Profession rail operations manager

Rail operations managers are concerned with overseeing, designing, and controlling the processes of transport operation. Rail operation managers may work for rail operators concerning tasks such as managing the safe and efficient operation of transport services including customer relation tasks or the management of staff and work organisation in this field. Rail operation managers employed by infrastructure operators manage the efficient and safe use of the network. This includes the planning of timetables and the allocation of slots to customers. They plan the construction and maintenance work. 

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Personality Type

• Enterprising / Conventional

Knowledge

• Rail infrastructure

  Thoroughly understand the characteristics of railway infrastructure: rail technologies, track gauges, rail signalling, rail junctions, etc.

• Health and safety measures in transportation

  The body of rules, procedures and regulations related to health and safety measures intended to prevent accidents or incidents in transportation.

• 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.

• 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.

• Rail disruption management

  Thoroughly understand the conditions, causes, and effects of rail disruption or derailment, and of degraded mode operations including tasks and tools.

• Modern power signalling systems

  Understand traditional and modern signalling systems; operate railway signalling systems.

• Project management

  Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.

• Train planning

  Thoroughly understand the techniques, procedures, and tools used to compose a train timetable; know various types of train plans; identify possible constraints to be considered in planning activities.

• Rail project financing

  Thoroughly understand the ways in which railway projects are financed, such as public, private, and public-private partnership financing, including all the type of stakeholders that may be involved.

Skills

• Ensure customer focus

  Attitude that puts customers at the centre of the business in all cases.

• Comply with legal regulations

  Ensure you are properly informed of the legal regulations that govern a specific activity and adhere to its rules, policies and laws.

• Manage staff

  Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.

• Perform rail operations risk management

  Identify risk factors related to various areas of rail operations; develop valid strategies to mitigate these risks.

• Assess performance of rail operations

  Assess the best practices in the railway industry, and devise strategies to improve performance.

• Plan railway incident mitigation measures

  Plan, anticipate, and develop mitigation measures to respond to rail incidents, unexpected situations, and emergencies.

• Develop staff

  Lead employees to meet the organisations expectations for productivity, quality and goal accomplishment. Provide effective performance feedback through employee recognition and reward in conjunction with the Human Resources Manager as required

• Manage budgets

  Plan, monitor and report on the budget.

• 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.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB