Career opportunities

Go Back

Station Manager

Station managers are in charge of all the staff who work in a train station and they must ensure that the staff carry out their duties to the required standards. They also ensure the station is a safe and easy place for passengers to use and make sure that customers receive the highest possible levels of service.

Station managers also check that stations are kept well maintained and report any damage or problems to maintenance teams who are responsible for station upkeep.

Some station managers are responsible for more than one station and travel on the rail network to visit all of the stations they cover on a daily basis.

Customer service is also an important aspect of the work of a station manager, as they will respond to queries, and also are the main point of contact for any passenger complaints.

Starting salaries for station managers are approximately £25000. This can be higher depending on the scope of the role, and can also rise with experience.Go Back

Working environment

Station managers spend the majority of their time on their feet in their station. If they look after more than one station they will also spend time travelling on trains. Some of the time will be spent in an office at the station, where they compile reports and keep record of activities and work done at the station.
Station managers work around 40 hours a week, but can work irregular hours so that they can supervise the station at all of the times it is open. This can mean working early mornings, late nights, weekends and bank holidays.

A uniform is provided for a station manager so that they can be easily identified by passengers who may require their assistance.
Go Back

Skills and interests

Station managers must have:
- leadership skills
- organisational and coordinating skills
- excellent communication abilities
- an awareness of health and safety
- understanding of customer service
- assertiveness, to deal with both team members and passengers
- knowledge of the rail industry and the operation of trains on the rail network.Go Back

Entry into the role

Station managers usually work their way up from the role of station assistant. 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, as well as Network Rail, employ station managers, and these advertise vacancies through their own websites and in local press. They may also advertise through specialist publications and recruitment websites.
Go Back

Opportunities

Station managers can progress their career by moving into 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.Go Back

Useful links

• National Rail
• Network Rail
• Translink
• Rail Technology (magazine)
• Rail Staff (magazine)

Go Back

Case Studies

• RAIL - railway station team manager
  See an interview with Paul Beadle, a railway station team manager for First ScotRail (links to Jobs4U careers database)
  View case study (external website)

Go Back