Railway yard and track maintenance workers
Career Overview
Railway yard workers regulate yard traffic, couple and uncouple trains and perform related yard activities. Railway track maintenance workers operate machines and equipment to lay, maintain and repair railway tracks. They are employed by railway transport companies.
Job Titles
Duties
Railway yard and track maintenance workers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Operate control panel switches from railway yard tower to set traffic signals and to activate train switches that regulate railway traffic in railway yards
- Operate car retarders, turntables and track switches to align locomotives and cars as required for coupling, uncoupling or servicing
- Operate machines and equipment to lay, maintain and repair railway tracks, align tracks, transfer, spread, level and tamp ballast around ties and rails and to clear snow from tracks
- Switch cars according to instructions which indicate the location, disposition and number of cars
- Lubricate moving parts of railway cars and locomotives
- Clean and make minor repairs to machines and equipment
- Patrol assigned track sections to identify and report damaged or broken track
- Perform other track maintenance duties as directed
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
Not available% Employed Full Time
Not availableKey aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place outdoors so workers may be exposed to various weather conditions such as ice and snow
- Working on railway tracks with machinery and equipment can be a source of injury
- Working with some types of equipment may cause erratic movements in the body
- The workplace may be noisy enough to affect hearing
- The workplace may contain airborne particles such as dust and sand
Career Pathways
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Education, Training and Skills
- Some secondary school education is usually required
- Experience as a railway labourer is required
- On the job training is provided
- Railway yard workers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate
Education programs in B.C.
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Employment
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Employment
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Labour Market Outlook
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Forecasted Job Openings ()
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Job Openings by Region ()
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Resources
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