Train dispatcher

Train dispatchers ensure the safe and efficient dispatch of the train services. The safety of customers is their main priority. When carrying out train dispatch duties, they check the traffic signals and communicate promptly with train drivers and conductors that it is safe for the train to pull away.

The duties of a train dispatcher include, but are not limited to:

• Monitoring train traffic for safety purposes and contacting railroad operators about any issues that arise
• Determining the best way to use available resources, such as manpower, equipment, or track space, to meet customer demand
• Communicating with train engineers to notify them of upcoming track changes or other relevant information
• Monitoring the progress of trains, including speed and location, in order to adjust speed limits or notify emergency services if necessary
• Coordinating with dispatchers from other railroads to ensure the safe operation of trains during interline movements or other transfers between companies
• Recording operational data, such as train speed, location, and time of arrival at each station
• Maintaining communication with railroad personnel in central dispatching offices and train crews on the tracks
• Working with railroad company management to create schedules that meet customer demand while ensuring safety and efficiency of operations
• Ordering repairs and ordering supplies such as fuel, brake pads, and lubricants.

Train dispatchers work in the control towers of railroads, where they direct the movement of trains and oversee the work of train crews. They work in well-lit, temperature-controlled rooms and usually work a 40-hour week, although they may be required to work overtime, weekends, and holidays.

Train dispatchers must be able to work long hours under high pressure and stress, as they are responsible for the safe movement of trains and the lives of the train crews. They must be able to make quick and accurate decisions in emergency situations.

The following job titles also refer to train dispatcher:

platform assistant
platform dispatch assistant
train dispatch controller
engine dispatcher
railway dispatcher

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a train dispatcher. Some employers may prefer a minimum of an associate’s degree in transportation or logistics. Logistics is a field that involves the management of the flow of goods from the point of origin to the point of consumption.

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.

Train dispatcher is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

rail switchperson
chief conductor
rail traffic controller
train conductor
mail clerk

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

passport officer
aviation safety officer
international forwarding operations coordinator
ship duty engineer
air traffic controller

These skills are necessary for the role of train dispatcher.

• Control train departures: Monitor and control departure of trains; prepare outbound trains with the required number of carriages and provide safety assurance.
• Monitor conditions affecting train movement: Monitor conditions that may influence train movements, e.g. crew availability, weather conditions, equipment operability, speed or track limitations, etc. Undertake actions to ensure and optimise train performance and safety; anticipate emergencies and unexpected situations.
• Shunt inbound loads: Shunt inbound freight loads to and from railcars for inbound and outbound trains.
• Manage rail yard resources: Manage rail yard resources in order to ensure maximum efficiency. Prepare resource usage in advance in order to limit the time trains spend in yards.
• Monitor train schedules: Ensure train schedules are followed; trains should not leave the station too late or too early. Monitor and regulate train dispatch and arrival in order to avoid trains arriving either too late or too early.
• Shunt outbound loads: Shunt outbound freight loads to and from inbound and outbound trains.
• Control train arrivals: Monitor and control arrival of trains into train stations. Check inbound trains according to their departure station.
• Handle stressful situations: Deal with and manage highly stressful situations in the workplace by following adequate procedures, communicating in a quiet and effective manner, and remaining level-headed when taking decisions.

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

• Act reliably: Proceed in a way that one can be relied on or depended on.
• Use different communication channels: Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
• Continuously monitor weather conditions: Evaluate routine air observations, analyse a variety of weather information from various sources, and constantly monitor weather conditions to maintain the validity of the forecast.
• Liaise with rail experts: Communicate and cooperate with bridge, geotechnical, materials experts, architects, etc.
• Ensure compliance with railway regulation: Ensure compliance with all railway rules, procedures, and legal regulations relating to safety, operations, and EU frameworks.
• Liaise with colleagues: Liaise with fellow colleagues to ensure common understanding on work related affairs and agree on the necessary compromises the parties might need to face. Negotiate compromises between parties as to ensure that work in general run efficiently towards the achievement of the objectives.
• Operate railway communication systems: Operate railway communication systems; make announcements over the public address system or communicate with central train administration.
• Perform services in a flexible manner: Adapt service approach when circumstances change.

8312 – Railway brake, signal and switch operators

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References

1. Train dispatcher – ESCO
2. Train Dispatcher Job Description: Salary, Duties, & More – ClimbtheLadder
3. Featured image: By Miroslav Volek – 21.03.2016, Prostějov, CC BY 2.0