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How exposed to AI is a Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operator?

Of the 26 tasks O*NET lists for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators, 0 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 26 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Machine OperatorRail Maintenance WorkerTrack Equipment Operator (TEO)Track InspectorTrack LaborerTrack MaintainerTrack RepairerTrack WalkerTrackman
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
26
tasks rated for this occupation
0%
hold a degree, from a survey of 22
21k
people do this job in the US
54 of 61
least protected in construction

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Cannot be sped up

26
  • Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported
  • Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts
  • Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs
  • Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks
  • Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails
  • Operate track wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together
  • Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws
  • Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels
  • Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills
  • Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes
  • Clean, grade, or level ballast on railroad tracks
  • Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement
  • Adjust controls of machines that spread, shape, raise, level, or align track, according to specifications
  • Dress and reshape worn or damaged railroad switch points or frogs, using portable power grinders
  • Clean or make minor repairs to machines or equipment
  • Grind ends of new or worn rails to attain smooth joints, using portable grinders
  • Operate single- or multiple-head spike pullers to pull old spikes from ties
  • String and attach wire-guidelines machine to rails so that tracks or rails can be aligned or leveled
  • Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges
  • Drive graders, tamping machines, brooms, or ballast spreading machines to redistribute gravel or ballast between rails
  • Drive vehicles that automatically move and lay tracks or rails over sections of track to be constructed, repaired, or maintained
  • Turn wheels of machines, using lever controls, to adjust guidelines for track alignments or grades, following specifications
  • Push controls to close grasping devices on track or rail sections so that they can be raised or moved
  • Operate tie-adzing machines to cut ties and permit insertion of fishplates that hold rails
  • Paint railroad signs, such as speed limits or gate-crossing warnings
  • Spray ties, fishplates, or joints with oil to protect them from weathering
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.