Big News: 3,500 More Assistant Loco Pilot Posts Added!
The Ministry of Railways has announced a major expansion in its recruitment drive for Assistant Loco Pilots (ALP). Under the Centralized Employment Notification (CEN) 01/2026, the government has officially approved 3,500 additional posts. This decision brings the total number of vacancies from the previously notified 11,127 to a massive 14,627.
Why the Vacancies Increased
The decision to increase the number of posts follows a comprehensive review of the current requirements across the railway network. With the rising number of both passenger and freight trains, there is a pressing need for more running staff. This move also addresses the long-standing campaign by the All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), which had been pushing for more recruitment to tackle personnel shortages.
Zonal Distribution of New Posts
The additional 3,500 posts are being allocated across several key railway zones to meet specific regional demands. The breakdown is as follows:
- South Eastern Railway (SER): 790 posts
- South Central Railway (SCR): 700 posts
- East Central Railway (ECR): 500 posts
- Western Railway (WR): 500 posts
- East Coast Railway (ECoR): 450 posts
- Kolkata Metro: 360 posts