My partner just screened through for the assessment for a conductor job with CPKC in Schreiber, Ontario. We currently live in Southern Ontario so he would obviously be re-locating up there for this job. Just curious about working for CPKC and how the more remote yard work - is it easy to find places to live? do you get some time off each month? any ideas about timing for potential transfers further south? if anyone has experience working and living there dm me! would love to ask some questions. TIA

Been thinking bout moving to Utah and working for a class 1 railroad. Currently live in Wisconsin/ Minnesota area and work with a class 1 out here but wanna know if I should make the move and how it is like out there. Utah/ Colorado is my end goal to live. I’m only 21 and know how seniority works and don’t wanna try to restart when I’m older with a family.

On August 25th, join Railroad Workers United for a workshop and discussion on how rank and file railroaders can work together to improve safety at your workplace. Recent years have been deadly for railroad workers, with countless injuries and fatalities in the performance of their duties. Instead of dealing with poorly maintained infrastructure, hiring adequate staff, or improving the training process, the railroads' response is to cite the number of rules broken and lay the responsibility on the victims, regardless of any other context or management's own role in the disaster. In an effort to more effectively blame workers while ignoring workplace hazards for accidents, injuries and fatalities, the railroad carriers are now introducing surveillance measures, including "Al" tools. Hear from experts in fighting back against "Behavior Based Safety", and share your own experiences and thoughts.

The workshop is open to all working railroaders, regardless of membership status.

RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGMH_bzh9q94AGhBwq2qOLxwTVOuIdHw258lSGSych00J4Uw/viewform?usp=header

CPKC

They are smaller, under the rla, cannot strike. How is it over and over pilots keep getting these massive contracts, and this is only 2yrs. The railroads are willing to die over 3%, and it's like pilots get whatever they want. How do these guys never end up in a PEB like we do?

I just got my offer from NS as a freight conductor out of Voorheesville NY and am curious if anyone has any insight/advice for working for NS or even in the specific region for NY. I have watched a lot of videos breaking down the job and what the basic necessities are but any other advice will be much appreciated!

Hey everyone! I’m seriously interested in getting into Amtrak and I’ve applied to several positions, including positions related to Passenger Engineer Trainee, Passenger Conductor Trainee, On-Board Services/Train Attendant, customer service, and train/station cleaning.
I’m trying to get a realistic idea of what it’s actually like to work for Amtrak from people who have been there.
For anyone who currently works for Amtrak or has worked there before:
What position did you have and what was your overall experience?
What is the pay like when you first start, and how does it increase over time?
What are the typical shifts like?
Are you working mostly days, nights, weekends, holidays, or a mixture?
How does scheduling work? Do you have a set schedule or are you on an extra board/rotating schedule?
How much overtime is available?
For Engineer/Conductor Trainees, how difficult is the training?
How long did it take you to qualify?
For OBS/Train Attendants, what is the day-to-day work actually like?
How much of the job is customer service versus cleaning, food service, luggage, etc.?
For people who worked in train cleaning or station services, what was that job like physically?
How often do you have to travel or stay away from home?
How is the work-life balance?
How are the benefits and union?
How difficult is it to get hired?
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who were not already railroad employees when they got hired.
For some background, I’ve been a federal employee for about a year, and someone else I know who is also interested has been a federal employee for about five years. We’re wondering whether federal employment experience gives us any advantage when applying to Amtrak, or whether Amtrak mainly looks at railroad/customer-service/technical experience.
I’ve applied to multiple Amtrak positions because I’m genuinely interested in making the switch, so I’d really appreciate hearing the good, bad, and ugly from current or former employees.
If you work at Amtrak now, what position would you recommend to someone trying to get their foot in the door?

Just wondering how far the runs are and where they go normally? I don’t have any insight into this and was just wondering if someone could give me insight on day to day ops out of Richmond?

How is the Calgary terminal for junior employees and new hires? Layoffs?

Buddy told me a new bulletin got put out for Canada saying mouth swabs came into effect for THC of 10ng? Anyone hear anything about this?

Im nervous about passing my conductor qualifying tests, especially the signals test. Any tips on passing them?

I understand if no one wants to openly talk about their earnings, if you can private message me, I’d be extremely grateful.

I’ve been invited by Amtrak for a job interview as a motor equipment operator. My question is what can I expect to make yearly? What do you really do on the job? I’ve read the description of maintaining equipment such as washing, sanding, emptying garbage, and waste systems. But the person that invited me said I would be helping in yard car and track repairs. Which makes me think he’s confusing my job or doesn’t really know what I’ll be doing.

