Railway Jobs

[Gizmogle]

What kind of jobs can I get on the railway at 17?

I have quite average GCSEs - 8 Cs, a B and a D.

I realise I can't work on platforms, or on trains, or in signal boxes.

But are there any jobs I can do?

What's job availability like around my area? Do I have a chance of a job around Buxton > Manchester area?

Cheers.

 

[EE Type 3]

You could always use the money you got for your Birthday as a bribe

Hey, it's a thought

 

[Max]

I think ticket office jobs are open to 16 and above, so you could keep an eye out for jobs at Northern, TPE or Virgin!

 

[Gizmogle]

Ah, see I was told by my Dad (the source of false and useless information) that as I'm under 18, I'm uninsurable, and could not work in a ticket office. I wouldn't mind that though.
I don't know that much about tickets...but then I guess on the Buxton line, you don't get people going that far.

 

[me123]

FSR were looking for station staff 16+, but work expereince with the public was essential.

 

[Mintona]

FSR were looking for station staff 16+, but work expereince with the public was essential.

Are they still? I'm 17, nearly 18 and am looking for a job anywhere. I've worked with the public in a supermarket for over a year now.

 

[Gizmogle]

FSR are maybe a little far away

I would just like a small, simple job with the railway, but so I know once I'm 18+ that I can start to move up. