Overview — Why Railway & Metro Jobs in Canada Are on the Rise in 2025
Canada’s rail & metro sector is experiencing a major employment uptake in 2025 thanks to unprecedented infrastructure investments, urban transit expansions, light-rail projects, metro upgrades, and freight / passenger rail growth. With major agencies like Metrolinx in Ontario, TransLink in British Columbia, and national operators such as VIA Rail Canada recruiting broadly, there are dozens of high-salary jobs across operations, maintenance, signalling, infrastructure, customer service, station management and rail project support.
Whether you’re fresh out of college, a journeyperson technician, or an experienced rail professional, this sector offers strong wages, unionised benefits, career-progression, and the chance to work on some of Canada’s biggest transit and infrastructure projects — from metro extensions in Toronto to light-rail builds in Calgary to freight-rail expansions in Western Canada.
Top Job Roles in Railway & Metro (2025 Canada)
- Train Operator / Locomotive Engineer: Operating passenger or freight trains, ensuring safety, signalling compliance.
- Transit Rail Operator / Metro Driver: Driving automated or manual metro/subway/light-rail trains with high frequency service.
- Rail Maintenance Technician (Track, Signal, Overhead): Maintenance of rails, sleepers, catenary, switchgear, signals.
- Signalling & Communications Technician: Installing, maintaining and troubleshooting railways’ signalling, telecom, SCADA systems.
- Customer Service & Station Staff: Metro station attendants, information desks, fare-gate management, accessibility assistance.
- Rail Infrastructure Engineer & Project Coordinator: Planning upgrades, extensions, civil works, tunnels, metros, LRVs.
- Ramp / Yard Crew / Railcar Technician: Intermodal yard operations, coupling/uncoupling, switching, inspections.
- Maintenance Planner / Reliability Engineer: Preventive maintenance scheduling, asset lifecycle, condition monitoring.
- Depot / Workshop Supervisor: Supervision of major transit/rail maintenance workshops, shift leads, safety leadership.
- Station Manager / Duty Manager: Responsible for station operations, safety, customer-flow, emergency response.
Eligibility & Core Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Education | High School (Grade 12) minimum; Diploma/Certificate for many technician roles; Bachelor’s for engineers |
| Experience | 0-2 yrs for entry (station/customer service); 3-7 yrs for technicians / operators; 8+ yrs for senior roles |
| Language | English required; French bilingual preferred in Quebec-region and national roles |
| Certifications | Rail safety rules (CROR/TC), Transit Operator Licence, Signal Technician Certification, OHS training |
| Fitness / Safety | Able to work shift roster, outdoors, potentially heavy lifting, confined spaces |
| Security Clearance | Some rail/metro jobs require background check and transit-safety clearance |
| Driver License | Class 5 driver’s licence minimum; heavy vehicle licence for yard/locomotive roles |
Salary Table — Railway & Metro Jobs Canada (2025)
Below are approximate monthly earnings converted from hourly norms in Canadian rail/metro: actual wages can vary by province, union, job classification and shift premium.
| Position | Monthly Salary (CAD) | Shift/OT | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Station Staff / Customer Service | CAD 4,000 – 5,800 | Yes | Urban metro station attendant, shift roster |
| Rail-Yard / Yard Switcher Crew | CAD 4,800 – 7,000 | Yes | Freight yard tech, coupling/uncoupling, evening/weekend |
| Train Operator / Metro Driver | CAD 6,000 – 9,000+ | Yes | Union job, shift premium, senior scale |
| Maintenance Technician (Track/Signal) | CAD 5,500 – 8,500 | Yes | Certified tech, shift + inclement weather |
| Signal & Communication Tech | CAD 6,200 – 9,500 | Yes/Project | High-skill, multilingual roles pay more |
| Workshop Supervisor / Depot Lead | CAD 7,000 – 10,500 | Yes | Supervision + maintenance planning |
| Infrastructure Engineer / Project Coordinator | CAD 8,000 – 12,000+ | Project driven | Large LRT/subway extension roles |
CAD 4,000 ───────── Station / Entry CAD 6,000 ───────── Technicians / Yard CAD 9,000 ───────── Operators / Signal Tech CAD 12,000+ ───── Project / Senior Roles
Major Cities & Transit Agencies Hiring (2025)
Toronto & Greater Toronto Area (GTA, Ontario)
The region is undergoing major transit upgrades including the Ontario Line, GO Expansion, TTC and Metrolinx projects. Opportunities in train/metro operations, signalling, infrastructure and station staffing with Metrolinx and TTC. Apply via Metrolinx Careers and Indeed – Toronto Rail Jobs.
