Train Manager

Tasks & duties

Train managers may do some or all of the following:

• collect fares and give change
• issue and clip tickets
• help store hand luggage
• attend to the needs and requests of passengers
• open and shut doors to let passengers in and out
• give information on routes, prices and timetables
• conduct safety checks of the train prior to departure
• liaise with locomotive engineers and other rail staff
• supervise passenger safety
• submit written reports and documents
• ensure carriages are clean and safe

Skills & knowledge

Train managers need to have:

• knowledge of rail safety rules, regulations and conditions
• knowledge of the railway operating code, train timetables and fares
• the ability to operate emergency equipment
• good communication and customer service skills
• money handling skills
• a good memory

Entry requirements

To become a train manager you must have a driver's licence and pass a medical test. A First Aid certificate may also be useful.

Training on the job

Before starting the job, formal training is undertaken at the Woburn Rail School.
Train managers often start out in assistant roles (for example as ticket assistants or passenger operators), selling tickets on trains to gain further skills before becoming train managers. Train managers involved in long-distance passenger services complete additional training.

Useful experience

Experience in cash-handling and customer service is useful.

For more information, please refer to Career Services.