported to the Chief Operations Manager of
the division concerned, as are complaints regarding cleanliness, security, and passenger
amenities. A railway minister's train is one of the trains that is given even higher
operational priority because it enjoys the position of being personally supervised by the
Minister for Railways or other such high official (also termed being on the MR list). Many
important trains such as the Tamil Nadu Exp., Rajdhani Expresses, Shatabdi Expresses,
and others are board-monitored.

Rake
A formation of coupled coaches or cars that makes up a train (minus the loco) is called a
rake; the same as a 'consist' or 'cut' of cars in US terminology. (The word formation is
also sometimes used in IR parlance for a freshly assembled rake.) Note that the word
'rake' is often pronounced 'rack', especially by non-English-speaking railway staff; this has
sometimes also led to the erroneous spelling 'rack' in printed text.

Rake link
A detailed description of the rake compositions and movements for various trains handled
by a particular division or zone. It usually covers the movement of stock for about 2500km
(the primary maintenance period). Similarly, there is an engine link or loco link detailing
movements and allotments of locomotives. See the section on operations.

Raksha Dhaga
("Thread of Safety") is a safety arrangement used by KR to protect trains from the effects
of landslides or rockfalls which are common in some sections. The arrangement consists of
a trip wire that is suspended alongside the track at varying heights (at or above the height
of a typical train). The wire is under tension by a hanging weight at one end. The other
end terminates in a box that has a maintenance-free battery, a rotating beacon light, and
a hooter horn. When the trip wire is suddenly subject to additional tension as would
happen if a landslide resulted in rocks and debris falling on to the tracks from above, it
activates the horn and beacon light to warn approaching trains of the hazard ahead.

Rationalized route
A pre-determined route between a pair of points that IR uses to compute freight charges
for a shipment, regardless of whether the shipment actually uses that route or a different,
possibly shorter (and cheaper) route.

Refuge siding
A siding fitted with catch points and interlocked with a running line. It purpose is to hold
trains to allow faster or more important trains to pass it. These are often provided on ghat
sections to allow passenger trains to overtake the heavy and slow goods trains.

Regulated
To be regulated, said of a train, means that it is stopped at a certain point before its final
destination because of weather, track problems, etc.

Relativity index
(For a particular class of travel and accommodation), , is the proportional factor applied to
ordinary second-class fares to compute the base fares for that class. E.g., Sleeper class
has a relativity index of 155% or 1.55, which means that the base fare for a ticket on this
class is 1.55 times the fare for ordinary second-class travel. Sometimes the index is
quoted as an amount, e.g., Rs 155 where it understood that the comparison is with Rs
100.

Reservation against cancellation (RAC)

Refers to a ticket with reserved (confirmed) sitting accommodations only, but whose status
can change to providing reserved sleeping accommodations as well if enough persons
holding reservations cancel their tickets.

Resistance
General term for the opposing forces because of friction, air drag, etc. that have to be
overcome by a locomotive to cause a train to move. Rolling resistance or running
resistance is the term for the opposing force experienced when a train is in
motion. Starting resistance is the term for opposing force that has to be overcome in
order to get a train moving from a standstill.

Retiring room
A waiting room at a railway station, with facilities for overnight stay.

Return journey

A return journey ticket is the ticket for the second half of a round trip, or the final section
of a circular journey. (See reverse journey.)

Reverse
To reverse a locomotive is to detach it from one end of a rake and re-attach it to the other
end.

Reverse curve
A section of track that has a curve in one direction followed immediately by a curve in the
other direction (with or without an intervening straight).

Reverse journey (tickets)

Tickets that purchased for a trip from some other station to the station where the tickets
are being purchased.

Reversing station
A point on a hilly railway route where a train can reverse and change direction by switching
to another track, in places where the terrain makes it impossible to have a curve in the
tracks; rather like switchbacks on mountain trails. Reversing stations in some cases have
been replaced by newer track alignments that use tunnels and bridges built with
technology not available in earlier decades.

Right time
Term used for the on-time departure or arrival of a train.

Road
One of several tracks available for receiving trains at a station (usually leading to
platforms).

Road learning
Refers to the trips undertaken by a driver in the cab of a loco driven by another driver,
familiarizing himself with a new route that he is to drive on.

Road Station
A station that is accessible by road in addition to being served by the railway; a non-road
station on the other hand is accessible only by rail.

Route kilometer
A unit of distance, measuring the distance by rail between two points on the railway
network. Seerunning track and total track kilometers below.

Running Room
A rest house for running crew (drivers/guards/TTEs) at a layover away from their
headquarters (home base) station.

Running Time: Minimum Running Time, Normal Running Time

See the items related to working timetable and scheduling in the section on operations.

Running line
A line along with any connections that a train passes on when going through a station or
between stations. I.e., sidings, branches, loops, etc. are not considered part of a running
line.

Running track kilometers

The sum of all running lines (counting each line of doubled, tripled, etc., lines separately)
between two points. See route kilometers and total track kilometers.

Running train
A train that has properly begun its journey (with authority to proceed) but which has not
yet arrived at its next required halt.

Sand trap
Also called Sand drag. A short section of track that runs into a thick (several inches) bed
of sand. It is used in conjunction with trap points; vehicles that move the wrong way on a
siding will be diverted onto the trap and be derailed there instead of continuing on to the
running line.

Scissors crossover
A pair of parallel or nearly parallel tracks with crossovers provided in both directions
between the two lines (i.e., trains can be routed from either line to either line, in both
directions). Often, scissors crossovers are provided from a running line to a dead-end
siding to allow for one train to be passed by another. Also referred loosely, as scissors
crossing

Seated load
The seating capacity (number of passengers for whom seating arrangements are provided)
in a passenger coach or EMU. Also called sitting load

Security patrolling
Refers to patrolling track and visually inspecting its condition and checking for sabotage or
damage by miscreants when there are civil disturbances in the area, or terrorist activity.

Semi-fast
Certain kinds of express EMU services in Mumbai. See the section on operations.

Shaku couplers
(?) Local name for Scharfberg centre-buffer couplers used on EMUs and some locos (from
the firm Scharfberg Kupplung GmbH, Germany). [Not entirely certain this is the origin of
this term.]

Shunter
A person who works under the direction of a turner (q.v.) to move shunting locos and
others in and out of tight spots on shunting sidings, e.g., to allow the turner to move the
main loco to some desired location. Shunter is also used to mean 'shunting locomotive'.

Shunting neck
Refers to the convergence of many tracks in a station or yard connecting within a very
small stretch to the running line(s). Coaches may be shunted to and from the shunting
tracks while breaking up and reforming rakes.

Shunting gear
The gearing of a shunting locomotive set when it is working with at low-speed on heavyhaul shunting duties.

Sick (coach)
A sick coach is one that is one that is in need of repairs or maintenance and withdrawn
from service for that purpose.

Siding
Any track which is not a running line. This contrasts with US usage where a siding refers to
passing lines or loop sidings only; in Indian usage it includes these as well as what are
called side tracks in the US. Adead-end siding is a siding that is not a loop or passing
line.

Signals
For all signal-related terms such as Distant, Warner, Outer, Home, Starter, Gate Stop,
semaphore, colour-light, position-light, disc signal, banner signal, repeater, calling-on
signal, co-acting signal, etc., please see the section on signalling. A fixed signal is a
signal in a fixed location, as opposed to hand signals, temporary or emergency signals,
etc. The last stop signal refers to the fixed stop signal which controls entry of trains into
the next block section ahead. Similarly, the first stop signal controls the entry of trains
from the previous block section.

Single line
A route where one set of tracks exists but trains may be routed over it in both directions
(up and down); a twin single line is a route with two sets of tracks, where either line can
be used for routing up or down trains. In contrast, with a double line normal working has
one line reserved for up trains and the other for down trains.

Sleeper

A tie for the rails, or a car with sleeping accommodations.

Slip
A crossing of two (or more) railway tracks with points/frogs so that trains can move from
one track to the other. A single slip is a slip which only allows trains from one track to
cross over to the other (or to continue on the same track), but where trains on the other
track cannot change over to the first. Adouble slip is a crossing of two tracks (at a small
angle) with points/frogs that allow trains on either track to be routed on to either track.

Slip coach
See the section on operations for more on this and related terms.

Slip siding
This is a siding provided going off the main line away from a station, that prevents
runaway trains that escape from the station limits or yard limits from continuing on the
main line. Normally the points are set to divert all trains to the slip siding, so only
authorized trains can proceed on to the main line. Slip sidings are usually provided to the
rear of the last stop signal of any line leading out of the station or yard. Slip sidings are
also provided to protect trains from collisions at cross-over points on single lines. See
alsocatch siding.

Smalls
Goods consigments of small dimensions, many of which can be sent together in one parcel
van or freight wagon, as opposed to larger goods items that often require the exclusive
use of an entire wagon.

Special(train)
An extra train not found in the normal timetable. Also termed a holiday special if it's a
train intended to ease traffic during vacation or festival times. A trial special is a special
train used for carrying out a trail run (line trials, oscillation trials, etc.) with new or
experimental rolling stock. The first official run of a new train or new locomotive is often
designated an inaugural special. (Loosely similar to: US: 'Extra'; UK: 'Special Traffic
Notice').

Splitting a switch
Also known as a trail-through -- this refers to the case where a train moves over trailing
points that are accidentally set for a loop line, thus forcibly pushing apart the rails at the
points.

Sprags
On severe inclines, it is not sufficient to depend on the parking brakes of coaches or
wagons to keep them stabled or parked. Sprags are metal (steel) bars that are inserted
between the spokes of a wagon's wheels to prevent it from rolling away; scotch blocks or
stop blocks are wooden or metal wedges that are placed on the rail under a wheel for the
same purpose. Also called scotch blocks / stop blocks

Stabling shed
A shed where a loco may make a short stopover in between trips, etc. A stabling yard is
one where rakes are stored (usually without any maintenance) away from the home yard,
before they are assigned to the next train service.

Staff magazine
Not be mistaken as a periodical publication for the employees! It is the holder for the staffs
used by an electric staff block instrument (e.g., Webb & Thompson).

Standing load
Refers to the total number of seated and standing passengers a regular coach or EMU car
(or buses, in other contexts) is designed to carry under normal conditions. Full standing
load is another term sometimes used: the number of passengers at which more
passengers decide not to enter the coach (non-rush-hour).

Starting journey

The first section of the trip commencing from the originating station.

Stop collar
A small ring, sleeve, or tag attached to a point lever as a reminder that the points (and
signals) controlled by that lever if interlocked) have been set to protect a train on that
section -- so that the section is not cleared for another train by mistake. Often the collar
also interlocks mechanically so that the lever cannot be moved while the collar is in place.

Straight coupler
The same as the standard CBC coupler used on IR. Also known as a nontransition coupler. In contrast,transition couplers have a CBC arrangement and also a
mechanism to link to screw couplers.

Subgrade
The layer of material (mostly soil) provided above the subsoil, and below the ballast layer
or the blanket of a track formation if a blanket layer is provided.

Subsoil
The soil of the natural ground below the subgrade layer of a track formation.

Super
A superfast train (see below); usage among some IR staff.

Superfast
The section on operations has more information on this.

Support Wagon
A wagon or tanker filled with an inert cargo (sand, water, etc.) coupled at either end of a
freight rake of hazardous or inflammable material (e.g., petroleum products) to protect the
cargo in the case of a collision.

Suri transmission
An indigenous version of a hydraulic transmission with lock-in torque converter to provide
rigid mechanical coupling at speed to reduce transmission losses. It was invented by Mr M
M Suri at RDSO in 1956 and was incorporated in a number of diesel locomotives.

Tatkal
A facility where reserved tickets with confirmed sleeping accommodations can be obtained
one day in advance of the journey on payment of a premium, even if the normal
reservation quotas are exhausted.

Tejaswini
Squads of about 4 to 6 women officers (ticket examiners and police constables) that
conduct checks for ticketless passengers in the ladies' coaches of Mumbai suburban trains
and elsewhere.

Telescopic fares
IR's fares do not increase proportionately with distance & for longer journeys, the fare per
unit distance is lower than for shorter distances, and keeps falling in slabs as the length of
the journey increases. For this reason they are sometimes described as telescopic.

Track Formation
This term includes the entire permanent way structure including the track foundation (see
below) and the rails and sleepers themselves.

Track Foundation
This term includes the ballast, blanket, and subgrade layers of a track formation, which are
placed to transmit the load of the trains to the subsoil.

Track kilometers
(Or total track kilometers). Includes the sum total of all running lines and sidings, yard
trackage, etc., between two points. See route kilometers and running track kilometers.

Traffic
General term for any trains moving on the tracks. Revenue traffic (or revenue-earning
traffic) consists of traffic for which IR is paid, as opposed to departmental

traffic (see departmental) or non-revenue trafficwhich is traffic that is conveyed free of

charge by IR. Goods traffic is measured in net tonne-kilometers (NTKM) -- the
conveyance of 1 tonne of goods over 1km, or gross tonne-kilometers (GTKM), where
the weight includes the weight of the vehicles and locomotives.
Another measure commonly encountered is loaded wagon-kilometer representing the
conveyance of a full goods wagon over a distance of 1km. Passenger traffic is naturally
measured in passenger kilometers. Another unit sometimes encountered is the train
kilometer, representing the movement of a train over 1km. Similarly, one also
finds engine kilometer, representing the movement of a locomotive over 1km under its
own power.

Traffic density
Amount of traffic (usually taken as an annual figure and measured in NTKM or GTKM or
passenger-kilometers) per unit measure of track, either route km or running track km.

Train Examiner
IR staff person who inspects a train and certifies that it is fit and safe for running.

Technical halt
A halt which is present only for purposes such as loco crew change, loco change, water
pick-up, cafeteria supplies pick-up, etc. It is not a halt meant for passengers to embark or
disembark, and it will often not appear in the passenger timetables at all (it of course does
show up in the working timetables used by the crew).

Terminal capacity
the maximum number of trains that can be handled in a day (24 hours) by a yard.

Testing train
A train (usually just a loco with one or two empty coaches) that is used to check newly
constructed or repaired permanent way for adequate clearances for the loading gauge,
speed trials, etc.

Through carriage
Refer to the section on operations.

Through-put
(For a section) The amount of traffic that can be carried in that section in a day (24 hours),
measured in the number of wagons, coaches, tonnne-km, or passenger-km.

Tier
See the entry for berth. Often mispronounced as though it were 'tire'.

Trail-through
See the entry for splitting a switch.

