What is the role of a conductor on a train?

The role of a conductor on a train is primarily to oversee the operation of the train and ensure passenger safety. This includes various responsibilities such as verifying that all safety procedures are followed, assisting passengers, managing the boarding process, and communicating with the train crew and dispatchers. The conductor is responsible for making sure that the train runs smoothly and safely from departure to arrival, addressing any issues that may arise during the journey, and ensuring compliance with regulations.

The other options, while they may involve various aspects of train operations, do not accurately capture the primary focus and responsibilities of a conductor. Supervising ticket sales is more aligned with a ticket collector or fare enforcement officer, maintenance of the locomotive's engine is the domain of mechanics or engineers, and managing train schedules and routes falls under the purview of scheduling or operations departments rather than the conductor's direct responsibilities.