ANZSCO Work Type Detail Sheets

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Railway Track Plant Operator

721914 · Heavy Next-day ready
Career data Close match

Rail operators move wagons and locomotives between railway tracks to keep train traffic organised and on schedule.

Most common salary $82k – $110k
Upper salary up to $135k
Training 0-1 year
View on Tahatū ↗ Data: Tahatū Career Navigator, CC BY 4.0
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Description

Operates plant to lay, align, repair and maintain railway tracks.

Typical work tasks

  • Drives plant to lay, align and carry out maintenance work on railway tracks; maintains equipment.

Typical work environment

  • Works in a vehicle operating cab.
  • Works in all but extreme weather conditions.
  • Usually operates as part of a railway track team.

Typical physical and mental demands

  • Sedentary to heavy physical work demand
  • Climbs up steps to enter and to exit plant.
  • Sits/stands to operate plant.
  • Uses upper limbs and body to stretch down and across to operate controls.
  • Twists body or neck when reversing or observing results of work.
  • Significant contact with water or skin irritants is not required.
  • Lifting or carrying may be required in relation to hand tools for carrying out minor repair work.
  • Frequent repetitive hand, arm and leg/foot movements and pushing/pulling are required to perform the tasks necessary.
  • Driving is frequently to constantly required.
  • Squatting, crouching, kneeling and bending movements may be occasionally required for machine maintenance.
  • Use of hand tools or equipment is occasionally required for machine and line maintenance.
  • Mental skills necessary include machine operation, practical and technical skills.
Entry signal Model estimate

Enter via experience or on-the-job training; no mandatory pre-entry qualification. A licence may be required for some roles or employers. Flagged next-day ready.

Entry barrier Experience or on-job training
Licence / registration Licence may be required
ANZSCO skill level 4
Next-day ready Yes

Unverified — this label is model-generated and not yet clinician-reviewed. Confirm against the WTDS before relying on it.

How this was determined (model-generated): Rail track worker/ganger: on-the-job training sufficient; rail-corridor safety certification is employer-provided/non-universal => may_be_required; next_day true permitted; proposal stands (borderline).

Entry Requirements

  • A New Zealand Register Level 2 or 3 qualification or at least one year of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 4). In some instances relevant experience may be required in addition to the formal qualification. For entry-level positions on-the-job training may be sufficient.
  • Registration or licensing may be required.

Further Comments

  • There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.