Train care centre

(Or a coaching depot) is the part of a station or yard that handles stabled passenger rakes
and prepares them for service (cleaning, maintenance, etc.).

Tractive effort
See the section on locomotives.

Trap points
Also known as derailing points (or a derailing switch), are like catch points except that
they do not lead to a corresponding catch siding but instead are normally set to cause any
vehicle moving over them to be derailed immediately or on to a sand trap. They are used
on sidings or branches where a wrong movement of any vehicle would lead it on to a
running line (a low-speed derailment in this case is preferable to a collision with a highspeed train on the running line). (Similar to a 'derail' in US usage.) A trap indicator is a
signal that indicates the setting of trap points.

Triangle
The same as a 'wye' in US parlance three connected sections of track (in a triangular
configuration) that allow a loco to be reversed in direction.

Turnaround time
The turnaround time (or just turnaround) for a wagon is the round-trip time for the wagon
between two loadings.

Turner
A junior driver who assists in moving locos around the yard (in steam days, the one who
assisted with turning locos on turntables or at triangles).

Turnout
A section of track branching off from another. Sometimes spelled 'turn-out' or 'T/out'.
Occasionally for turnouts the deflection is also specified by a notation such as '1 in 8.5',
which refers to the amount of deviation from the straight line track.

Twilight Switch
A relay with a photovoltaic cell which turns the lamp of a semaphore signal on or off
depending on the ambient light; usually provided along with solar panel and battery
systems for semaphore signals.

Two Road
Also known as no road, this is what happens when facing points happen to be left in an
intermediate position between being set for the main line or the loop line -- in this case,
wheels on one side of the train follow one route and the wheels on the other side follow
the other route, until of course the train derails when the distance between the rails
becomes too large.

Unit
(Informal) Term used in the Chennai area for local suburban trains (especially earlier for
the MG services). In contrast to engine local, q.v.

Universal number
4-digit train number for a long-distance train, unique across the zones, as introduced in
the train renumbering of 1989.

Unstable Formation
Refers to track formation (see above) which yields or deforms continuously without settling
into a final shape, or which repeatedly experiences slope failures necessitating frequent
maintenance.

Wagon
A wagon is freight car. Wagons make up goods stock, q.v.. Contrast with vehicle. A unit
wagon is a rigid (non-bogie stock) 4-wheeled freight car. Contrast with bogie stock.

Wagon interchange
Refers to the controlled movement of wagons between the zonal railways in order to
maintain a generally balanced allocation of wagons among the zonal railways. Wagon
interchange points (47 or more of these exist) are places where such exchanges occur.
E.g., at Mughalsarai ER and NR exchange 4,500 to 5,000 wagons each day.

Waitlisted (ticket)
A waitlisted ticket is one issued without a firm reservation, but whose status will change to
fully reserved if enough persons holding reservations cancel their tickets. Unlike RAC
tickets, waitlisted tickets do not guarantee even sitting accommodation. A waitlist number
indicates your sequence position among all those who have waitlisted tickets for a
particular train. The running waitlist number is the identifying number to be used in
enquiries about the status of a ticket, while the current waitlist number is the sequence
position among those who have waitlisted tickets, at the time that the ticket was issued.

Ward car
A special car with medical facilities for carrying injured persons, usually attached to
military trains or relief trains helping out at disaster locations.

Working timetable

The timetable used by railway staff. It includes information beyond the schedule
information shown in commercial timetables. The additional information relates to
operational details, such as speed restrictions on various sections, crossing times for
trains, the amount of make-up time allotted to trains, permissible speeds, operational rules
(lengths of rakes that can be hauled by various locos, banker rules, special rules in force at
particular stations), etc. See the section on operations.

Vehicle
The term refers to any passenger coach, saloon, guard van, railcar, or any other such stock
for carrying passengers or staff and not freight. Vehicles make up coaching stock, q.v.
Vehicles carrying passengers are termed passenger coaching vehicles (PCV) and all others
are termed other coaching vehicles (OCV).

Via Bhatinda
An unofficial term in use in earlier decades and especially in pre-Independence times, to
refer to someone who had risen through the officer ranks of a railway solely by connections
and nepotism. The origin of this term is unclear.

Vernier controller
(Also known as vernier handle) is an additional subsidiary control in the form of a lever,
wheel, etc. (e.g., it may be a control coaxially placed with the master controller) which
provides for finer gradations of control within the main sequence of notches or
configurations that the master controller provides.

Vice First Class

A curious IR term for any second-class sitting or sleeper coach pressed into service instead
of a first-class coach, if the latter is not available for some reason. Sometimes these
coaches are more or less permanently set aside for use as first-class substitutes, with 'vice
first class' marked on them.

Vulnerable point
A vulnerable point may not refer to points at all, but is any location along the track where
there is a danger of track defects developing, for instance by subsidence or shifting of the
track bed, flooding, problems with the ballasting, etc.

Glossary of terms in Indian languages

Terms in Hindi
Note: Although these are classified here as Hindi terms,

-A. Encashment of Earned Leave along with Leave Travel Concession while in service. (1) A Government servant may be permitted to encash earned leave up to ten days at the time of
availing of Leave Travel Concession while in service, subject to the conditions that(a) a balance of atleast thirty days of earned leave is available to his credit after taking into
account the period of encashment as well as leave being availed of:
(b) the total leave so encashed during the entire career does not exceed sixty days in the
aggregate;
(2) The cash equivalent for encashment of leave under sub-rule (1) shall be calculated as follows
namely :-

Pay admissible on the date of availing of

the Leave Travel Concession plus
Dearness Allowance admissible on that
Cash
Number of days of earned leave
date
equivalent
being encashed subject to the
maximum of ten days at one time.
=
-X
30

(3) No House Rent Allowance shall be included in the cash equivalent calculated under sub-rule
(2);
(4) The period of earned leave encashed shall not be deducated from the quantum of leave that
can normally be encashed by the Government Servant under rules 6, 39,39-A,39-B,39-Cand 39-D:
(5) If the Government Servant fails to avail the Leave Travel Concession within the time prescribed
under the Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules. 1988, then he shall be required
to refund the entire amount of leave so encashed along with interest at the rate of two percent
above the rate of interest allowed by the Government as applicable to Provident Fund balances and
shall also be entitled for credit bank of leave so debited for leave encashment.

sd/
(Mamta Kundra)
Join Secretary to the Government of India
View the above order
Source: www.persmin.nic.in

LINE CAPACITY INCREASING FORMULAS.

Keeping in view the above facts, the Committee have expressed

their firm view that the Ministry of Railways will have to decongest
existing routes by creation of additional capacity by gauge
conversion, doubling or laying multiples lines, new alignments,
electrification, upgrading standard of signalling and interlocking,
splitting long block sections, automatic signalling, introducing air
brakes, increasing average speed, creating speed differentials,
procuring higher capacity wagons/coaches, adding more
wagons/coaches per train, procuring high horsepower locomotives
and developing alternative railway terminals/station facilities.

