Assistant Loco Pilot Appointments Delayed Again; Over 28,000 Posts Still in Process

New Delhi: The recruitment process for Assistant Loco Pilots (ALPs) in Indian Railways continues to face serious delays, despite a growing number of vacancies. Appointments announced under the 2024 Railway Recruitment notification are now expected to be completed only by 2027. During this period, around 8,000 additional vacancies for loco pilots are also likely to arise. In total, 18,779 posts are to be filled under the 2024 recruitment drive.
Although the aptitude test was conducted on July 14 and 15, the process has not moved forward since then. Candidates are now waiting for the medical examination, which must be completed before any appointment orders are issued. The Railway Board has instructed zonal-level training for 150 candidates at a time. Currently, there are nine major training centers across various zones and 11 electrical training centers, but it remains unclear whether all these facilities will be used for the upcoming sessions.
In the Southern Railway zone, two training centers are available. However, the infrastructure required for legal instruction—a mandatory part of training—is available only in Tiruchirappalli. The training period for Assistant Loco Pilots is two months.
Initially, the central government had notified 5,676 vacancies for ALPs in 2024. Following protests by the Loco Running Staff Association, the number was increased to 18,779. Out of this, 726 appointments are allocated to Southern Railway.
The delays are not limited to the 2024 recruitment. In 2025, the Railway Recruitment Board announced another 9,970 vacancies, but no examinations have been held yet. Combined, both recruitment drives are supposed to fill 28,749 Assistant Loco Pilot posts. However, the slow pace of the process is worsening the already severe shortage of loco pilots across the country.