M

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Operates regional public transit network

Rail Traffic Controller Trainee

Full-TimeUpdated Deadline 11/4/26
$33.64 - $58.07/hr
Mid
New York, NY, USA
In PersonOn-site console work; assignments require availability for various hours, days, and shifts at Grand Central Terminal.
Operations & Logistics

About the job

Requirements
  • A high school diploma, General Equivalency Diploma (GED), or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) is required.
  • External applicants must meet at least one of these qualifications: one year as a qualified Air Traffic Controller; one year as a railroad employee in a position requiring comparable Book of Rules qualification; five years as a logistics manager or another position with directly related transferable skills in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment; or related education resulting in a transportation degree, such as an associate degree or higher in Air Traffic Control, Train Dispatch, or a related field.
  • Active Metro-North employees must meet at least one of these qualifications: one year of work experience in an Operating Division craft requiring qualification on the Rules of the Operating Department (Book of Rules Qualification); three years of railroad experience not requiring Book of Rules Qualification; or one year in the employee’s current position or craft after satisfying formal training and lock-in requirements, combined with any one external-applicant qualification.
  • The employee must become qualified in the rules of the Operating Department and is subject to hours-of-service rules.
  • Applicants must be able to work various hours, days, and shifts in Grand Central Terminal.
  • Applicants must be able to exercise independent judgment, anticipate and analyze problems, take corrective action, maintain attentiveness, evaluate situations, make quick decisions under pressure, multitask, function under changing priorities, and comprehend written material.
  • Knowledge of operating and safety rules and physical characteristics is required; applicants must be safety-conscious.
  • Excellent communication skills are required, including written and verbal communication.
  • Color vision is required to read track layouts and switch indicators.
  • Applicants must pass a background investigation and verbal interview; a written and practical examination may apply. A physical ability test may also be required, and a conditional offer may require a medical examination, which may include toxicological testing.
  • Current Metro-North employees must be in active service. Agreement employees applying outside their present craft must have worked in their current union for at least one year before the application deadline and completed any agreed formal training commitment, including on-the-job training or lock-in requirements. Non-agreement employees must have worked in their current position for at least one year before the application deadline.
  • Current employee applicants must have been in their current position for 12 months before starting a new role and must have a satisfactory work history, including attendance and discipline record. Employees are also subject to an internal investigation that evaluates, among other things, discipline records and performance assessments.
Responsibilities
  • Safely and efficiently direct train and equipment movement within a specified territory by remotely activating switches, signals, clearance forms, and blocking devices.
  • Protect employees working on the right of way by removing tracks from service and restoring them to service.
  • Prepare and maintain accurate records related to train movements, track assignments, and other events.
  • Monitor radios, telephones, computer screens, and other equipment for train and track movements and other relevant information and issues in controlled territories.
  • Communicate information about train routing, track conditions, and special circumstances clearly, effectively, and according to protocol.
  • Maintain familiarity with train schedules, destinations, and departure and arrival times.
  • Coordinate track usage with the Maintenance of Way department.
  • Prepare information reporting on on-time performance and delays in controlled areas.
  • Manage unexpected and emergency events.
  • Work at a console in an office environment; perform duties in a fast-paced, highly visible environment with changing priorities and prolonged periods of sitting.

About the company

M

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

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MTA runs North America’s largest public transit network, serving about 15.3 million people across New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut through six agencies: NYC Transit, MTA Bus, LIRR, Metro-North, Bridges and Tunnels, and Construction & Development. It moves roughly 2.6 billion trips each year using subways, buses, commuter rails, bridges and tunnels, and related facilities. It differentiates itself by operating multiple transit modes under one umbrella, providing integrated services across districts and modes with extensive infrastructure. Its goal is to provide safe, clean, efficient public transportation that serves as the region’s lifeline and mobility backbone while supporting staff with solid benefits.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

1834

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What believers are saying

  • March 3, 2026, Judge Liman upheld congestion pricing, protecting a growing revenue stream.
  • June 2026 fare-gate deployments target fare evasion, a $350 million annual leakage source.
  • Phase 2 will add East Harlem access by 2032, strengthening the network’s core value.

What critics are saying

  • Subway weekday on-time performance fell to 82% in first-half 2026, eroding rider trust.
  • The MTA still needs $3 billion in savings for its $68.4 billion capital plan.
  • Federal funding fights continue; another Sean Duffy-style reversal could choke Phase 2 reimbursements.

What makes Metropolitan Transportation Authority unique

  • MTA controls New York’s integrated subways, buses, bridges, and commuter rails, unmatched in U.S. scale.
  • Congestion pricing generated $562 million in 2025, creating a dedicated funding engine for capital upgrades.
  • Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 broke ground June 2026, showing rare megaproject execution capacity.

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Benefits

  • Remote Work Options
  • Flexible Work Hours

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