Career as a Loco Pilot, Assistant Station Master, Ticket Collector, and Train Ticket Examiner in Railways

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A Promising Career as a Loco Pilot, Assistant Station Master, Ticket Collector, and TTE

A Promising Career as a Loco Pilot, Assistant Station Master, Ticket Collector, and TTE
- Posted On 2024-08-21
Indian Railways has always been at the top of the list of candidates, who would prefer a government job, and that too with an adventure. There are lots of adventurous opportunities available in various government profiles of jobs as per specific categories and preferential selection. Indian Railways as the life line of India in the segment of transportation and communication offers some tremendous opportunity in the context of adventure. Although there are number of desk-jobs available with this mammoth shaped organization, there are certain travelling jobs, which offer a dynamic opportunity to a person to travel frequently that to managing one of the largest transport career – the trains.

Assistant Station Master In Indian Railways: One of the best among Career Paths

Indian Railways is no doubt one of the largest employers around the globe and is the largest in the modern ultra-shining India. Being among the most acclaimed profiles of the government jobs in India, Indian Railway jobs are considered to be amongst the most respected ones in the country. Though there are tiers of operation in the entire hierarchy of Indian Railways, the profile of Assistant Station Master (ASM) is one node, which allows individuals to be directly inducted into the Indian Railways through a process of competitive selection. Let’s look at this dynamic career opportunity and why an individual is keen about having such a job!

Role of Assistant Station Master:

Although the name starts with an ‘Assistant’, ASM is the person responsible for most of the operations in a railway station. Every station in India is assigned to a Station Master, and he is the supreme-command for any railway station. An ASM assists him practically in every operation starting from signaling of trains, controlling movements of the trains through the platforms. Many small stations are there in India, under the complete control of Assistant Station Masters. In fact, ASMs are majorly responsible for all movement of trains, operation of signals, operation of gates at railway station crossings and perform a vital role of coordination as per the Indian Railway Establishment Manual.

Every station is assigned with at least one Assistant Station Master; however, for larger stations, there may be more than one number of ASMs posted for smooth operations. The ASMs work in shifts and hence there are replacement options provided in different stations to run 24 hours of operation. The job profile of ASMs is operated under the Traffic Sub-Department under the Transportation Department of Indian Railways.

What are the vital requirements required for pursuing a career as ASM:

For becoming Assistant Station Master, a person must have the following criteria fulfilled:
- Citizenship: He/ She must be a citizen of India or must follow the guidelines as dictated by Indian Railway Establishment Manual. (Note: The IRES allows citizens of other countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, etc. under certain conditions to apply for Indian Railway jobs)
- Education: The candidates interested for job profile of Assistant Station Master, must invariably posses a Graduation Degree from a recognized University in India. However, additional advantage is offered to candidates having Diploma in Rail Transport Management from the Institute of Rail Transport.
- Age Profile: The candidates applying for the vacant positions of ASM must have acquired adult status as per Indian Constitution (at least 18 years of age). But there is a maximum age limit set for this post. No candidate should cross 33 years of age by the first date of the applying year. However, there is a relaxation in the upper age limit applicable for scheduled category of candidates as per the Constitution of India.
- Physical and Mental Fitness: As the profile of ASM requires dedicated attention to details of operation, and may at times require a little strenuous operations beyond duty hours, its vitally required that every candidate must be mentally fine and physically fit to perform the job. This is why a psychometric and physical fitness test is inducted during selection process to judge the efficiency of candidates for the post of ASM.
Procedure of Selection:

Candidates interested for the profile of Assistant Station Masters, need to undergo a series of tests and to qualify in flying colors. There is no doubt that the applications are much high in number as compared to the required number of posts for this coveted profile of job.

To simplify and make the selection transparent, Indian Railway conducts selection examinations in a single day across all zones. A single phase, Computer Based Test (CBT) is administered for candidates all over India on a single day and same time. This allows a candidate to apply only for any one of the Railway Recruitment Boards as per his suitability and choice.

To discourage candidates from guess attempting, Indian Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) administers negative marking to the selection procedure. There is 1/3 negative marking awarded to every wrong answer, where 1 mark is awarded for each right answer. CBT not only makes the examination transparent, but also helps to identify right candidates applying for examinations.

Job prospects for ASMs:

A profile of Assistant Station Master comes with a bright opportunity with progressive promotions. An ASM can get promotions for Station Master, Station Superintendent, Additional Operations Manager and Divisional Operations Manager through his entire career. The higher responsibilities come with higher perks, remunerations and better recognition. With an ultra-shining career option, the profile of Assistant Station Master offers a sense of responsibility and freedom with a flaunting respect in the society.

The year brings a fabulous opportunity for the interested applicants to join this massive workforce of Indian Railways as an Assistant Station Master. With a total of more than 18750 job vacancies and almost 6000 posts open for Assistant Station Masters in Indian Railways, there is much more than you have ever thought in your share in this year as far as career is concerned.

Leap into the race and grab your own opportunity to get this fascinating career as an Assistant Station Master!

A Promising Career As Indian Railway Loco Pilot

The Loco Pilot or Locomotive Pilot is one such opportunity with a perfect balance of adventure and honor.

