National Occupation Code (NOC): 2275

Railway traffic controllers co-ordinate passenger and freight train traffic on railways. They are employed by 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.

Follow This Occupation Share

Job Duties for Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators

Railway traffic controllers

• Operate and monitor centralized traffic control systems to co-ordinate 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
• Obtain 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.

Working Conditions for Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators

Railway traffic controllers work on railway lines, while marine traffic regulators work in ports, harbours, canals and lock facilities. Both sets of work environments have their own unique safety protocols that are carefully followed to prevent injury from their relevant vehicles and machinery.

Alternate Job Titles

• Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) Operator - Railway Traffic
• Centralized Traffic Controller - Railway Traffic
• Chief Rail Traffic Controller
• Chief Train Dispatcher
• CTC (centralized Traffic Control) Operator - Railway Traffic
• Head Train Dispatcher
• Locomotive Dispatcher
• Marine Traffic Controller
• Marine Traffic Regulator
• Rail Traffic Controller
• Train Dispatcher
• Train Dispatchers Supervisor
• Train Operator
• Waterway Traffic Checker
• Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) Operator - Railway Traffic
• Centralized Traffic Controller - Railway Traffic
• Chief Rail Traffic Controller
• Chief Train Dispatcher
• CTC (centralized Traffic Control) Operator - Railway Traffic
• Head Train Dispatcher
• Locomotive Dispatcher
• Marine Traffic Controller
• Marine Traffic Regulator
• Rail Traffic Controller
• Train Dispatcher
• Train Dispatchers Supervisor
• Train Operator
• Waterway Traffic Checker