CRITERIA TO DECLARE LINE(S) SATURATED

13. When asked about the criteria laid down to declare a line saturated, the
Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), in their written replies, stated that each
line has a certain charted capacity to carry a certain number of trains each
way during a period of 24 hours. This capacity depends on the speeds of the
different trains operating on the section, the gradients, the standard of
signalling and interlocking, the distance between crossing stations and the
daily maintenance blocks. When the number of trains operating on the
sections reach this charted capacity, the line becomes saturated unless
additional capacity is created by doubling or multiple lines, automatic block
signaling and splitting block sections trains and other line capacity works, the
line cannot carry any additional traffic without affecting maintenance work.
14. The Railway Board have further stated that in accordance to their
directive a double line section is deemed to be saturated at 90% utilization of
chartered capacity after accounting for a mandatory Maintenance Block of 4

hours. Like wise a single line section is considered saturated when capacity
utilization exceeds 80%.
The IX Plan Working Group on Railways in their Report have stated that
project unigauge was conceived with the objective of generating transport
capacity by opening up alternative routes to ease the congestion on the BG
trunk route which are working to saturation and to provide speedy and uninterrupted means of communication between areas which have potential for
growth. It would also overcome problems associated with break of gauge
transhipment which have hitherto stifled industrial growth in areas served by
the MG and NG network. Gauge conversion of most of the routes will have a
large impact on the economic growth of the country and provide operational
advantage to the Railways.
ELIGIBILITY FOR ELECTRIFICATION
As a matter of policy, subject to availability of resources, a route is
considered eligible for electrification, if the financial return on the capital
investment in Railway Electrification as compared to diesel traction in
accordance with specified norms, works out to 14% or more. The main factors
in the cost benefit analysis of a route for electrification are the traffic density
and the relative cost of operation by diesel and electric traction. In
calculating this, the relative price of diesel oil and electrical energy are a vital
factor. Diesel oil price is presently an administered price close to the actual
costs. Tariff for electric traction, on the other hand, is the highest when
compared to that for all other consumers and is around 3 to 4 times the
normal cost of generation. Since the rate of financial return to take up
electrification is calculated on the actual cost of diesel and electricity, the
actual economic rate of return is much higher.
However, in certain specific cases, electrification is also taken up on
considerations of operational flexibility.
IMPACT OF ELECTRIFICATION ON DECONGESTION.
Regarding the impact of electrification on decongestion of existing routes,
the Ministry of Railways have stated, in their Memorandum, that the studies
carried out by LRDSS Group in the Railway Board have revealed that
decongestion of existing routes to the extent of about 15% is possible by
electrification of tracks due to increase in line capacity. In addition,
electrification modernises the Railway system by introducing modern
signalling and telecommunication, which also enhances the line capacity
further.
Drawing the attention of the Committee to the higher payment of tariff which
the Railways have to pay for the electric charges on the traction, the Member
(Traffic) stated:
We are being charged much higher than even the high-tension consumers,
who are charged more than their generation cost. The actual recovery of
charges from the Railways is as high as three times to four times the cost of
generation. V.V.Important.
112. The Chairman, Railway Board, added that :

There is a high tension consumer industry. He is

charged certain tariffs. His uses may be 5 KWs of power.
The Railways are the major consumers. The major
consumer gets a rebate. He does not pay on a premium.
Now, that is what is happening that the Railways pay the
money in time and they are being charged two or three
times the cost which an industrialist is being charged for.
I am not talking of the farmers. I am talking of the
Industrialists. We are being charged two and a half times
to three times though we are paying our dues.
(Why do the Railways not enter into the Power sector)

1. PROCEDURE FOR HAVING PRIVATE SIDING.

1.1 For large scale industries it may be a necessity to have their own siding. A siding may
take
off from two adjacent stations simultaneously if there is sizable traffic to deal from both
directions to avoid reversal of engine. Mid section takeoffs are generally not allowed,
wherever unavoidable, a mid-section station might have to be developed generally at
partys
cost.
1.2 Rail Transport Clearance (RTC).
For proposing a siding, party shall have to first decide the serving station and then apply
to
the Director, Traffic Planning, Railway Board with particulars of traffic like capacity
of the
plant, inflow pattern of raw-materials source-wise by rail, outflow of finished product by
rail
etc. to obtain RTC. In certain cases RTC is also issued at Zonal level where movement of
traffic is confined to Zone and coal linkage is approved by concerned Ministry.
1.3 Project Report
After RTC is issued, party shall have to approach to the Chief Passenger Transport
Manager
(CPTM) of East Coast Railway with a preliminary report to obtain in-principle approval for
the

proposed siding. At this stage party shall have to deposit 1% of the estimated cost of the
project (only railway infrastructural cost). After obtaining in principle approval, party may
have to appoint a Consultant from a list of approved Consultants to prepare a detailed
project
report for the siding. Even Consultant may be appointed at the stage of preparing
preliminary
report. A list of approved Consultants is available with the Chief General Engineer of East
Coast Railway.
The Detail Project Report should indicate the plan of movement, booking, examination of
rolling stocks, loading and unloading arrangements, facilities for safety and to deal with
accidents.
The DPR (Detailed Project Report) is to be submitted in 12 copies to CPTM/E.Co.Railway
for
scrutiny. At this stage, CPTM may hold a meeting with concerned departments along with
the party to finalise the observations.
The observations are to be complied by the party concerned and revised layout plans as
well
as the DPR is again submitted for approval.
After approval of report and estimate, the party is asked to deposit balance amount to
make
2% of the approved estimate before approval to the DPR is communicated to him along
with
a ferro copy of the drawing.
1.4 Execution of work
After approval of DPR & estimate, the party may get the work executed through an
approved
agency or through the railway as deposit work. If party wants to get the work executed
through railways then as per instructions issued from time to time he shall have to
deposit the
cost to start the work.
1.5 Signing of Agreement.
Before physical construction of the siding, the party has to sign a draft siding agreement
on
the basis of facilities agreed to in the approved DPR. During construction stage railway is
empowered to inspect the sites to ascertain that railway standard specifications are
followed
during construction stage. After the siding is ready, the constructing agency will give a
completion certificate and completion diagrams to CPTM stating therein that the siding
has
been laid out as per the approved layout plan and other facilities provided and the party
will
deposit 2% sum of the estimate towards Railways inspection charge.
1.6 Trial Run.
Based on the report trial runs will be made for 3 rakes and running time fixed accordingly.
Running time and time slots for other activities inside the siding can be reviewed as and
when
felt necessary.
1.7 Signing of Final Siding Agreement.
After successful completion of trial run, the siding authorities will be requested to sign
final
siding agreement booklet and agreement plan. Registration of the agreement will be
done at
local Registration office of concerned station. Thereafter, Commercial branch at HQ will
issue notification for opening the siding and Chief Commercial Manager(FM) will takeover
as
Nodal Officer.
2. FREIGHT HANDLING FACILITIES IN RAILWAY AREA.
East Coast Railway has a number of goods sheds/public sidings, which are, open to book

