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Train station staff

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

Also known as: train station worker

About skillsGetting in

About the job

Salary

Source: National Careers Service

Weekly

£337

Entry level

£519

Experienced

Monthly

£1,458

Entry level

£2,250

Experienced

Yearly

£17,500

Entry level

£27,000

Experienced

1,000

people are currently employed

Low growth

No change in number of jobs in 5 years

These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics

What it's 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.

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.

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    Top skills

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    It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.

    Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:

    • recalling
    • taking initiative
    • respecting
    • observation
    • verbal communication
    • listening
    • supporting
    • cooperating
    • resilience
    • positive attitude

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    Getting in

    Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.

    You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.

    Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

    Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:

    • Administration and Information Technology

    • Skills for Work: Retailing

    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. 

    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.

    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.

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