Who issues mandatory directives?

• A. Field employee
• B. Engineer only
• C. Station master
• D. Train dispatcher or control operator

Answer: (D)

Mandatory directives are issued by the person who controls train movements over the track network. In Track Warrant Control, that authority rests with the train dispatcher or control operator. They issue the directive (often called a track warrant) to the train crew, specifying which track or block is authorized, any limits or conditions, and when it ends, so movements are protected and coordinated. The engineer and field personnel follow these directives rather than authoring them, and a station master’s authority is typically limited to local yard or station operations rather than issuing mainline warrants.