Rates Circular No. 14 of 2005

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

            In order to improve the utilisation of the rolling stock, and help the customers in prompt clearance of freight trains from their sidings/terminals, the ‘Engine-on-Load’ scheme was introduced vide Board’s letter No.2004/TC-I/94/214/9/Vol. II dated 12.7.2004. Under the ‘Engine-on-Load’ operations, 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. 

3.2.2  Additional free time for placement/removal of rakes in the sidings shall be applicable as per extant instructions. 

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 for the EOL customers 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.

        3.3.5    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.100.00 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 adjusted as a rebate in the freight payable by the customer in the following quarter. For this purpose, the amount of rebate for each net credit hour will be @Rs.15.00 per hour per bogie wagon. 

3.4           Exemption from Engine Hire Charges

If a siding holder requires to utilize 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. 

3.7    Preference in supply of rakes

In terms of Board’s letter No.2004/TT-III/1/1 dated 16.3.2005, higher preference, within the same class of priority, will be accorded in supply of rakes to the EOL customers.

3.8   Multiple-commodity sidings

It has been decided that in case of multiple commodity sidings, if the rakes for the major commodity handled in the siding is covered under EOL norms, such a siding can be notified as EOL siding, with no cost of Railway Staff to the siding owner. However, the other benefits of EOL scheme shall be applicable only for the commodity and the stock used for its loading/unloading as per EOL norms. 

3.9    Multiple-plant sidings

There are certain sidings, which serve an old plant and a new plant. If the operation at one of the plants is covered under EOL norms, the siding can be notified as an EOL siding with no cost of Railway Staff to the siding owner. However, the other benefits of EOL scheme should be applicable only for the commodity and the stock handled at that particular siding. 

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 sidings and goods sheds/Rail side Ware House complexes etc. where the freight customers have opted for the EOL scheme.

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 liberalized “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 at various locations.

5.0     The above instructions shall be effective from 1^st April, 2005.

6.0     This issues with the concurrence of the Traffic Transportation and Finance Directorates in the Ministry of Railways.           Please acknowledge receipt.

This circular is also available on website of Indian Railways i.e. www.indianrailways.gov.in