Standards, duties, and powers of train conductors according to the latest regulations in Vietnam

On June 30, 2023, the Ministry of Transport issued Circular 15/2023/TT-BGTVT regulating standards, tasks, and powers for railway employee positions directly serving train operations; content and training program for training facilities for railway staff positions directly serving train operations; conditions, content, testing process, and issuance, re-issuance, and revocation of railway driving licenses (taking effect on September 1, 2023).

Regulations on standards, duties, and powers of train conductors are as follows:

Standards of train conductors in Vietnam

- Have a degree or professional certificate at elementary level or higher in train operation or rail transport;

- Have adequate health conditions according to regulations of the Minister of Health;

- The cargo train conductors must have at least 01 year of experience directly undertaking the job of the train conductors or have a probationary period according to labor laws with the position of captain of cargo ships or deputy chief of passenger ships in charge of safety; The captain of a passenger ship must have at least 01 year of experience directly undertaking the position of captain of a cargo ship or deputy chief of a passenger ship in charge of safety;

- Pass the test on train conductors skills organized by the enterprise using the train conductors title.

Standards, duties, and powers of train conductors according to the latest regulations in Vietnam (Internet image)

Duties of the train conductors in Vietnam

(1) Duties of the passenger train conductors

- As the highest commander on board, responsible for ensuring safety, security, order, customer service, and operations of departments working on board;

- Make records with the participation of witnesses about births, deaths, injuries, and incidents related to security and order occurring on the ship; Prepare records of railway traffic incidents and accidents according to the provisions of the law;

- Fully comply with regulations on the transportation of goods, passengers, and luggage by rail, other provisions of law and of businesses using the title of train conductors;

- Carry out procedures for requesting rescue and organizing rescue;

- Record and compile reports on events related to the train journey;

- In case multiple trains combine into a passenger train, the train conductors of the last train is the overall commander of the passenger train.

(2) Duties of cargo train conductors

- As the highest commander on a cargo ship, responsible for ensuring safety, security, order, and customer service;

- Ensuring train operation according to the schedule and orders of the train dispatcher, national technical regulations on railway operations, railway signals, train running procedures, and railway consolidation work;

- Make records with the participation of witnesses about births, deaths, injuries, and incidents related to security and order occurring on the ship; Prepare records of railway traffic incidents and accidents according to the provisions of the law;

- Fully comply with regulations on transporting goods and luggage by rail and other provisions of law and of businesses using the title of train conductors;

- Pay attention to signals on the road and on the train and what is written in the license, orders, and warnings to comply, and monitor and supervise the train driver's compliance;

- When the train passes each station, you must confirm that the train is intact and make a safety signal for the staff to pick up the train. If, along the way, a phenomenon that threatens the safety of train operation is detected, the train must stop for handling or find a way to notify the train pick-up staff;

- Record timely, complete, and accurate train logbooks and incidents related to train operations;

- Make a signal for the train to run when the train has ensured safe conditions;

- Command the train brake testing and participate in the brake testing council according to the regulations of the enterprise using the position of train conductors;

- Carry out procedures for requesting rescue and organizing rescue;

- In cases where multiple ships form a freight train, the captain of the last ship is the overall commander of the freight train.

Powers of the train conductors in Vietnam

(i) Powers of the passenger train conductors

- In urgent cases, the passenger train conductors has the right to request that passengers take measures to ensure train safety and must immediately report the urgent situation to the train dispatcher or the nearest station.

- Refuse to accept employees with insufficient professional qualifications and health to work according to their positions on the ship; Temporarily suspend the duties of employees on the train who violate the provisions of the law and the enterprise, causing unsafe train operations and affecting the quality of customer service. Immediately report to the competent authority for resolution when exercising the right of refusal specified in this Point;

- Decide to let the train stop at the station or most convenient location to give first aid to the injured and transfer the injured or dead, along with property and related documents, to the station chief, police, hospital, or local authorities for further resolution.

(ii) Powers of the cargo train conductors

- Refuse to let the train run when it is not safe to operate;

- Refuse to accept employees with insufficient professional qualifications and health to work according to their positions on the ship;

- Decide to let the train stop at the station or most convenient location to give first aid to the injured and transfer the injured or dead, along with property and related documents, to the station chief, police, hospital, or local authorities for further resolution.

General note: For trains that do not have a deputy passenger train conductors in charge of safety, the passenger train conductors must fully perform the duties and powers of the position of deputy passenger train conductors in charge of safety.

Mai Thanh Loi

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