Rail Careers
Get on the fast track to rail industry jobs.
Find and Apply for Railroad Jobs
The first recorded rail transit system dates back to the 6th century BCE. The industry has evolved from limestone tracks to wooden tracks, from steam engines
to driverless vehicles. Today, rail transport proudly facilitates economic growth as it carries large volumes of both passengers and cargo. Rail transportation
is the most cost effective and environmentally friendly mode of transit.
Obama's economic stimulus package has allocated an unprecedented $8.4 billion for public transit projects. In addition, hi-speed rail received $8 billion and there
is still another discretionary $1.5 billion for intermodal projects that that could be used for public transportation. The details are still being sorted out, but
this is clearly a good time to get passenger transportation back on track. With more money than ever being dedicated to the industry, it is an exciting time to watch
the future of this industry evolve and to imagine where we take rail transit next.
Where the Rail Industry Jobs Are
When you think of railroad jobs, you may first think of jobs on freight trains. But careers in the rail industry are also available in light rail transit, commuter rail, subways, and rapid rail transit.
Light Rail, Streetcars, Tramways or Trolley Cars are lightweight passenger rail cars operating in short trains on fixed rails. They transport fewer passengers per
trip than other rail forms, and operate within the realm of other traffic for much of the trip. Light rail vehicles are usually electric with power drawn from overhead
electric lines.
Light Rail systems in the US include:
- Baltimore, MD MTA (Maryland Transit Administration)
- Boston, MA MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority)
- Buffalo, NY Metro (Niagara Frontier Transit Metro System)
- Charlotte, NC CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System)
- Cleveland, OH RTA (Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority)
- Dallas, TX DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority)
- Denver, CO RTD (Regional Transportation District)
- Houston, TX Metro (Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County)
- Los Angeles, CA MTA (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority)
- Minneapolis, MN Metro Transit (MT)
- Newark, NJ NJT and NJT River LINE (New Jersey Transit Corporation)
- Philadelphia, PA SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority)
- Pittsburgh, PA PAAC (Port Authority of Allegheny County)
- Portland, OR Portland Streetcar (PS)
- TriMet (Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon)
- Sacramento, CA SRTD (Sacramento Regional Transit District)
- Saint Louis, MO Metro (Bi-State Development Agency)
- Salt Lake City, UT UTA (Utah Transit Authority)
- San Diego, CA SDT (San Diego Trolley)
- San Francisco, CA Muni (San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, San Francisco Municipal Railway)
- San Jose, CA VTA (Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority)
- Tacoma, WA Sound Transit (Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority)
Heavy Rail, Rapid Rail, Subway, Elevated Railway or Metro is high-speed passenger rail transport that operates on fixed rails in separate rights-of-way, away from all
other vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Heavy Rail systems in the US include:
- Atlanta, GA MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority)
- Baltimore, MD MTA (Maryland Transit Administration)
- Boston, MA MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority)
- Chicago, IL CTA (Chicago Transit Authority)
- Cleveland, OH RTA (Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority)
- Jersey City, NJ PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson)
- Lindenwold, NJ PATCO (Port Authority Transit Corporation of PA & NJ)
- Los Angeles, CA MTA (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority)
- Miami, FL MDTA (Miami-Dade Transit Agency)
- New York, NY NYCT (MTA New York City Transit)
- SIR (MTA Staten Island Railway)
- Oakland, CA BART (San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District)
- Philadelphia, PA SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority)
- Washington, DC Metro (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority)
Commuter Rail, Regional Rail or Suburban Rail is passenger rail service that operates between urban and suburban regions.
Commuter Rail systems in the US include:
- Albuquerque, NM RailRunner (New Mexico Rail Runner)
- Alexandria, VA VRE (Virginia Railway Express)
- Anchorage, AK ARC (Alaska Railroad Corporation)
- Baltimore, MD MARC (Maryland Transit Administration, MTA)
- Boston, MA MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority)
- Chesterton, IN NICTD (Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District)
- Chicago, IL METRA (Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation)
- Dallas, TX TRE (Trinity Railway Express)
- Los Angeles, CA Metrolink (Southern California Regional Rail Authority)
- Nashville, TN Music City Star (Regional Transportation Authority, RTA)
- New Haven, CT SLE (Connecticut Department of Transportation Shore Line East)
- New York, NY LIRR (MTA Long Island Rail Road)
- MNRR (MTA Metro-North Railroad)
- Newark, NJ NJT (New Jersey Transit Corporation)
- Oceanside, CA Coaster (North County Transit District, NCTD)
- Philadelphia, PA SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority)
- Pompano Beach, FL Tri-Rail (South Florida Regional Transportation Authority)
- San Carlos, CA CALTRAIN (Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board)
- Seattle, WA Sound Transit (Central Puget Sound Regional Transportation Authority)
- Stockton, CA ACE (Altamont Commuter Express)

