How to become a railway conductor, brakeman or woman
Official title: Railway conductors and brakemen/women
Also called: Train conductor, Pullman conductor, Railway conductor, Sleeping car conductor, Freight train conductor, Brakeman/woman - railway, Conductor - railway yard, Conductor - road freight, Passenger train conductor, Conductor - switching yard, Brakeman/woman - railway yard, Brakeman/woman
Railway conductors coordinate and supervise the activities of passenger and freight train crew members. Brakemen check train brakes and other systems and equipment prior to train run, and assist railway conductors in activities en route. They are employed by railway transport companies.
Main tasks
- Railway conductors
- Supervise and coordinate the activities of passenger and freight train crew members (except locomotive engineers) to ensure train operations are in accordance with schedule, train orders and code of operating rules
- Receive train orders and explain orders to brakemen/women, locomotive engineer and other crew members
- Communicate with train crew members by radio, signals or by other means to give and receive train operation information
- Collect fares on board passenger trains, announce approaching train stops and answer passenger enquiries
- Prepare train run reports
- Brakemen/women
- Check train systems and equipment such as air conditioning and heating systems, brakes and brake hoses prior to train run
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Experience as a brakeman/woman is required for conductors. Experience as a railway worker is usually required for brakemen/women. Railway conductors require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate. Brakemen/women require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $84,377 a year The middle half earn $69,225 to $94,068.
- About 5,700 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 6,000 are projected by 2033. (+5.3%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a railway conductor, brakeman or woman?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Experience as a brakeman/woman is required for conductors. Experience as a railway worker is usually required for brakemen/women. Railway conductors require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate. Brakemen/women require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
How much does a railway conductor, brakeman or woman earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $84,377 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $69,225 to $94,068.
Is a railway conductor, brakeman or woman a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2033, from about 5,700 to about 6,000 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a railway conductor, brakeman or woman?
Usually not. Only 10% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03