Vancouver & Metro Vancouver Region (British Columbia)
Transit expansions include SkyTrain extensions, light-rail and new line projects. Jobs available with TransLink and operating companies. Check TransLink Careers for station, operator, technician and infrastructure roles.
Montréal & Québec Region (Quebec)
Metro/rail roles in bilingual environment. Agencies such as Réseau Express Métropolitain and rail freight companies are recruiting. Use national job boards and the rail-association list at Railway Association of Canada (RAC). Check RAC Job Boards.
Calgary, Edmonton & Alberta Region
Light-rail expansions and freight rail operations in Alberta are hiring for signalling, track maintenance, field techs, and yard crews. Use regional job portals and railway association listings.
Winnipeg, Manitoba & Prairie Provinces
Freight rail hubs like Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) hire yard crews, locomotive engineers, maintenance techs and track labourers. Use national rail career links via Transport Canada.
Key Employers & Career Links (2025 Canada Rail/Transit)
| Employer | Focus Area | Careers Link |
|---|---|---|
| Metrolinx | Transit Authority – GTA Ontario | metrolinx.com/careers |
| TransLink | Transit Authority – Metro Vancouver BC | translink.ca/about-us/careers |
| VIA Rail Canada | National Passenger Rail | careers.viarail.ca |
| Canadian National Railway (CN) | Freight Rail | jobs.cn.ca |
| Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) | Freight Rail | jobs.cpkc.com |
| Alstom Canada | Rolling Stock & Systems | alstom.com/careers |
| Hitachi Rail | Rail Systems & Infrastructure | hitachirail.com/careers |
| Railway Association of Canada (RAC) | Industry Listing | railcan.ca/job-board |
Where to Apply — Trusted Portals
- Indeed Canada — Metro & Rail Jobs
- LinkedIn — Railway Jobs Canada
- Government of Canada Job Bank — Rail Transportation
- Railway Association of Canada Job Board
Career Growth & Training Landscape
The Canadian rail & metro sector offers defined career ladders. For example: Station Attendant → Metro Driver → Senior Operator → Duty Manager; or Maintenance Tech → Signal Specialist → Workshop Supervisor → Maintenance Manager. Upskilling via apprenticeships, certification (Signal Tech, CROR rules, Transit Operator licence), and exposure to large-scale infrastructure projects (e.g., GO Expansion, Metro Vancouver SkyTrain extensions) accelerate growth. As per the government, “railway employees earn around CAD 99,000 a year” on average for many roles.
High-EPC Application Tips (Tailored for Canada Rail/MRT Jobs)
- Apply directly on employer career portals (e.g., Metrolinx, TransLink, VIA Rail) – skip third-party agencies.
- Use keywords: “rail operations”, “metro driver”, “signal technician”, “transit yard”, “track maintenance”, “CROR”, “light-rail”, “urban rail”, “fleet maintenance”.
- Highlight shift flexibility, ability to work outdoors, physical ability to lift, heavy-vehicle licence if applicable, and safety-first mindset.
- Attach certifications: railway rules (CROR), transit operator licence, heavy-duty vehicle certification, signalling qualification, first aid/CPR.
- Emphasize project experience (e.g., metro line expansion), high reliability/attendance, live rail/track experience, and teamwork in 24×7 rail environment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) What Is the Average Salary For Railway & Metro Jobs in Canada?
Entry station/customer service roles start at around CAD 4,000-5,800/month. Technicians and yard crew typically earn CAD 5,500-8,500/month. Metro drivers and signal specialists often earn CAD 6,000-9,000+ per month and senior project/infrastructure engineers can earn CAD 8,000-12,000+ per month. According to Transport Canada, many railway employees earn around CAD 99,000/year.
2) Which Canadian Cities Have The Most Rail/Metro Jobs?
Major hubs are the Toronto GTA (Ontario Line, GO Expansion), Metro Vancouver (SkyTrain extension), Montréal/Québec region, Calgary/Edmonton, and freight rail hubs in Prairie provinces (Winnipeg, Alberta).
3) Can Freshers Apply For These Roles?
Yes — many metro agencies and rail companies run apprenticeship and entry-level programs for station staff, yard crew, and train operator cadets. Technician roles may require trade certification or rail apprenticeship.
4) Do I Need Shift-Work Reliability? And What About Overtime?
Yes. Rail and metro operations are 24/7. Expect rotating shifts (morning, evening, nights), weekend work, and overtime during peak/maintenance windows. Willingness to work odd hours boosts hiring chances.
5) How Do I Boost My Chances of Getting Hired?
Get certified: railway rules (CROR), Transit Operator Licence, signalling/communication certificates. Show willingness for shift work. Highlight physical fitness, heavy-vehicle licence (if yard/engine role), and reliability. Use rail-specific terminology in resume and apply via official portals.