Amritsar Jan Seva Express: हम मजदूर है साहब! - Piyush Singh

The primary document which provides a train driver with details regarding where he is required to slow down his train during the run, the speed at which he has to drive, and so on is called a "caution order". A caution order will tell a driver the names of the stations between which work is being undertaken, the kilometerage of the spot, the nature of the work being done, and, most important, the speed at which he must drive.

Caution orders are generally prepared by station masters of certain nominated stations called...
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'Notice stations'. For example, some years back, the Howrah-Bombay Mail on arriving at Nagpur received a caution order which lists speed restrictions on the way upto Badnera. On arrival at Badnera, which is again a notice station, the driver receives a fresh caution order that was applicable upto Bhusaval, and so on.

The speed restrictions mentioned in a caution order fall into two categories. Permanent speed restrictions which apply all the year round, refer to locations that have an inherent feature making it necessary for a train to slow down at the spot. A blind curve, a bridge that is weak, or a ghat section whose geological structure is known to be unsuitable for high speeds are examples of locations where a permanent speed restriction has to be imposed. On the other hand, if the track or the formation develops a defect somewhere along the route, trains will need to slow down but only as long as repair work is in progress. In such a case, a 'temporary speed restriction' has to be brought into force.