Train Manager
Train managers, who can also be known as senior conductors, are responsible for ensuring passengers on board their train have a satisfactory journey. They head up a team of train crew members and ensure that each carries out their role as required and to a high standard.The train manager is also responsible for delivering messages to passengers, using their train's public address system. They also respond to passenger enquiries and deal with any problems on board the train, including handling disruptive passengers.
It is also the train manager's responsibility for ensuring that the train is running on time. They liaise with station staff and make sure that the train leaves every station on time. If the train is delayed or running late, then the train manager will work with the driver to talk to control room operators and the stations ahead to ensure that everyone knows what is happening and to make sure that they can proceed safely.
The starting salary for a train manager is around £24000. This can rise on experience and may also vary depending on the train operating company they are working for.
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Working environment
Train managers spend the majority of their time on board a train. They will start their shift at one station and may travel on several different trains, or make the same journey several times, before finishing the day at the same station. They work shifts, which can involve working early mornings, late nights (in some cases overnight), weekends and bank holidays. Shifts can last up to 10 hours with a normal working week of around 40 hours or sometimes more. The change to work overtime is regularly offered.Train managers must also spend some time in an office, compiling reports detailing their work and any incidents or problems that they have had during the working day.
A train manager is provided with a uniform so that they can be identified by the public. Go Back
Skills and interests
Train managers must have:- leadership skills
- excellent communication abilities
- assertiveness, to deal with both team members and passengers
- organisational and coordinating skills
- an awareness of health and safety
- understanding of customer service
- knowledge of the rail industry and the operation of trains on the rail network.Go Back
Entry into the role
Train managers usually work their way up from the role of train crew member. They do not normally need any particular qualifications, but must be literate and numerate (for example with GCSEs or national equivalent in English and Maths). Experience of working in a customer service environment is also usually preferable.Train operating companies are the employers of train managers, and these advertise vacancies through their own websites and in local press. They may also advertise through specialist publications and recruitment websites.
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Opportunities
Train managers can progress their career by moving into team management and training or into management of aspects of rail services such as customer service.There are industry related qualifications available, including:-
- NVQ level 3 in rail operations (supervisory) offered by City & Guilds
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