As technology continues to transform the rail industry, the skills Class 1 railroads seek when hiring new talent in Communications and Signals (C&S) are also evolving. Once rooted in manual systems and legacy infrastructure, C&S roles now demand both traditional rail knowledge and fluency in modern technology.
This challenge was addressed at Railway Interchange, taking place in Indianapolis 20-22 May 2025. During the opening panel discussion, representatives from the Class 1 railroads discussed the skill sets they are looking for when hiring new employees in the sector.
CN Railway
Tom Hilliard at CN Railway highlighted the growing challenge of finding qualified workers across the US and Canada. Despite the rise in technical innovations, physical labour remains a key element of working on the railroad. However, he noted that candidates often lack basic hands-on experience for physical tasks, such as using a shovel, which raises concerns about their readiness.
Hilliard expressed the belief that a reliable indicator of work ethic is a background with hands-on, practical experience, as these people often turn out to be the most dependable and hardworking hires.
Take a look a jobs with CN Railway here.
Conrail
Steve Vant at Conrail highlighted that the number one priority in hiring is finding people who are willing to work and understand the importance of the job. He acknowledged that working on the railroad can be a tough but fulfilling job, and candidates need to know that upfront.
Vant emphasised that attitude matters more than technical skills. He stated that those with a positive mindset, trustworthiness, and loyalty often make the best hires. Even if they lack technical knowledge initially, railroads can teach the skills—what can’t be taught as easily is the right mindset and commitment.
Vant said:Step one is simply finding someone who wants to work—knowing this is not an easy job: it’s a tough, dirty, but fulfilling job.
Job openings at Conrail can be found here.
Union Pacific Railway
Jay McAndrew at Union Pacific Railway echoed the importance of a positive work ethic, reemphasising that the sector provides demanding but rewarding jobs. To find such people, McAndrew asserted his belief that referrals go a long way in helping an employer to put faith in a potential candidate.
In addition, McAndrew also downplayed the need for considerable technical knowledge, as Union Pacific has robust training programmes that teach the necessary skills based on practical learning.
McAndrew said:Desire and work ethic matter more than anything—we can teach people signalling.
Search Union Pacific jobs here.
BNSF
Likewise, Jerad Fritz at BNSF Railway stressed the need for prospective employees to truly want the job. To succeed in railroad signalling roles, motivation and work ethic are essential in complementing the necessary troubleshooting skills.
Fritz also acknowledged that an ideal employee would be willing to relocate, as the demands of working on the railroad do not always suit homebodies who are reluctant to move elsewhere. This can hinder career progression and lead to staff turnover.
Careers at BNSF can be viewed here.
Amtrak
Stephen Bagosy at Amtrak stated that workforce retention is a challenge, especially with the younger generation, who often have no hesitation about jumping between jobs and pursuing new opportunities. However, he noted that the ones who do stay and succeed are often those who move between locations to learn new technologies, gaining experience that can prepare them for future leadership roles.
Information about careers at Amtrak can be found here.
Norfolk Southern Railway
Jared Hopewell at NS Railway also stressed that success in the role requires taking ownership and truly embracing the responsibilities. When issues arise, companies often focus on training, but what’s equally important is a candidate’s willingness and ability to be trained.
In addition, Hopewell expressed a concern that many workers aim to be just good enough to keep their job, rather than striving for excellence. The most successful employees are those who actively engage in self-training and go beyond the minimum, demonstrating strong attitude and personal accountability.
Search for jobs with Norfolk Southern here.
CSX Transportation
John Parr at CSX Transportation agreed that hiring for C&S roles can be difficult because the ideal candidate now needs a blend of technical knowledge and hands-on ability, which is a rare combination.
However, one clear indicator of a strong candidate is passion—which usually shows quickly in an interview. When someone is genuinely excited about the work, you can tell right away they’re likely to be a great hire. For Parr, the challenge is not recognising whether someone is a good fit, but is getting the right candidates in front of you in the first place.
Parr said:When you see the person, you know—it’s really about passion. The person that comes in and says, ‘I’m passionate about this,’ that shows in an interview pretty quickly.
Find out more about working at CSX here.
Building a Workforce
Overall, these perspectives highlight the need for passion and a strong work ethic over technical knowledge when pursuing C&S jobs on the railroad. Moderator Carl Walker at CSX Transportation summarised that an ideal candidate needs to have a positive attitude, good troubleshooting skills, and a desire to learn, as well as a willingness to relocate or travel.
Indeed, as the railroad industry embraces increasingly complex and digital systems, the core values guiding C&S hiring remain primarily human: attitude, accountability, and adaptability. While technical skills can be taught, railroads are looking for individuals who are eager to learn, committed to the job, and open to relocation and real-world challenges.
The Railway Interchange panel made clear that the sector seeks people who can grow with the technology and carry forward the legacy of safe and reliable rail operations. For those willing to put in the effort, the railroads are ready to invest in their future.
Walker concluded:We believe in you—probably more than you believe in yourself. We’re committed to you. We want that same commitment in return.
