Indian Railways

Rates Circular No. 21 of 2004

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (BHARAT SARKAR)
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAIL MANTRALAYA)
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.2004/TC-I/94/214/9/Vol. II

New Delhi, dated: 12^th July, 2004

The General Managers,

All Indian Railways.

Sub: - “Engine-On-Load” (EOL) scheme

In order to further improve the utilisation of the rolling stock, and help the customers in prompt clearance of freight trains from their sidings/terminals the introduction of ‘Engine-on-Load’ operations has been under consideration of the Board for quite some time. Under the ‘Engine-on-Load’ operations (EOL), the train engine will remain available during loading or unloading operation in the siding and wait on railway’s account so as to work the train immediately after loading/unloading operation is completed.

2.0 The basic features of the draft EOL scheme were outlined in Board’s letter dated 26.6.1997. Subsequently, a number of Railways have given suggestions to improve the scheme. The EDs Committee (1998) and the High Level Committee on Freight Incentives (2004) have also examined the matter. Accordingly, in supersession of all the earlier guidelines, the following revised guidelines are issued.

3.0 The siding holders will be required to opt for the EOL operations under an agreement with the zonal railway administration as per the terms and conditions of the ‘Engine-on-Load’ operations, as given in the following paragraphs.

3.1 Eligibility
Only such sidings should be brought under the EOL which have been notified for charging freight on through distance basis.

3.1.2 Permissible free time
Free time for loading and unloading operations under the EOL will be lower than the normal free time so as to minimise detention to the wagons and the waiting period of the locomotives. The free time under the EOL for loading and unloading operations will be permitted as under:-

Type of operation	Free time for Bulk Commodities	Free time for Bagged Consignments
Loading All types of wagons	3 Hours	5 Hours
Unloading 1. All types of wagons except BOBRN 2. BOBRN wagons	4 Hours 2 Hours	5 Hours Not applicable

Instructions contained in Board’s letter No.TC-I/89/201/5 dated 11.04.1991 and 12.10.1993 as also letter No. TC-I/95/201/2 dated 23.11.1995, regarding additional free time for placement/removal of rakes in the sidings as per time and motion studies will remain unchanged.

3.3 Debit/credit hours for demurrage

3.3.1 A system of debit/credit hours in regard to detention to wagons shall be introduced in the EOL sidings for the purpose of levying demurrage.

3.3.2 Debit hours would signify the detention in terms of wagon-hours beyond the free time permissible under the EOL.

3.3.3 Credit hours would signify the wagon-hours saved with reference to the free time permissible under the EOL.

3.3.4 Saving/detention to a wagon of 30 minutes or more up to 1 hour will be rounded off to an hour. Saving/detention to a wagon of less than 30 minutes will not be reckoned.

3.3.5 The net debit/credit hours, accrued during a month, shall be carried forward till the end of a quarter ending on the 30^th of June, 30^th of September, 31st of December and the 31^st of March. Demurrage will be charged, on a quarterly basis on the net debit hours outstanding, if any, at the end of the quarter at the rates prescribed from time to time for the first 24 hours. The prevailing rates for demurrage charges are Rs.60.00 per bogie wagon per hour, for all types of stock. The demurrage to be charged at the end of each quarter, if any, would not be waived except to the extent covered under ‘Force Ma-jeure’ conditions.

3.3.6 The net credit hours, if any, at the end of a quarter will be carried forward to the next quarter and the same shall be adjusted against fresh debit hours that might accrue during that quarter. The net accumulated credit hours alone will be permitted to be carried forward till the end of the financial year. In case, any credit hours are still available at the end of the financial year, the same shall lapse.

3.4 Exemption from Engine Hire Charges

If a siding holder requires to utilise the train engine during loading or unloading of the rake, within the free time prescribed, the same will be allowed without levying any additional charges. The siding owner may, therefore, not be required to maintain a captive engine at his cost under the EOL operations.

3.5 Exemption from Siding charges

For the bulb type sidings freight will be charged on the basis of through distance up to a specified loading or unloading point and not for the entire length of the siding. No siding/shunting charges for haulage of wagons within the siding will be leviable under the Engine-on- load operations.

3.6 Exemption from cost of railway staff

The Railways will bear the entire cost of all railway staff deployed at the sidings operated under the EOL scheme.

4.0 General

4.1 It should be ensured that all arrangements, including timely relief to the train crew, as and when required, are made in EOL sidings.

4.2 Suitable resting facilities shall be provided to the train crew by the siding owners in their premises.

4.3 Siding owners will also permit the train crew to avail the facilities of staff canteen in their premises on payment of charges as prescribed for their own staff.

4.4 All Railways are requested to give wide publicity to the “Engine-on-load” scheme among the existing as well as prospective siding owners. Proposals may be invited from the siding owners desiring to opt for the ‘Engine-on-Load’ operations.

4.5 Details of the detentions to wagons and locomotives in the sidings, before and after switching over to the EOL, may be analysed and also sent to Board’s office for information so that the EOL scheme could be reviewed one year after it’s implementation in various sidings.

This issues with the concurrence of the Traffic Transportation and Finance Directorates of the Ministry of Railways.

(Shiv Kumar Chowdhri)
Executive Director, Traffic Comml. (Rates)
Railway Board