Train Operations Specialist Overview
Required Education and Training To Become a Train Operations Specialist
Best Schools to become a Train Operations Specialist in U.S. 2024
International Air and Hospitality Academy
In-State Tuition:$N/A
Out-of-State Tuition:$N/A
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:73%
Total Enrollment:133
Ivy Tech Community College
In-State Tuition:$4,487
Out-of-State Tuition:$8,777
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:31%
Total Enrollment:89,705
Texas A & M University-College Station
In-State Tuition:$8,815
Out-of-State Tuition:$36,239
Admission Rate:63%
Graduation Rate:84%
Total Enrollment:74,014
City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College
In-State Tuition:$11,520
Out-of-State Tuition:$14,430
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:20%
Total Enrollment:2,101
SUNY Maritime College
In-State Tuition:$7,070
Out-of-State Tuition:$16,980
Admission Rate:80%
Graduation Rate:73%
Total Enrollment:1,427
Johnson County Community College
In-State Tuition:$2,400
Out-of-State Tuition:$5,088
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:27%
Total Enrollment:16,497
Train Operations Specialist Job Description:
- Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments.
- May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains.
- Watch for and relay traffic signals.
- May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes.
- May watch for dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way.
Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Train Operations Specialist
Job Duties for Train Operations Specialists
Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
Technologies and Skills Used by Train Operations Specialists
Expert system software
- Electronic train management systems ETMS
Route navigation software
- Route mapping software
Time accounting software
- Time tracking software
Basic Skills
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it