and deliver goods traffic for the public as a whole. The details of these goods
sheds/public
sidings are available in the alphabetical list of stations a book published by IRCA.
The facilities available at goods sheds/public sidings are open to all and hence can not be
reserved for a particular industry and trader.
However, subject to certain conditions in exceptional cases particular industry or trade
may
be allowed to develop facilities at a station for dealing their traffic which is sizable and
such
facilities do not hamper the interest of user public, expansion plans of the railways and
such
other related things if any.
For developing such facilities industry or trade concerned shall have to first write to the
Directorate of Traffic Planning, Railway Board mentioning the details of traffic to be
dealt.
Railway Board shall issue an RTC. After RTC is issued, industry and trade concerned shall
have to develop facility in consultation with the Railway within whose jurisdiction such
facility
shall be developed.
The details of procedures is more or less same as that of a private siding.
3. COMMERCIAL PLOTS
At goods sheds/public sidings, which are open to all for convenience sometimes,
commercial
plots are allotted to parties depending upon availability of such plots.
These plots can be used by the allottee for stacking his outward consignment before
loading
and inward consignments after unloading.
License fee/rent shall have to be paid by the allottee for availing such facility.
Generally plots are allotted depending on availability, assurance of traffic, and if such
allotment does not hamper the interest of other users and the railway.
For getting commercial plots allotted, Sr. Divisional Commercial Manager/ Divisional
Commercial Manager of the concerned division shall have to be written to with details of
traffic to be dealt by the party at that station.
Goods Sheds/public sidings where due to lack of space or other constraints commercial
plots
are not possible to allot for certain commodities like minerals, dump and load facilities
are
given.
Party is allowed to bring his consignment and stack it on the space available at the goods
shed/public siding after he puts his indent. For this facility also party can write to the Sr.
Divisional Commercial Manager of the concerned division.
4. CO-USE OF EXISTING PRIVATE SIDING
Sidings which are already there in certain industries and trade in their own premises can
also
be used by others provided the industry or trade concerned agree to the same and
railways
have no objection to that. For this facility party concerned shall have to apply to the Chief
Commercial Manager of East Coast Railway with particulars of traffic to be offered. RTC
may
also be required as in case of a siding if traffic is considerable in size and covers other
railways.
5. REGISTRATION PROCEDURE OF ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS FOR SURVEY
AND
CONSTRUCTION OF PRIVATE SIDINGS.
RITES/IRCON are permitted as consultant as per the Railway Boards directive.
Induction of approved consultants for siding works can be permitted with the approval of
Railway (Chief Engineer) on case to case basis.
Eligibility.
i) The consultant should posses requisite experience, competence and organization

ability. The Consultant should effectively prove his credentials as well as availability
of Engineers with suitable experience in the related field.
ii) The Consultants Managing Director should be a Member of the Association of
Consulting Engineers (India) signifying the Consultants performance status,
maintenance and competence.
iii) The approval granted by the Railway to the Consultant should be on the condition
that it may be withdrawn any time if the performance is found to be unsatisfactory.
His past performance report should be initiated and kept on record as for a
contractor, based on which the approval can be given every year.
Registration Fee.
The registration fees payable and validity as follows:
i) Registration fee : Rs.2000 at a time + Rs.1000 annual fee for 3 years i.e. Rs.2000.00
+ Rs.3000.00 = Rs.5000.00.
ii) The period of validity is 3 years. After that such consultant will have to apply for
reregistration,
which is granted based on satisfactory performance as well as valid
registration on other Railways.
6. LIST OF CONSULTANCY FIRMS REGISTERED ON EAST COAST RAILWAY.
Sl.
No. Name of the Firm Validity upto
1 M/s. United Technical and Economical Services (P) Ltd.,
Mumbai 400 102
26.9.2007
2 M/s. Balaji Rail System Ltd., Secunderabad 31.12.2008
3 M/s. KVR Rail Infra Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.,
Secunderabad
31.12.2007
4 M/s. Railcon Technical Consultancy Services (P) Ltd., Kolkata. 26.10.2004
Re-registration
under process
5 M/s. United Railway Road Consultants Pvt. Ltd.,
Secunderabad.
Under Process
6 M/s. Vogue Construction & Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.,
New Delhi
Under Process
7 M/s. AARVEE Associates, Hyderabad 26.2.2007
8 M/s. M.R.Technofin Construction Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai 23.12.2007
9 M/s.. Mecon Ltd. , Ranchi Under Process
10 M/s. Rail Track Construction Ltd., 8174, Block-P, New Alipore,
Kolkata 700 053
04.12.2007
11 M/s. Will Bu Smtih Associates, Bangalore Under process
12 M/s. M.N.Dastur & Company Pvt. Ltd.,Kolkata Under process
13 M/s. RCC Consultant, Nagpur 09.2.2008
14 M/s. Premco Traders, Kolkata 700 006 28.8.2008
15 M/s. United Rail Road Consultant Pvt. Ltd. 04.12.2008
16 M/s. MBB Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata-55 27.10.2008
7. PROCEDURE FOR GETTING WAY-LEAVE FACILITY.
7.1 The concerned party has to apply to the DRM of the concerned division in whose
jurisdiction
the Way Leave/Easement Rights are to be given.
7.2 The way leave facility/easement rights are generally given for:
i) Small irrigation crossing.
ii) Cable crossing.
iii) Crossing Track of gas pipe line, water line, oil line etc.
iv) Pathways.
v) Roads proposed by State Govt, Municipalities etc.
vi) Electrical crossings.

vii) Drainage and sewerage lines.

7.3 The power of granting way leave facilities/easement rights is primarily vested with
the DRM of
concerned division, if within the stipulated norms. Certain cases. i.e. length of crossing in
Railway land is more than 100 m, proposed road width is more than 3m, proposed
pathway
width is more than 1m etc., which are beyond powers of DRMs, are to be forwarded to
Headquarters for approval/permission of the General Manager.
7.4 At the divisional level, Sr.DEN/Cordn. is the nodal officer to deal and moot such
proposals
and in Headquarters, Chief General Engineer dealing with land matters is the nodal
officer.
7.5 For BSNL/MTNL and Rail Tel Corporation, separate instructions/ guidelines are issued
by the
Railway Board and cases are dealt with accordingly.
8. WAGON INVESTMENT SCHEME
8.1 In order to encourage public private partnership in procurement of wagons to meet
with the
anticipated incremental freight traffic in the coming years, a new scheme called Wagon
Investment Scheme (WIS) has been introduced.
8.2 Eligibility.
Wagons under this scheme can be procured by:
i) Individuals as producers.
ii) Corporate entity as producers.
iii) Association or group of companies, such as integrated steel plants of SAIL or a group
of cement companies in a cluster etc.
iv) Public Sector/Government undertaking
v) Private Trading Houses
vi) Private Houses
Customers who dont have their own siding can also participate under the scheme. In
such
cases, preference will be given to customers investing in wagons over other indenters at
the
time of supply of guaranteed number of rakes with concession in freight and bonus
supply of
rakes as is applicable to other investors.
8.3 Mode of procurement.
Directly by the owner from builders approved by Ministry of Railways, subject to current
Indian Railways Standard (IRS) designs & specifications and inspection by nominated
agency
of Indian Railways namely RDSO.
Wagons can also be procured through wagon builder of foreign country subject to Indian
Railways Standard designs and specifications and subject to inspection by nominated
agency
of Indian Railways.
Foreign exchange or its equivalent, if any, for imported components would be provided
by
customers participating in the WIS.
8.4 Extent of Private Ownership.
Users can own any number of wagons in unit of rake loads without any ceiling, to the
extent
required by them, subject to a minimum of one rake and 4% additional wagons as
maintenance spare. Procurement of wagons in piecemeal shall not be permitted.
8.5 Categories of procurement of wagons and benefits admissible to owners.
Category
Benefits
BCN
Rakes
BOXN

Rakes
BTPN
Rakes
BRNA
Rakes
BOST
Rakes
BOBRN
Rakes
Freight
rebate
10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10%
Period of
rebate
15 Years 10 Years 9 Years 15 Years 7 Years 7 Years
Guaranteed
number of
rakes with
freight
rebate
4 rakes per
month
6 rakes per
month
4 rakes per
month
2 rakes per
month
4 rakes per
month
To be put in
closed
circuit
Bonus :
Additional
Guaranteed
number of
rakes
without
freight
rebate or
penalty with
EOL
2 rakes per
month
2 rakes per
month
No bonus
rakes
No bonus
rakes
No bonus
rakes
No bonus
rakes
Customer under wagon investment scheme shall have to procure Brake-van with each
rake.
8.6 Failure to maintain/consume guaranteed supply of wagons.
In the event of the Investor being unable to use the guaranteed supply of wagons, the

quantum of supply will be reduced proportionately for the number of days the wagons
remained unutilized or stabled. The number of wagons idling will be those stabled in the
owners siding to the extent the investor has contributed the rakes/wagons.
8.7 Free time and demurrage rules.
In case wagons are detained on Investors account for loading/unloading for more than
50%
of the normal prescribed free time over a month the guaranteed monthly supply of
wagons
will be reduced proportionately.
9. SETTING UP OF RAIL SIDE WAREHOUSING FACILITY
The objective of the project is to provide ware housing to promote inter-modality by
providing
seamless door-to-door service at competitive price, reducing the cost of secondary
transport
through provision of warehousing at close proximity to rail facility and other value added
services to customers.
The investor should bring in investment up to Rs.10.0 crores. The warehouse will be in
addition to and not in substitution of the existing goods shed.
9.1 Who Can apply.
Any individual firm or corporate entity having Rs.10 crores turn over per annum with
requisite
expertise & experience in execution of warehousing project can apply. For foreign
agencies,
an Indian Joint Venture partner will be necessary.
9.2 Whom to apply.
The application will be submitted to the Chief Comml.Manager of the Zonal Railway(s)
concerned.
9.3 Site for Warehouses.
The proposals for warehousing may be considered only at those locations where setting
up of
such value added facility will result in attracting sufficient additional traffic and sites so
identified are agreed by the Railways. Necessary traffic survey in this regard may be
carried
out by the prospective warehousing agency. Location will be jointly decided by promoter
and
Railways. Final decision in this regard will rest with Railways.
9.4 Provision of land.
The land for the warehouse will be provided by the Railways.
9.5 Mode of selection.
The selection of the warehousing agency will be made after inviting competitive bids
which
will be in two parts i.e. technical bid and financial bid. Technical bids will have particulars
like
firms name, address, existing areas of activity and experience, list of customers served,
area of warehousing and other facilities proposed to be built including indication of land
requirement, expected gestation period for project implementation, source of funding,
financial results (audited accounts) for the last three years. The financial bid will include
the
expected annual turn over in the first year and subsequent years, pinpointing guaranteed
railborne
traffic separately, expected revenue performance in the first year and subsequent
years and percentage of total revenue proposed to be shared with Indian Railways.
Total revenue will include revenues accruing out of activities performed on Railway land
and
will include loading / unloading, warehousing etc. and will not include complementary
road
transport. The lease agreement will be for 20/30 years which may be extended.
9.6 Share of Revenue.
From the second year onwards or from the date of operationalization of the warehouse,

whichever is earlier, in addition to the nominal lease rental, the promoter will share with
Railways a mutually agreed percentage of the gross revenues from terminal ware
housing
operations done in Railways premises. This will be subject to a minimum floor rate which
will
be equivalent to 6% of the market value of the land occupied by the promoter at the time
of
agreement.
9.7 Share of Responsibilities.
The Railways will provide efficient rail connectivity required to handle traffic. The
promoter
will be required to give preference to the rail borne traffic. This will be a condition of the
lease
agreement enjoining the promoter to earmark at least 70% of the warehousing space for
rail
borne traffic.
The warehouse promoter would be allowed a maximum period of two years from the date
of
signing the agreement as gestation period.
10. HIRING OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS (OFC) FROM RAILWAYS.
The East Coast Railway has a vast dedicated communication channel on optical fibre
communication (OFC). The existing OFC net work is shown below:Section Total No .of
fibres.
Spare no. of fibres
available for hiring
Bhadrak-Visakhapatnam-Duvvada 24 20
Raipur-Titlagarh-Vizianagaram 24 20
Titlagarh-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda 24 20
Sambalpur-Angul 18 14
Angul-Cuttack. 24 20
Cuttack-Paradeep 24 20
Khurda Road-Puri 24 20
The OFC will be commissioned in Jakhapura-Daitari section by 31.03.2006 and KotavalsaKoraput-Jagdalpur sections by 2007. For hiring of the above spare capacity, the following
officials may be contacted:i) General Manager
Railtel Corporation of India Ltd.
Microwave Building
Adjacent to Rail Nilayam
Secunderabad-500 071
Phone: 040-27820179
Fax : 040-27820682
ii) General Manager
Railtel Corporation of India Ltd
First Floor, New Koilaghat Building
14, Strand Road
Kolkata-700 001
Phone: 033-22138653
Fax: 033-22138655
11. PREFERENTIAL TRAFFIC ORDER.
With effect from 01.04.2006, Preferential scheme for transport of goods by rail has
been simplified. The traffic for carriage by rail has been now grouped under 4 Priority (A,
B,
C & D). All traffic other than programmed or sponsored are now included in one Priority
D.
The priorities of traffic for carriage by rail are broadly grouped as under:A) Military traffic sponsored by MILRAIL.
B) Goods for emergency relief work sponsored by Central/State Government or

by non-official organization nominated by Central/State Government or by

Central Government agency approved by Railway Board/Zonal Railway.
C) Programmed traffic approved by Railway Board/Zonal Railway.
D) All other traffic not included in priority A to C.
12. PROCEDURE FOR INDENTING OF WAGONS.
12.1 Indent.
Any person intending to transport goods from one place to another place has to
requisition
wagons. One can requisition a wagon after submitting an application along with
prescribed
Wagon Registration Fee with the station master/goods supervisor of the notified
station.
12.2 Notified stations for handling goods traffic.
Railway stations are notified for handling traffic(Inward and outward) for handling goods
traffic
based on the availability of minimum amenities which would facilitate loading/unloading
activities. For handling of coal, steel products and petroleum products separate
notification is
done. These notified stations are declared half rake or full rake handling points, based on
the
logistics available to handle the rake in one hook or several hooks.
Railway wagons are moved in standard composition of minimum no. of wagons, for
example
BOXN open wagons and BCN covered wagons are moved in composition of 58 and 40
wagons respectively. Usually booking is done for full rake only to notified full rake station
or
authorized combined stations declared half rake points. Loading in full rake entitles the
customer to a lesser freight than the less than full rake loading.
13. TWO POINT RAKE.
Two point combination is permitted for rakes of covered wagons like BCX, BCN, BCNA etc.
and for all other types of wagons including BRN.
Covered rakes can be booked at train load class rate to any combination of destinations
subject to fulfillment of the following conditions:
i) Both the destination points should be open for dealing either full or half rake as per
notified list of Zonal Railways and
ii) The stations/sidings of a two point combination should be within a distance of 200
Km. from each other.
In case one point is on adjoining railway recorded prior consent of the COM/CFTM of the
concerned Railway will have to be taken. The consignor/consignors will have to indent for
the
full number of wagons of a standard rake.
In c cases where even the minimum number of wagons qualifying for train load rate
benefit
could not be supplied by the Railway against trainload indent due to shortage of wagons,
the
rail user(s) should not be penalized.
For originating two point rakes, a minimum of 10 wagons must be booked from each of
the
two stations. Likewise, for rakes booked to two point destinations, a minimum of 10
wagons
must be booked to each of the two terminating stations. However, for train load benefit,
the
total number of wagons booked must conform to the rake composition as notified for
various
types of stock by the Railway Board.
For rake loaded with two or more commodities, trainload benefit for each of the
commodities
loaded will be admissible, if the condition of loading the required number of total wagons
is

