Who has the authority to allow a train to occupy a track within designated limits for a certain time?

The authority to allow a train to occupy a track within designated limits for a certain time typically rests with the control operator. This is because the control operator is responsible for the management of train movements in a specific area, overseeing track availability and ensuring safe coordination between different trains and their operations. The control operator has the detailed knowledge and situational awareness needed to make decisions about track occupancy in real-time, ensuring adherence to safety protocols and scheduling.

The dispatcher certainly plays a significant role in overall train operations and traffic management, but their focus might be broader, whereas the control operator acts more directly on track occupancy at a local level. Similarly, while the train crew is responsible for the safe operation of the train itself, they do not have the authority to determine track occupancy independently. The local yard master manages operations within a yard setting, but their authority is typically limited to yard operations rather than track occupancy throughout the network.