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.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Railway yard workers
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
Switch cars according to instructions which indicate the location, disposition and number of cars
Lubricate moving parts of railway cars and locomotives.
Railway track maintenance workers
Operate machines and equipment such as sleeper sliders, anchors, rail lifters, drag drills, drag diggers, rail saws and tie-bar cranes to lay, maintain, repair, and align railway tracks, to transfer, spread, level and tamp ballast around ties and rails and to clear snow from tracks
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.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$43,798
$64,654
$81,672
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
British Columbia
89expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Some secondary school education is usually required.
Experience as a railway labourer is required.
On-the-job training is provided.
Additional information
Progression to a position such as brakeman is possible with experience.
Certification requirements
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
No post-secondary education required
No post-secondary education required. You can work in this career without post-secondary education. Some on the job training may be provided. With additional training or experience, you may be able to progress into higher level, supervisory or management positions.