complied with. For other types of wagons not specified in the annexed statement, the
existing
trainload weight conditions i.e. 1400 tonnes on BG and 650 tonnes on MG will continue to
apply, till further advice.
Indents for BCX/BCN groups of wagons will be treated as interchangeable for the purpose
of
supply of rakes. Trainload conditions will be applicable as per type of stock supplied.
Wagons of a Standard Rake/Minimum number of wagons required to avail
train-load
rate
Sl.
No Type of wagon
Standard rake
size for
registering
indent
Minimum number of
wagons required to
be loaded for availing
trainload rate.
OPEN WAGONS 58 56*
1. BOXN/BOXNHS,BOXNHA ETC. 35 30
2. BOX 42 40
3. BOST 32 30
4. BKCX 52 50
5. BOY/BOYN
HOPPER WAGONS
6. BOBR 52 50
7. BOBRN 58 56
8. BOB, BOBC, BOBX, BOXK, BOBS 40 40
9. BOBSN, BOBY/BOBYN 52 48**
FLAT WAGONS
10. BRN/BRNA/BFKI 40 35
11. BRH/BR 35 30
12. BFR/BFK/BFKI 35 30
COVERED WAGONS
13. BCN/BCNA/BCNAHS/BCXN 40 38
14. BCX 40 35
15. BCCN 30 29
16. NMG 25 24
TANK WAGONS
17. BTPN 48 46
18. BCCW (Bulk Cement) 40 38
19. BTPGLN 32 30
20. Tank Wagon (4 wheeler) 72 68
21. Tank Wagon TG type (4 wheeler) 64 62
22. Mixed Rakes (BG):
BOX & BFR/BRH***
BOXN & BRN, BOST & BRN
35
35
30 (minimum 10 of
each type)
35 ( minimum 10 of
each type)
23. Meter Gauge Wagons
(i) MG to MG
(ii) MG to BG
34 (in terms of 4

wheelers)
90 ( in terms of 4
wheelers)
* BOXN in Kulem-Castle Rock section 54 wagons permitted for trainload class rate
** The minimum number of wagons for Dallirajhara Bhilai section will be 45 wagons.
*** BFR and BRH wagons may be treated as one type and BOX as another type for
reckoning
the minimum 10 number of each type.
Two Point Combination for East Coast Railway - Full Year.
1. BGBR Bagbahra MSMD Mahasamund
2. SBP Sambalpur BRGA Baragarh Road.
Slack Season
1. KSNG Kesinga KBJ Kantabanji
2. BAM Brahmapur JNP Jagannathpur
3. KSNG Kesniga KRAR Khariar Rd.
4. JJKR Jajpur Keonjhar Rd BHC Bhadrak
5. KSNG Kesinga BLGR Balangir
6. CHE Srikakulam Rd. CPP Chpurpalle
7. RGDA Rayagada VBL Bobbili
8. VZP Visakhapatnam Port VNCW Visakhapatnam New
9. KSNG Kesinga RGDA Rayagada
10. BAM Brahmapur KUR Khurda Road
11. VZM Vizianagaram CPP Chipurpalle
12. VZM Vizianagaram KPL Kantakapalli
13. SCM Simhachalam VNCW Visakhapatnam New Goods
Complex
14. JEY Jeypore JDB Jagadalpur
15. KBJ Kantabanji KRAR Khariar Road
16. JNP Jagannathpur KUR Khurada Road
14. REBATE FOR PREMIER CUSTOMERS.
Customers given freight of more than 50 crores in previous year. Rebate upto 10% in
busy
season and up to 20% in lean season up to 3 years. The rate should not be less than the
rate under LR-I in lean season & class 100 in busy season.
The scheme has come into effect from 01.06.2006.
15. PARCEL RATES FOR MANGO TRAFFIC WHEN BOOKED IN
BCN/BCNA/BCX/BCXN
RAKES.
The Central Government has decided that 40% (Forty per cent) concession may be
granted
in freight to mango traffic when moved in BCN/BCNA/BCX/BCXN rakes. Accordingly the
freight for mango traffic when booked and transported in rakes consisting of
BCN/BCNA/BCX/BCXN wagons will be charged at parcel rates under scale-P minus 40%.
16. REBATE IN FREIGHT FOR AMMONIA (ANHYDROUS LIQUEFIED GAS) AND
PHOSPHORIC ACID TRANSPORTED IN PRIVATELY OWNED TANK WAGONS.
Rebate in freight for Ammonia (Anhydrous Liquefied Gas) and Phosphoric Acid when
transported in privately owned wagons tank as under:
Commodity Percentage rebate to be given on normal tariff rates
for loading in
Wagon loads Train loads
Ammonia (Anhydrous Liquefied
Gas)
6.9% 6.9%
Phosphoric Acid 6.9% 6.9%
The percentage rebate indicated above would remain in force from 01.10.2006 to
30.09.2007.
The rebate in freight charges for both Ammonia (Anhydrous Liquefied Gas) and
Phosphoric
Acid in privately owned tank wagons may be allowed at the time of booking in respect of

those parties who have paid the annual maintenance charges in advance at the
commencement of the year.
The transfer of tank wagons from owners of such wagons to parties hiring such tank
wagons
for transportation of the commodities should have the prior approval of traffic
transportation
Directorate in the Ministry of Railways.
Prior to notification of the rebate in freight to parties involved, the Railways may enter
into an
agreement with the parties for the transportation of the above mentioned commodities in
privately owned wagons.
17. REBATE IN FREIGHT FOR LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG) TRANSPORTED
IN
JOINTLY OWNED TANK WAGONS OF THE RAILWAYS AND OIL INDUSTRY.
Rebate in freight for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) transported in jointly owned wagons
are
as under:Commodity. Percentage rebate to be given on normal tariff rates
for loading in
Wagon loads Train Loads
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) 4% 4.2%
The percentage of rebate indicated above would remain in force from 01.10.2006 to
30.09.2007.
The rebate admissible in freight will be granted at the time of booking provided the
stipulations contained in Boards letters No.TCR/1644/83/4 dt.07.12.1983 and
No.TCR/1644/96/4 dt.20.03.1998 are complied by the Oil Companies.
The rebate will not be granted in case of default in payment of maintenance charges for
the
under-frame by the Oil Companies.
The rebate in freight is restricted to movements in jointly owned LPG tank wagons only.
Before the rebate in freight indicated above is notified, necessary agreement for the
transport
of LPG in jointly owned tank wagons be entered into by the party with the Railways.
18. 30% FREIGHT REBATE FOR CHEMICAL MANURES WHEN LOADED IN BOXN
WAGONS.
It has now been decided to enhance the rebate in freight rates for entire groups of
Chemical
Manures when loaded in BOXN wagons from existing 10% to 30% (Thirty per cent). These
instructions will be effective from 27.06.2005 and will remain valid till further advice.
19. Scheme of graded concession in freight rates of ordinary non-refined salt
meant for
human consumption :
This Scheme is applicable to carriage of salt in block rakes. The concession in freight is
applicable in different distance blocks subject to minimum freight as under :
Distance
(Km.)
Concession on normal
freight rates
Minimum freight
1001-1600 10% Not less than freight for distance 1000 Kms.
1601-2200 15% Not less than concessional freight for
distance 1600 Kms.
2201-3000 20% Not less than concessional freight for
distance 2200 Kms.
3001 & above 25% Not less than concessional freight for
distance 3000 Kms.
Effective from 01.04.2006.
20. LEASING OF SPACE IN SLRS OF MAIL/EXPRESS / PASSENGER TRAIN
SERVICES :