Who are Loco Pilots:

Loco Pilots are the persons responsible for driving the trains. According to the nature of the job, this opportunity is divided into various specific categories, such as:
- Assistant Loco Pilot: Operating as an assistant and unofficial trainee under an experienced Loco Pilot. 10–12 years of experience is required to be promoted to the next level of posts as Shunting Pilots.
- Loco Pilot-Shunting: Has gathered a few years of experience as an ALP and is responsible for moving trains in the yards (speed of almost 15 km/h). A minimum of 2 years of experience is required at this level to be promoted to the next level of posts, such as pilots of goods or passenger trains.
- Goods Driver (Goods Pilot): Individually drives goods trains
- Passenger Train Driver: Individually drives passenger trains with lesser speed and frequent stops
- Express Train Driver: Individually drives express trains with high speed and non-frequent stops
- Rajdhani Drivers: Special class drivers, especially those experienced in driving very high-speed trains such as Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi Express, etc.
How are the Loco Pilots selected:

In Indian Railway, Loco Pilots are recruited directly from the open recruitment drive for Assistant Loco Pilots. The candidates need to fulfill the minimum basic requirement, as detailed below, to be eligible to apply. Applications are invited throughout the year, as per the requirements from various RRBs and RRCs across the country.

Minimum Basic Academic Requirement:

Due to the ongoing technical modernization and transformation of Indian railways, the candidates applying for the Loco Pilot posts need to have a technical qualification along with the basic standard of matriculation. The candidates should have obtained at least an ITI in the trades of electrician, electronic mechanic, instrument mechanic, mechanical, and automobile techniques.

Age provisions:

Any Indian national, who has acquired 18 years of age and has not completed the maximum age of 30 years is considered eligible to apply for Assistant Loco Pilot Positions. However, candidates belonging to reserved categories such as SC, ST, and OBC are allowed a relaxed age limit as per the Indian Railway regulations.

Physical & Medical Fitness:

As the Loco Pilots will render a highly responsible job of driving trains, they are expected to be of the highest medical standard to perform their duties. Especially, they should have very good eyesight with absolutely no color blindness to be eligible for selection.

How to prepare:

As Loco Pilot positions are considered to be highly coveted profiles of jobs in Indian Railways, the competition is obviously huge. Aspirants need to start early and start smart to grab this opportunity as and when it arises. Dedicated preparation and consistent follow-up with informative websites, can keep candidates updated about the changing patterns of examinations, selection procedures, cut-off marks, and application criteria, so as to apply early and restructure their career goals with the finest preparation.

Indian Railway Career Opportunities As Ticket Collector (TC) and Train Ticket Examiner (TTE)

Being a job of government affiliation, every vacancy in Indian Railway is flooded with numerous applicants, which keeps on increasing year after year. Out of those numerous opportunities one of the most coveted and sought-after position is that of a Ticket Collector (TC) and that of a Train Ticket Examiner (TTE). Both these posts bear a significant appeal among the job aspirants, due to its nature, its privileges and its organizational stature.

Basic tasks assigned to TC & TTE:

Both these positions are quite vital for Indian Railway passenger operation. Whereas the TC is responsible to smooth conduct of the passengers, maintaining disciplines at the stations in accordance with the railway administration, the TC has been assigned the duty to ensure the comfort of passengers about to move. While on run, the passengers can put their grievances before the TC and he can initiate necessary actions for privilege of passengers. He also maintains a rapport with the Govt. Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Train Pilot, and the Station Master. TC can also check tickets on Train, on Platform and as and when desired during the travel. TC can also collect ticket fares and penalties from the passengers who could not buy a ticket or who are traveling without a valid ticket.

TTE is the person who is responsible to examine the tickets of passengers riding in a compartment. He has got the authority to reallocate berths, check and verify the authenticity of the traveler, issue tickets and initiate action against poachers, vendors and unauthorized persons in any class of compartment. His main responsibility is to check and verify the tickets and comfort the passengers with their seating and sleeping arrangements.

Bothe these posts come under the jurisdiction of Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM).

How a person can join Indian Railways as a TC or TTE:

Every year, Indian Railway conducts competent selection examinations for allowing aspirants to join as TC and TTE. The candidates need to look for the upcoming advertisements for these posts to make them familiar with the exact nature of requirements. We have detailed a few basic criteria that remain constant for selection of TC and TTE.

As per the Railway administration gazette notification, 50% of the total vacancies will be filled directly through 17 different RRBs and RRCs. These posts are subject to time-scale promotions.

Academic Eligibility Conditions:

The candidates need to complete at least Matriculation standard with minimum 50% marks to become eligible to offer his candidature for the TC and TTE positions.

Important Age Factor:

The candidates applying for the TC and TTE positions, need to be an adult, must have achieved 18 years of age and should not have crossed the maximum age of 30 years for becoming eligible for offering his/ her candidature.

How to prepare:

The selection is usually done through a competitive written examination, followed by Interview for these posts of TC and TTE. Candidates need to be quite familiar with General Mathematics, General English, General Knowledge and should have good analytical mind and a sound body. Practice is the key to success in such profiles, as there is a huge numbers of aspirants and the posts are usually a few only. Hence regular update of knowledge, practice of sample papers, through coaching and group discussions can offer a direct advantage in terms of competency for selection of TC and TTE in Indian Railways.

Although these posts are considered as Pay Band – I positions, but with opportunities for promotion, a person can attain a stable life with a promising career with Indian Railways.