The Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS) has to perform two types of functions (i) Commercial Transportation of objects performed by Commercial Division of the IRTS and (ii) Operations: The Operations Department is in charge of the movement of trains. The direct recruitment to the cadre is done through the Civil Services Examination. After selection, IRTS probationers undergo general foundation training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussourie. Following that they go for the Railway Foundation Course at Railway Staff College, Baroda. Further specialized training for the probationers is imparted at the Indian Railway Institute of Transportation Management (IRITM) at Lucknow. IRITM also undertakes courses for middle- and senior-level officers. After the training of the officials they are posted into two main streams of Traffic Department, Operations and Commercial
The responsibility of an IRTS officer in the operating department is that of ensuring smooth and fast transportation of freight and passengers. These officials ensures optimum utilization of assets maximizing output with least possible inputs by coordinating with the service departments taking care of various assets of railways like track, wagons, engines, signals, etc.
In the commercial department, an IRTS officer is concerned with sales, pricing passenger and freight traffic. The information technology requirement of passenger ticketing is also managed by an IRTS officer in the zonal headquarters in association with the Centre for Railway Information Systems.
Those who are able to make a career in IRTS as an officer can enjoy a great deal by handling challenging tasks in worlds one of the largest Railways with great authority as well as a high sense of responsibility.
The Hierarchy:
- Assistant Superintendent (Commercial/Operations) at Divisional Headquarters and after 4 years of service at the senior scale.
- Commercial/Operations Superintendent at the Divisional Headquarters.
- Senior Divisional OS/CS.
- Chief Commercial Superintendent OS/CS
- Additional Chief Commercial Superintendent OS/ CS
- Deputy Chief Commercial Superintendent OS/CS.