Railway and Marine Traffic Controllers

(NOC 2275)

in All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Railway traffic controllers coordinate passenger and freight train traffic on railways. They work for rail transport companies. Marine traffic regulators monitor and regulate coastal and inland marine traffic within assigned waterways. They are employed by port, harbour, canal, and lock authorities and by the Canadian Coast Guard.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

  • Estimate 3410 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5690 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$24.79

Minimum

$42.42

Median

$60.77

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

$70,363

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Hourly Pay

$18.00

Minimum

$34.90

Median

$54.10

Maximum

Annual Pay

$13,568

Minimum

$60,422

Median

$107,009

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Railway traffic controllers coordinate passenger and freight train traffic on railways. They work for rail transport companies. Marine traffic regulators monitor and regulate coastal and inland marine traffic within assigned waterways. They are employed by port, harbour, canal, and lock authorities and by the Canadian Coast Guard.

Job duties

Railway traffic controllers:

  • Use and monitor centralized traffic control systems to coordinate and follow railway traffic.
  • Chart train movements, calculate arrival and departure times, and record rail traffic information.
  • Issue instructions to control the movement of passenger and freight train traffic and on-track mobile maintenance equipment.
  • Receive, record, and relay train instructions to train crew by hand or radio telephone.
  • May supervise and train other railway traffic controllers.

Marine traffic regulators:

  • Direct and monitor vessel movements using radar or closed-circuit monitors, remote radio systems and other telecommunication equipment.
  • Get position, course, speed and estimated arrival time of vessels and monitor vessel progress through traffic zone.
  • Issue clearance instructions to vessels, advise vessels of traffic volumes and weather conditions, and relay information to next marine traffic control sector.
  • Report accidents, distress signals, navigational hazards, and other emergencies to authorities.
  • Maintain radio and telephone contact with adjacent marine control sectors and with vessels within area of jurisdiction.
  • Maintain log of vessel movements, size, and structure.

Sample job titles

  • centralized traffic control (CTC) operator - railway traffic
  • centralized traffic controller - railway traffic
  • chief rail traffic controller
  • chief train dispatcher
  • marine traffic controller
  • rail traffic controller
  • train dispatcher
  • train operator

Skills

  • You need a strong sense of responsibility and the ability to perform under pressure. Attention to detail is important. You must be alert and articulate, and have excellent communication skills.

Job requirements

  • Railway traffic controllers usually require completion of high school and several years of experience in the railway industry.
  • Up to 35 weeks of a combination of classroom and on-the-job training is provided for railway traffic controllers.
  • Railway traffic controllers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
  • Marine traffic regulators require completion of high school and several months of formal traffic regulator training.

Other considerations

  • There is little movement between traffic controlling jobs in the railway and marine sectors. With experience, railway traffic controllers may progress to supervisory positions in rail transport operations.

By the numbers

Quick look

55

employed in 2016

100.0%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

36.4%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
63.6%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
50.8

median age

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

25,875

employed in 2016

91.5%

employed full-time

7.6%

self employed

20.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
80%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
42.8

median age

Where will I likely work?

38.5%

Halifax

N/A
30.8%

North Shore

N/A
15.4%

Southern

N/A
15.4%

Annapolis Valley

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

77.8%

Public administration

22.2%

Construction

What is the age of Employment?

36.0%

55-64

27.0%

45-54

18.0%

35-44

18.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

24.2%

25-34

23.5%

45-54

23.4%

35-44

16.4%

55-64

7.7%

15-24

Top levels of education

33.3%

High school

N/A
33.3%

College Diploma

N/A
16.7%

Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

33.1%

College Diploma

$59,986 median annual income
29.8%

Bachelor

$63,965 median annual income
11.9%

High school

$45,835 median annual income
9.9%

Master

$65,105 median annual income
6.9%

Trade Certification

$57,773 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Railway Association of Canada
Ottawa, ON
Canadian Coast Guard College
Sydney, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.