Railway conductors and brakemen/women – NOC : 7362

Unit Group

7362 Railway conductors and brakemen/women

Railway conductors co-ordinate and supervise the activities of passenger and freight train crew members. Brakemen check train brakes and other systems and equipment prior to train run, and assist railway conductors in activities en route. They are employed by railway transport companies.

Example Titles

brakeman/woman

conductor – switching yard

freight train conductor

front-end brakeman/woman

passenger train conductor

railway conductor

road freight brakeman/woman

tail-end brakeman/woman

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Main duties

Railway conductors perform some or all of the following duties:

Supervise and co-ordinate the activities of passenger and freight train crew members (except locomotive engineers) to ensure train operations are in accordance with schedule, train orders and code of operating rules
Receive train orders and explain orders to brakemen/women, locomotive engineer and other crew members
Communicate with train crew members by radio, signals or by other means to give and receive train operation information
Collect fares on board passenger trains, announce approaching train stops and answer passenger enquiries
Prepare train run reports.

Brakemen/women perform some or all of the following duties:

Check train systems and equipment such as air conditioning and heating systems, brakes and brake hoses prior to train run
Communicate with train crew members by radio, signals or by other means to aid in the movement and operation of train
Receive orders from traffic controllers, observe signals and track conditions and open and close track switches
Set and release hand brakes and connect air brake hoses to couple and switch passenger or freight cars, making minor repairs to couplings, air hoses and wheel-bearing boxes as required
Assist in collecting fares and helping passengers on and off train.

Employment requirements

Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Experience as a brakeman/woman is required for conductors.
Experience as a railway worker is usually required for brakemen/women.
Railway conductors require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
Brakemen/women require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.

Additional information

With experience, brakemen/women may progress to railway conductors.
With experience, railway conductors may progress to locomotive engineers.

Classified elsewhere

Railway and yard locomotive engineers (7361)
Supervisors, railway transport operations (7304)