Train Conductor - Relocation

Role overview

Main responsibilities

• Follow train orders, signals, railroad safety rules, and operating regulations.
• Give and receive oral and printed instructions about rail-car movement and placement.
• Assemble and dismantle trains in yards and pick up or set off rail cars on route.
• Observe and relay signals, operate track switches, and inspect train and equipment condition.
• Make decisions in unfamiliar locations or emergencies and communicate by handheld radio with Rail Traffic Control, crews, and other departments.
• Perform ground work such as operating uncoupling levers and handbrakes.

Qualifications and certifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Completion of college, vocational, or technical school, or freight conductor experience.
• Relevant experience in similar working conditions or a regulated safety environment is an asset.
• Pass safety and rules exams, obtain and maintain a Conductors Rule Card, and maintain a valid driver's licence.
• A passport allowing entry to and re-entry from Canada and the United States is needed in certain specific locations.
• Meet medical fitness requirements, including recognizing and distinguishing signal colours.
• Proficiency in oral and written communications.

Schedule and physical demands

• Work a flexible schedule with regular, predictable attendance in a 24/7 railroading environment.
• Be available for night shifts, weekends, holidays, some overtime, and extended periods away from home when necessary.
• Push, pull, lift, and carry up to 90 pounds; climb on and off ladders of moving rail cars; grasp objects while riding a train.
• Walk for extended periods and bend, stoop, squat, and kneel frequently.

Work environment

• Work primarily outdoors in varied weather and environmental conditions.
• The job involves rail-yard and on-route work, including physical activity around trains and rail cars.

Training and qualification

• Complete an intensive paid training program of 11 weeks: seven weeks of classroom instruction and four weeks of field training at CN's Winnipeg campus.
• CN covers transportation, accommodation, and meals during the Winnipeg training.
• After initial training, complete at least 45 trips as an extra crew member; the full training program, written exams, and field training are mandatory.
• The role is unionized, and pay and benefits are governed by the applicable collective agreement.

Pay and benefits

• New hires may receive a lower hourly rate during the qualifying period.
• Employee benefits include an employee share investment plan, pension, and other perks.

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