Pakistan Railways Academy

Introduction

In 1925, a small Railway Training School of the legendary North Western Railway was originally established in Layallpur (now Faisalabad). It was shifted to the present purpose-built Walton campus named as Walton Training School. This institution was named after Col. C.E. Walton, the Agent (as the General Manager was then known) of the North Western Railways. In no time, the Walton Training School became the hub of the suburb of Lahore and the area became famous as “WALTON”.

The Walton Training School took on the character and repute of its parent organization, the North Western Railways; symbolizing the best traditions of service, innovation, development and organizational excellence. The performance standards of this institution received international acclaim when, in 1954, its premises were selected by the ECAFE (Economic Commission for Asia and Far East) – a United Nations agency, to establish their Regional Railway Training Centre for training of Railway Officers and senior supervisors of Asia and the Far East in Signaling and Advanced Railway Operations. Control of the Center was transferred to the Government of Pakistan in January 1958. In July 1982, this academy was renamed as Pakistan Inter-Regional Railway Training College (PIRRTC), while in May 1983, it was again renamed as Directorate of Research and Training. Eventually in July 2000, it got the present name as “Pakistan Railway Academy”.

Keeping in view the growing training needs of the mother organization, the Academy conducts about 34 Pre-service induction training courses, 75 promotion and 36 refresher courses yearly for Railway staff of all grades, disciplines and departments. Officers inducted into various cadres of the Pakistan Railways selected through the Federal Public Service Commission as Probationers also receive their Railway training here. Short Management-training courses are also conducted from time to time whenever required.

Mission

Transforming Pakistan Railway Academy (PRA) into a center of excellence; for imparting training to the Railways Officers and Officials.

VISION

To develop PR Human Resource best of the best, at par with world.

Organization

The Academy is headed by a Director General, who is assisted by Joint Directors, heading each of the engineering disciplines viz, Civil, Mechanical, Signaling and Telecommunications, Electrical/Electronics Engineering and the Traffic (Operations and Commercial) Departments. Each Joint Director is assisted by an Assistant Director and an adequate number of instructors, drawn mostly from the experienced serving railway staff.

OBJECTIVES

• To arrange training for the newly recruited officers and staff of Pakistan Railways including STP (Specialized Training Program) for Probationary officers. viz Traffic and Commercial, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Signals, Telecom, Store and Purchase departments.
• To arrange Promotion and Refresher Courses for the officials and officers of Pakistan Railways including Boot Camp training for Railway Officers nominated for Management courses i.e. MCMC, NMC and SMC.
• To arrange Seminars/Workshops for officers/Sr. Subordinates of all disciplines of Pakistan Railways to refresher their skills through dissemination of experience based knowledge of Sr. Railway Officers.
• To impart training to Sr. Railway Officers of Asia and Far East countries under UN (United Nations) chartered through PTAP (Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme) with collaboration of Ministry of Economic Affairs, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.
• With the view to fulfilling the objectives, the training is imparted through class rooms, model rooms equipped with replica of the actual systems and exposing the trainees to the actual working on the Pakistan Railway network.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION

In pursuance of objectives of Railway Academy, a systematic approach has been adopted to make the general atmosphere conducive for educational activities. After successful implementation of internal controls, certification in quality management was sought, which had since been granted. Pakistan Railways Academy, Walton is now an ISO 9001:2008 certified institution meeting international standards of quality objectives. Approved scope to which the certification has been granted includes :-

• Railway Operation, Maintenance, Management & Promotion Courses for Railway Officers & Supervisors.
• Railway Management & Operation Courses for other International Railways participants.
• Other Management & Industrial Trainings for Non-Railway Local Customers.

Facilities

• 35 well-equipped class rooms, including dedicated rooms for special subjects such as telecommunication. All discipline Model rooms equipped with life size and scale working models for hands on-training; networked computer labs.
• A well-stocked and continually expanding library; containing books on technical, professional, and management realms and linguistic, social sciences, literature alongwith a spacious reading room. The Library also caters for a wide selection of newspapers, periodicals and technical/professional journals.

LODGING

• There are seven hostels with accommodation for more than 510 trainees including an exclusive hostel for the International Students with air-conditioned and well-equipped rooms.
• Free Mess facilities are provided to all trainees for all discipline.

HEALTH CARE

• A resident medical officer with a dispensary for emergency medical cover has been provided in the campus.

RECREATION

• This Academy provides for indoor, outdoor sports and games such as football, hockey, cricket, and badminton.

COURSES CONDUCTED

• 857 trainees participated in 66 courses (Recruitment, Promotion and Refresher) during the year under review (July, 2020 to June, 2021) compared with 1877 participants in 116 courses in the previous year (July-2019 to June-2020).
• Since 1954, total of 1897 Foreigner/Pakistani Officers Participants from more than 50 countries (including Pakistan) have benefited from Advance Railway Course upto January, 2020.

TRAINING TECHNIQUES

• Training methods, techniques and equipments continue to be up-graded to the latest standards. Trainees are taken on extensive study tours over the P.R. network to acquire practical knowledge (Simulator, CBI console etc), under the supervision of divisions concerned and oversight of respective Joint Directors of Pakistan Railway Academy.

PLANS TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMY

• Up-gradation of the Academy with setting up a separate exclusive wing for Pakistan Railways Research & Development Centre [PRRDC].
• Improvement and Rehabilitation of Infrastructure of the Academy.
• Collaboration of Pakistan Railways Academy with different academic institutes (Triple Helix Model).
• Attachment with National School of Public Policy (NSPP) is under process.

ACADEMY STAFF