Under this Scheme, the minimum space in SLR of Mail/Express/Passenger trains available
for
lease out is one compartment with carrying capacity of 4 tonnes. Tender notices are put
up
by the Railway in Press/Electronic media for this purpose. The period of lease varies from
1
to 3 years. The lease holders are permitted to bring their consignments 5 hours before
the
schedule departure of the trains or over-night in case of early morning trains leaving
before
8.00 Oclock. The lease holder is solely responsible for canvassing, acceptance, booking,
handling, documentation and delivery of the parcel/packages loaded in the leased space
of
SLRs both at originating and destination stations. He will complete loading and unloading
within 30 minutes at forwarding and destination stations subject to no detention to the
trains.
At destination station, free time of 5 hours for removal of consignment is permitted. He
will
pay the freight in advance to the Railway. No surcharge payable for bulky articles or for
Super Fast/Shatabdi/Rajdhani Express trains will be levied under this leasing scheme.
22. HIRING OF COACHES AND TRAINS FOR TOUR PURPOSES.
i) Booking of Special Trains on full tariff rate(FTR).
To book a special train, a customer may apply to the Chief Passenger Transportation
Manager, East Cost Railway, Bhubaneswar through the Station Master of journey
commencing station. The minimum composition of the special train should be 15
coaches. Minimum distance of journey must be 500 Kms.No concessions are allowed
in the special train. The application must be submitted before 30 days of date of
commencement of journey. In case of application submitted short of 30 days, it is the
discretion of the CPTM to sanction.
After receipt of the application, an order will be issued to the organizer of the special
train for deposit of registration charge-cum security deposit at the station where party
wants to commence his journey. At present, it is Rs.10,000/- (Rupees ten thousand
only) per coach. Out of the security amount, fifty percent will be adjusted against fare
and rest fifty percent will be returned back to the party after completion of journey.
Party will not carry any inflammable article during course of their journey.
After deposit of the registration-cum-security deposit, party will submit Xerox copy of
the Money receipt, declaration for not carrying inflammable articles and Xerox copy of
Identity card of the organizer to the CPTM for final orders.
Party will have to deposit the fare with service charges, empty haulage charges if any
and detention charges as admissible from time to time as per Railway rule before 48
hours of date of commencement of journey. Fares will be charged for the concerned
class for the actual number of persons traveling or the marked carrying capacity of
the coaches which ever is more.
ii) Booking of coaches on full tariff rate (FTR).
To book Coaches on FTR, a customer may apply to the Chief Passenger
Transportation Manager/East Coast Railway/Bhubaneswar through the Station
Master of Journey commencing Station. Minimum distance of journey must be 500
Kms. No concessions are allowed in the booking of coaches on FTR. The application
must be submitted before 30 days of date of commencement of journey.
Rules and procedures for booking of coaches on full tariff rate (FTR) are similar to
what has been detailed above.
23. NODAL OFFICERS FOR VARIOUS SCHEMES.
Sl.No Scheme Nodal Officer
1 Procedure for having siding in private land CTPM
2 Rail Transport Clearance (RTC) Director (Plg) TT
Directorate,Rly.Bd.
3 Freight handling facility in Railway area. CCM/FS
4 Commercial Plots CCM/FS
5 Co-use of Existing private siding. CCM/FS

6 Registration procedure of engineering consultants for

survey and construction of private sidings.
CE
7 Procedure for getting way-leave facility. Sr.DEN/Cordn/
Chief Gen.Engineer
8 Wagon Investment Scheme. CTPM
9 Setting up of Rail side Warehousing facility. CCM/FS
10 Hiring of Communication Channels (OFC) from Railways. GM/Railtel/SC
GM/Railtel/KOL
11 Premium Registration Scheme. Station Manager/
Chief Goods Clerk
12 Procedure for indenting of wagons. Station Manager/
Chief Goods Clerk
13 Two Point Rake. CFTM
14 Mini Rake Scheme. CFTM
15 Station to Station Rates (STS) Scheme. CCM/FS
16 Special station-to-station rate scheme for covered wagons
from goods sheds.
CCM/FS
17 Special Freight Incentive Scheme for sidings CCM/FS
18 Rebate for premier customers. CCM/FS
19 Parcel rates for mango traffic when booked in
BCN/BCNA/BCX/BCXN rakes.
Station Manager/
Chief Goods Clerk
20 Rebate in freight for ammonia (anhydrous liquefied gas)
and phosphoric acid transported in privately owned tank
wagons.
CCM/FS
21 Rebate in freight for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
transported in jointly owned tank wagons of the railways
and oil industry
CCM/FS
22 30% freight rebate for chemical manures when loaded in
BOXN wagons.
Station Manager/
Chief Goods Clerk
23 Rebate in freight for traffic booked to & fro Assam and
other North Eastern States.
Station Manager/
Chief Goods Clerk
24 Scheme of graded concession in freight rates of ordinary
non-refined salt meant for human consumption.
Station Manager/
Chief Goods Clerk
25 Leasing of space in SLRs of Mail/Exp/Pass. train services. Sr.DCM
26 Hiring of coaches and trains for tour purposes. CPTM
24. CONTACT NOS. OF NODAL OFFICERS.
NODAL OFFICERS CONTACT NOS.
Chief Commercial Manager (CCM) 0674-2300475
Chief Optns. Manager(COM) 0674-2303122
Chief Engineer (CE) 0674-2385071
Divisional Railway Manager, (DRM) Khurda Road. 0674-2490567
Divisional Railway Manager, (DRM) Waltair. 0891-2746200
Divisional Railway Manager, (DRM) Sambalpur. 0663-2401331
Chief Traffic Planning Manager (CTPM) 0674-2303054
Chief Passenger Transportation Manager (CPTM) 0674-2303054
Chief Commercial Manager (FS) 0674-2302196
Chief General Engineer (CGE) 0674-2302377

Sr.Divisional Engineer (Cordn), Khurda Road (Sr.DEN/Cordn) 0674-2490673

Sr.Divisional Engineer (Cordn), Waltair(Sr.DEN/Cordn) 0891-2746220
Sr.Divisional Engineer (Cordn), Sambalpur (Sr.DEN/Cordn) 0663-2533237
Sr.Divisionl Commercial Manager, Khurda Road (Sr.DCM) 0674-2492945
Sr.Divisional Commercial Manager, Waltair (Sr.DCM) 0891-2746230
Sr.Divisional Commercial Manager, Sambalpur (Sr.DCM) 0663-2533195
General Manager, Railtel Corprn., Secunderabad. 040-27820179
General Manager, Railtel Corprn., Kolkata. 033-22138653
Director(Plg), TT, Rly.Board. 011-23303111