Rail Infrastructure Inspector Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Rail Infrastructure Inspector

Best Schools to become a Rail Infrastructure Inspector in U.S. 2024

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

In-State Tuition:$11,564
Out-of-State Tuition:$41,636
Admission Rate:11%
Graduation Rate:94%
Total Enrollment:45,307

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Baton Rouge, LA

In-State Tuition:$8,038
Out-of-State Tuition:$8,038
Admission Rate:76%
Graduation Rate:70%
Total Enrollment:37,348

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA

In-State Tuition:$12,104
Out-of-State Tuition:$31,754
Admission Rate:57%
Graduation Rate:86%
Total Enrollment:38,170

Texas A & M University-College Station

College Station, TX

In-State Tuition:$8,815
Out-of-State Tuition:$36,239
Admission Rate:63%
Graduation Rate:84%
Total Enrollment:74,014

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA

In-State Tuition:$5,742
Out-of-State Tuition:$17,622
Admission Rate:55%
Graduation Rate:66%
Total Enrollment:27,503

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL

In-State Tuition:$14,542
Out-of-State Tuition:$35,122
Admission Rate:45%
Graduation Rate:85%
Total Enrollment:56,916
Rail Infrastructure Inspector Job Description:
  • Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines.
  • Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Rail Infrastructure Inspector

Job Duties for Rail Infrastructure Inspectors

  • Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.

  • Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.

  • Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.

Technologies and Skills Used by Rail Infrastructure Inspectors

Office suite software

  • Microsoft Office software

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Time accounting software

  • Timekeeping software

Basic Skills

  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Rail Infrastructure Inspector

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Rail Infrastructure Inspector

FAQs About Becoming a Rail Infrastructure Inspector