Shunter

Shunters move shunting units with or without wagons or groups of wagons in order to build trains. They manage the driving of locomotives and are involved in switching wagons, making or splitting up trains in shunting yards or sidings. They operate according to the technical features, such as controlling movement via a remote control device.

The following job titles also refer to shunter:

shunter attendant
rail shunter
shunting assistant
shunting supervisor
shunter assistant
foreman shunter
shunter driver
shunting forewoman
shunting foreman
operator shunter
foreman shunter/forewoman shunter
forewoman shunter
shunting attendant
foreman/forewoman shunter

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a shunter.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Shunter is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to shunter.

railway electronic technician
rail switchperson
level crossing signalperson
train driver
train preparer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of shunter. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of shunter with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

rolling stock inspector
railway infrastructure inspector
printed circuit board designer
civil registrar
material stress analyst

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of shunter.

• Train operating procedures: The different practices, routines, and procedures regarding the safe operation of trains in order to prevent collisions, derailments, or unplanned exceeding of speed limits.
• Principles of mechanical engineering: Understand principles of mechanical engineering, physics, and materials science.
• Physical characteristics of railways: Familiar with all physical aspects of the railway, including train stations, the incline and decline of the right-of-way and speed limits.
• Dangers of marshalling activity: Understand the dangers and difficulties that accompany marshalling activity, including noise, dust, ingestion or vehicle collisions.
• Railway framework legislation: Know and apply railway framework legislation where requirements for railways in the EU are established. Know legislation that applies to the field of cross-border freight transit.
• Mechanics of trains: Possess basic knowledge of the mechanics involved in trains, understand the technicalities and participate in discussions on related topics in order to solve problems related to the mechanics.
• Rail infrastructure: Thoroughly understand the characteristics of railway infrastructure: rail technologies, track gauges, rail signalling, rail junctions, etc.

These skills are necessary for the role of shunter.

• Check train engines: Ensure that train engines comply with regulations before commencing a journey.
• Assess railway operations: Review and study existing railroad equipment, facilities, systems and processes in order to improve railway safety and efficiency, increase quality, and reduce costs.
• Operate radio equipment: Set up and operate radio devices and accessories, such as broadcast consoles, amplifiers, and microphones. Understand the basics of radio operator language and, when necessary, provide instruction in handling radio equipment correctly.
• Follow switching instructions in rail operations: Read and comprehend the instructions on switching rail cars and wagons, and perform switching operations accordingly.
• Shunt inbound loads: Shunt inbound freight loads to and from railcars for inbound and outbound trains.
• Read railway circuit plans: Read and comprehend circuit plans during initial construction, during troubleshooting, maintenance, and testing activities and while repairing or replacing components.
• Perform wagon coupling: Performs wagon coupling in marshalling yards. Use coupler mechanisms to connect rolling stock in trains.
• Comply with railway safety standards: Ensure compliance with minimum safety standards for freight cars operated by railway companies subject to European legislation.
• Shunt outbound loads: Shunt outbound freight loads to and from inbound and outbound trains.
• Drive vehicles: Be able to drive vehicles; have the appropriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.
• Deal with challenging work conditions: Deal with challenging circumstances in which to perform work, such as night work, shift work, and atypical working conditions.
• Operate railway vehicles: Drive railroad vehicles or other railway equipment in a competent and safe manner.
• Shunt rolling stock in marshalling yards: Shunt rolling stock to form trains in marshalling yards.
• Operate railway warning systems: Operate and maintain grade crossing warning systems, signals and railroad signal equipment such as hot box detectors and interlocks.
• Enforce railway safety regulations: Promote and enforce safety procedures and EU regulations to ensure that railway safety is generally maintained and continuously improved, taking into consideration the development of European legislation.
• Perform maintenance on locomotives: Perform general maintenance of locomotive parts such as wheels, springs and brake rigging traction motors; test and repair safety appliances, air compressors, safety valves, fuel systems, shutters and radiators; install, assemble, disassemble, repair or replace locomotive diesel engine components.
• Operate railway switches: Operate railroad switches to control the direction of trains in order to route them to their destinations.
• Perform routine maintenance on railway engines: Perform routine tasks to maintain railway engines, such as replacing oil and lubricating engines.
• Operate railway communication systems: Operate railway communication systems; make announcements over the public address system or communicate with central train administration.
• Oversee operational safety on trains: Oversee all operations in a defined area, as part of a team that manages operational safety and train services for a specific geographical location.
• Operate switching locomotives: Operate locomotives for switching, coupling and uncoupling rail cars for loading and unloading freight.
• Perform rail track inspections: Plan and implement regular inspections and investigations of the rail track system in order to provide optimal coverage of the railway network in a given area. Inspect aspects such as track alignment, features of the terrain, and existence of ditches, embankments, and loose rock debris on the network.
• Test the braking force of trains: Test that the breaking force of trains functions as required after coupling.
• Use hand signal for transport procedures: Use hand signals for transport procedures such as shunting loads and trains in long curves.
• Operate railway control panels: Operate various types of railway control panels such as Individual Function Switch (IFS), One Control Switch (OCS) or Entrance Exit (NX).
• Control train movement: Control acceleration, braking, and overall operation of train in motion.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of shunter. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Electrical engineering: Understand electrical engineering, a field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.
• Electrical wiring plans: Pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. It shows the components of the circuit as simplified shapes, and the power and signal connections between the devices. It gives information about the relative position and arrangement of devices and terminals on the devices, to help in building or servicing the device. A wiring diagram is often used to troubleshoot problems and to make sure that all the connections have been made and that everything is present.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of shunter. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Load animals for transportation: Load and unload animals safely into containers or cages for transportation. Make sure they are secure and safely established in the transport vehicle.
• Keep written records of cargo: Keep written records of the quantity of goods loaded or unloaded. Track times, dates and tasks completed.
• Assist in the movement of heavy loads: Provide assistance in the relocation of heavy loads; set up and operate a rigging system of ropes and cables in order to move heavy cargo.
• Ensure train stability after loading: Ensure train stability after freight has been loaded onto the railcars.
• Compare shipment contents with waybill: Compare contents of shipments (loaded or unloaded) with listing on waybill or other shipping records; ensure that every shipment is routed to the correct destination.

8312 – Railway brake, signal and switch operators

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References

1. Shunter – ESCO