Railway workers demand restoration of 30% pay element and 55% pensionary benefit to running staff fail psychological test after SPAD cases

Running staff receive Basic Pay + 30% Pay Element and pensionary benefits of 55% of Basic Pay. In a letter dated 11 August 2025, the Railway Board has stated that running staff who fail the psychological/aptitude test after SPAD (signal passing at danger, i.e., when a train passes a stop signal without authorization) will be deprived of the 30% Pay Element and 55% pension benefit. These running staff work under extreme pressure due to very long working hours and a high number of vacancies. By depriving these workers of their rightful pay and pension, the railway administration is in fact punishing workers for the administration’s own failure to ensure safe working conditions.

Letter of All India Railwaymens’ Federation (AIRF) to the Railway Board