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
925% Employed Full Time
69%Key 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
Career path information is currently not available.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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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.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Labour Market Statistics
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Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
925Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 125 | 13.5% |
| Kootenay | 50 | 5.4% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 360 | 38.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 30 | 3.2% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 350 | 37.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 10 | 1.1% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
250Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 80 | 1.3% |
| Kootenay | 10 | -0.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 40 | -0.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 50 | 1.2% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 70 | 1.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | Not available | Not available |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 240 |
| Construction | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.