Goods Loco Pilots and Goods Guards – Silent Warriors during COVID-19
Goods Loco Pilots and Goods Guards – Silent Warriors during COVID-19
Silent Warriors during COVID-19 – Goods Loco Pilots and Goods Guards
Railways are playing a critical role in the fight against COVID19 by ensuring timely transportation of essential goods and commodities. Railway personnel have risen to the occasion and are doing an outstanding work with passion and dedication.
The supply of essential commodities like food grains, medicine, coal, petrol, diesel, kerosene & other essential things like milk, vegetable & other essential/emergency services over Indian Railways continue to be operated through freight/ special parcel trains.
Loco pilots and goods guards are playing an important role in running these freight trains during lockdown, due to which it is possible to send essential goods from one corner of the country to the other corner of the country. More than 2,000 freight trains have been run during this lockdown.
Loco pilots and goods guard of Mumbai division in particular who stay in distant suburbs especially have no option other than using their own vehicle in the absence of transportation to go to their workplace from their residence and back.
The crews are religiously following the laid down guidelines like using mask, keeping social distancing and use of sanitizer. Besides, Railways are also sanitizing the locomotives at the change-over points, running room etc., after every use.
Central Railway has so far planned 325 parcel trains for carrying medicines, perishables, etc. out of which 68 are yet to run and 257 have already run carrying about 3,500 tonnes including 498 tonnes of medicines and 1400 tonnes of perishable items.
They are the silent warriors during the fight against COVID19
Here’s a comprehensive look at how Goods Loco Pilots and Goods Guards became true “Silent Warriors” during the COVID‑19 pandemic, ensuring India’s essential supply chains kept moving even amid crisis:
Contents
🚆 Who They Are and What They Did
Goods Loco Pilots (engine drivers) and Goods Guards (crew in charge of freight operations) operated thousands of freight trains carrying essentials—such as food grains, medicines, fuel, LPG cylinders, coal, perishable goods, and more—across the country throughout the lockdown. They were crucial to running over 2,000 freight and parcel trains, ensuring uninterrupted transport of vital commodities.
⚙️ Facing Challenges, Working Relentlessly
- Most crew members had to travel from distant suburbs to depots and yards without public transport, arranging personal transport or staying away from families for shifts.
- They followed strict protocols: wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and using sanitizers. Sanitization of locomotives and running rooms was prioritized after every duty change—often in challenging conditions with limited PPE.
- There was no formal recognition as frontline healthcare workers. Injuries and deaths due to long hours and COVID exposure were not eligible for the ₹50 lakh ex-gratia compensation reserved for registered frontline staff. Despite this, they continued operating, often working beyond 12-hour duty limits under manpower shortages
📋 Key Facts at a Glance
| Role | Responsibility During COVID |
|---|---|
| Goods Loco Pilots | Drove freight trains across regions with no passenger services |
| Goods Guards | Supervised train operations, signaling, and safety compliance |
| Core Duty | Transport essential supplies via freight and parcel express trains |
| Challenges Faced | No transit, PPE shortages, extended/unscheduled shifts |
| Public Recognition | Largely unacknowledged; excluded from standard frontline benefits |
👏 What Makes Their Contribution Stand Out
- They maintained vital national supply chains, especially when passenger services were entirely suspended.
- Loyalty and resilience under long hours, minimal rest, and operational pressure showcased deep commitment to public service.
- Despite facing health risks and stress, they ensured goods deliveries reached every corner of the country without interruption.
🧠 Broader Impact & Worker Welfare Issues
- Indian Railways lost nearly 1,950 railway employees to COVID-19 by mid-2021; later figures rose to over 2,900 deaths, many of whom were running staff or essential operations crew.
- Complaints regarding work overload, lack of rest, and absence of compensation echoed across rail staff forums. Many loco pilots reported working 24-hour shifts during critical freight runs, fatigue-induced accidents, and negligible welfare support.
✅ Summary
- Goods Loco Pilots & Guards were unsung pillars of India’s COVID response—delivering essential goods across a disrupted railway network.
- They worked in hazardous conditions with limited support, yet delivered consistently. Despite their indispensable role, public recognition and compensation lagged.
- Their story is one of silent resolve—keeping the country’s logistical backbone intact when it mattered most.
Would you like to explore:
- More stories or testimonials from these crew members?
- Details on Indian Railways’ duty hours policies versus norms?
- A breakdown of freight volumes operated during the lockdown period?