Train station staff

Train station worker
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Retail and customer services
Support

Career outlook for train station staff

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£17,500

Experienced

£27,000


Currently employed in Scotland

1,000

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it like?

You would carry out essential tasks at a train station to help make travel easy and enjoyable for customers.

You would:

  • Sell and check tickets
  • Make sure that passengers get on and off the train safely
  • Help to load and unload luggage
  • Signal the guard or driver to depart
  • Update message displays showing passenger information
  • Make passenger announcements
  • Look after CCTV cameras and footage
  • Give out information on services, routes, train times and delays

In smaller stations, you may have other tasks, such as cleaning or clearing snow and ice off platforms during the winter.

It would be important to follow health and safety rules carefully, as you would be working around trains. 

Working conditions

Hours

You would usually work 37 to 39 hours a week, in shifts of up to 12 hours covering evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Environment

Your time would be split between the information centre or ticket office and the station platforms. Your employer would provide you with a uniform.

UK employment status

Full-time

70%

Part-time

23%

Self employed

7%

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Here are some of the skills needed for this job. Sign in to see how your skills match up.

  • Positive attitude
  • Resilience
  • Cooperating
  • Supporting
  • Listening
  • Verbal communication
  • Observation
  • Respecting
  • Taking initiative
  • Recalling

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Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Qualifications

There are no formal qualifications required to enter this role but some employers may ask for qualifications at SCQF level 4/5.

A satisfactory standard of English is important, together with confident money-handling skills. 

Useful subjects

  • English
  • Maths
  • Modern languages
  • Social studies subjects such as business and geography
  • Health and food technologies

You will also need

Before entering this job you will need to pass an interview at an assessment centre and a medical examination to check:

  • fitness
  • eyesight
  • colour vision
  • hearing
  • any alcohol or drugs use

Once you start work you could be tested for drugs or alcohol at any time.

You may need to be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.

Helpful to have

Qualifications and experience that show you are good at communicating with people and handling money such as Skills for Work Travel and Tourism (SCQF level 4/5).

Communication and language qualifications may also be helpful such as SQA Modern Languages for Life & Work Award (SCQF level 3/4).

It is helpful to have relevant work-based qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Customer Services (SVQ level 2/3) or be willing to work towards qualifications once in a job.