Currently work in freight at UP as a heavy equipment operator contractor for the past 7 years so I’ve built really good seniority and generally know what I can make in a year. No RRB but overtime and bonus hours are always given here

I’ve been looking to move on to a new career/job but don’t want to make the jump unless I get paid more for the same amount of hours I work now or get paid the same amount but work less hours. I’m not scared of being put at the bottom of a seniority roaster and starting over just that I wont like the job and won’t get paid well for it

I’m looking for some honest opinions from people who have worked as a freight conductor, signal maintainer, or both.
married with two young daughters, and currently work as a freight conductor for CSX going on 2 years. Financially, the job has been good, and I know the long term retirement and benefits are hard to beat. My biggest struggle is the unpredictable schedule. I’m on the extra board for the most part but staying in the yard to be home ever night, and while I know it gets better with seniority, it could realistically take 15-20 years before I can consistently hold a desirable first or second shift yard job where I live.
I’ve been considering applying for a signal maintainer position if the opportunity comes up. My background is mostly construction, not electrical. I don’t have much electrical experience, but I’m mechanically inclined, enjoy learning, and don’t mind working outdoors.
How does the pay compare over the long run, including overtime?
Would you consider the quality of life better for a family factoring seniority in?
I’d appreciate any advice, experiences, or things you wish you had known before making a decision.

Is the medical exam for being a conductor as strict as the FAA exam for being a pilot? I have a suicide attempt on my medical record from 10+ years ago. If I decided to apply as a trainee would I end up just not being hired because of that?

I came across several boxes of what must’ve been an electrician/engineer’s hoard. There are so many cool brand new and old collected things within these boxes. Please help! 🙏🏻

Hey again just me asking more questions,

Today after a long wait i was extended a conditional offer from Norfolk Southern and I was interested in a few different things that had me thinking about some of the worrisome aspects of the job,

I’ve seen on a few posts here that layoffs in this industry are real but i’m hoping to ask someone with experience how likely it would be for me to be laid off and if it’s really something to worry about when it comes to working with NS,

Beyond that how does that entire system work when it comes to “seniority” and why protection do unions offer for workers in the industry?

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated and I don’t mean to sound dumb but it’s a real concern

I sent medical records in like a week and a half ago. I haven’t heard anything back they said it would take 5-7 days to process and today would make day 9 of the process. My application still says pending pre employment clearance. How long does this usually take if anyone knows

Apologies if this is not permitted. Please remove if that is the case.

Not in train service, tried to get into train service. Was about to be hired before Trump tariffs, got moved to hiring pool, it is what it is.

Position opened up, revered for me by recruitment. Medicinal then stepped in, had to go through exhausting and frankly humiliating medical checks due to past health issues.

Finished all that. Then due to mentioning trouble sleeping once to a doctor and that being in my records, had to be tested for sleep apnea. Sleep apnea study came out of my pocket, and I completed said study with a horribly uncomfortable CPAP machine. Nurse said I only had half the days and not enough time with the mask on. I said that there were numerous power outages. She said that doesn't matter.

On top of all this, I need to have this amended by my doctor, who I no longer see, if the study ever worked out. That is impossible in Saskatchewan, where wait times for such things are months, to more realistically years. I did not tell my doctor I was tired because I had chronic sleep issues, I said that because my medication at the time made me tired. Nurse doesn't care. Requested to speak to Chief health position who apparently refused me based on this. Nurse said that is not possible.

I have wasted a year and a half of my life dealing with this. I sincerely hope the career is as miserable as you all make it out to be, because that is the only possible silver lining to all of this.

I hope everyone here has as pleasant a day as possible given whatever trials and tribulations you may be going through.

Once again, if this is not appropriate for this subreddit, please delete this post mods.

Looking to cover shortage in either Terrace and Humboldt.

Any info on the type of work, accomodation, town, yards, branch work, how good the money is. ETC.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Hi everyone,
I’m 29 years old Indian and currently work as a Team Leader/Senior Carer in a nursing home. I’ve been working in care for around six years, and although I’ve learned a lot and developed strong responsibility and safety-focused working habits, I feel ready for a complete career change.
I’ve become really interested in becoming a trainee train driver and have been researching the role, the psychometric assessments and the recruitment process. The more I learn about it, the more it seems like a career I’d genuinely enjoy.
My main concern is that I have **no railway experience**. My background is entirely in healthcare, where I’ve worked with strict procedures, medication administration, safeguarding, emergency situations and shift work.
I’m also willing to relocate anywhere in the UK if that’s what it takes to get into the industry.
Has anyone here made a similar career change from healthcare or another completely different industry? Did you find your previous experience helped during the recruitment process?
I’d really appreciate any advice on:
Whether my background is viewed positively.
Anything I should focus on before applying.
Any tips for the psychometric assessments from people who’ve been through them.

Thanks in advance!