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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
The 41% risk score reflects the overall automation risk of your profession on a scale of 0–100. The higher the score, the more likely parts of your role could be handled by AI, increasing efficiency, but also raising the possibility of job disruption. Nearly all jobs include tasks that are automatable to some degree.
In this role, you operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. may couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. watch for and relay traffic signals. may inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes. may watch for dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way. Your job is considered Low Risk for AI automation.
Below is your job's AI vulnerability profile with detailed breakdowns of tasks, knowledge areas, skills, and abilities. Each item includes AI risk scores and importance ratings to help you prioritize what to focus on. Plus, explore the technology section to see what tools and software you'll likely encounter in this role.
You're already ahead of the curve by checking your risk and exploring your options. This project goes beyond one role, we’re building a global job warning system to help everyone stay ahead of AI. By supporting our research, you’ll unlock your full job profile, including detailed risk breakdowns, trend alerts, and priority access to new research. Supporting our research not only gives you deeper insights into your own role, it helps us keep this project alive for millions of others navigating the future of work, but don't worry, if you are not ready to support us, we provide enough free insights to get you started.
In the meantime explore the sections below, and don't miss the What to do next? section for practical steps you can start today.
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On the job, you would
On-the-job activities and responsibilities that define your role. Each task is analyzed for automation potential and contributes to your overall AI risk assessment.
Monitoring train signals could be automated with AI, but human verification remains important for safety and error-checking.
This task requires real-time communication and coordination, which involves human judgment and adaptability, making full automation challenging.
While AI can control equipment, the physical act of pulling or pushing switches requires human intervention for safety and precision.
Coordinating work activities through signals requires human interaction and judgment, which are difficult to automate fully.
Monitoring trains for potential problems involves human observation and judgment, which are not easily replaced by AI.
Inspecting equipment for secure fastening requires human sensory input and judgment, making it less automatable.
Detecting track obstructions involves human observation and quick decision-making, which are challenging for AI to replicate.
Operating locomotives in emergencies requires human judgment and adaptability, which are difficult for AI to automate.
The physical task of coupling and uncoupling cars involves human dexterity and judgment, making full automation challenging.
Knowledge
Theoretical knowledge and understanding required for your position. Knowledge areas are evaluated for AI replacement likelihood and factor into your risk score.
Administration and Management
2.13RiskAdministration and Management involve repetitive, data-driven tasks (e.g., scheduling, reporting, workflow automation) that AI can handle efficiently, while strategic decision-making remains partially human-centric.
Customer and Personal Service
2.77RiskThis domain includes both routine customer service tasks (automatable) and personal interaction needs (less automatable), with AI likely to handle 60% of potential automation in the next five years.
Computers and Electronics
2.01RiskThe domain involves repetitive manufacturing, testing, and customer support tasks that AI can automate, with growing capabilities in complex design and analysis tasks.
Mechanical
3.3RiskMechanical tasks involve both routine (e.g., simulation, design) and complex (e.g., physical intuition, creative problem-solving) elements, with AI capable of automating data-driven aspects but limited in handling novel, non-repetitive challenges.
Mathematics
2.17RiskAI already excels in computational mathematics, theorem proving, and problem-solving, with further advancements likely to automate more complex tasks in the next five years.
Physics
2.02RiskPhysics involves repetitive tasks like data analysis, simulations, and mathematical modeling that AI can automate efficiently, though creative theory development remains a human-centric aspect.
Psychology
2.29Psychology involves complex, subjective human behaviors and emotional understanding that AI struggles to replicate, though some data analysis tasks may be automated.
Skills
Practical abilities and competencies you need to perform your job effectively. Skills are assessed for automation vulnerability and help determine your AI risk level.
Reading Comprehension
3.12Active Listening
3.25Writing
2.62Speaking
2.88Mathematics
2.12Critical Thinking
3.25Active Learning
2.62Learning Strategies
2.62Monitoring
3.5Abilities
Innate and learned capabilities that enable you to succeed in your role. Abilities are analyzed for AI replication potential and contribute to your overall risk assessment.
Oral Comprehension
3.62RiskOral comprehension involves nuanced understanding of speech, context, and tone, which AI is advancing but not yet fully automated in complex real-world scenarios.
Written Comprehension
3.25RiskWritten comprehension involves tasks like text analysis, summarization, and question-answering, which AI already excels at through advanced NLP models. These capabilities are likely to be fully automated within 5 years.
Oral Expression
3.25RiskOral Expression involves complex, context-dependent communication that requires nuance, adaptability, and real-time interaction, which current AI systems struggle to fully replicate, though some aspects like script generation may be automated.
Written Expression
2.88RiskWritten Expression involves nuanced understanding, creativity, and context, which AI can partially replicate but not fully, limiting automation potential in complex or original tasks.
Fluency of Ideas
2.38Fluency of Ideas involves complex, context-dependent creativity and adaptability that current AI lacks, even with advancements in generative models.
Originality
2.5Originality requires creative insight and novel synthesis of ideas, which AI currently lacks, though it may generate novel content based on patterns rather than true originality.
Problem Sensitivity
3.5Problem Sensitivity requires nuanced judgment, contextual understanding, and adaptability, which current AI systems lack. While AI can analyze data, true problem sensitivity involves human intuition, ethics, and creativity.
Deductive Reasoning
3.25RiskAI excels in structured deductive tasks but may struggle with complex, context-dependent reasoning requiring human intuition.
Inductive Reasoning
3.25RiskInductive reasoning involves pattern recognition and generalization, which AI already excels at through machine learning, with further advancements likely to enhance this capability in the next five years.
Technology Used
Tools, software, and technological systems you use in your work.
Expert Insights
Expert comments on the job, click on the expert to see their answers.
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What to do next?
Great news — your role is fairly safe for now, but it's smart to stay proactive. Choose your strategy below:
Recommended for Low Risk:
- • Upskill: Focus on human-centric skills that AI can't easily replicate (creativity, emotional intelligence, strategic thinking)
- • Use AI: Learn to leverage AI tools to enhance your productivity and stay ahead of the curve
- • Stay Alert: Monitor changes in your field to maintain your competitive advantage
Each tab contains curated resources designed to help you take the next step. More resources will be added over time.
Top Learning Platforms

Coursera
Unlimited access to 2,000+ courses from top universities.

LinkedIn Learning
Short, practical videos for on-the-job upskilling.

ADPList
Free global mentorship from experienced professionals in design, product, and tech.

Skillshare
Hands-on creative workshops to build your portfolio.

Udemy
Affordable deep dives on tech, leadership & more.
Top Learning Platforms

Coursera
Unlimited access to 2,000+ courses from top universities.

LinkedIn Learning
Short, practical videos for on-the-job upskilling.

ADPList
Free global mentorship from experienced professionals in design, product, and tech.

Skillshare
Hands-on creative workshops to build your portfolio.

Udemy
Affordable deep dives on tech, leadership & more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, a Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers has a 41% AI risk score, which is considered low risk. While some tasks in this role may be automated, the profession as a whole is for now, relatively safe from complete replacement. The key is understanding which specific aspects of your job are most vulnerable, some of which are shown on this page.
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