Rail traffic controller is a person or group who are responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the railway within an assigned operating territory. RTCs are also responsible for ensuring train delays are minimized in their operating territory through the application of effective planning, scheduling, and queuing techniques. The RTC is also responsible for cost effective movement of trains and other on-track railroad equipment to optimize physical (trains) and human resource (crews) assets.

RTCs are similar to dispatchers

Train dispatcher

A train dispatcher is employed by a railroad to direct and facilitate the movement of trains over an assigned territory, which is usually part, or all, of a railroad operating division. In Canada the train dispatcher is known as the rail traffic controller...

 in that they use Centralized traffic control

Centralized traffic control

Centralized traffic control is a form of railway signalling that originated in North America and centralizes train routing decisions that were previously carried out by local signal operators or the train crews themselves. The system consists of a centralized train dispatcher's office that...

(CTC) in their operations.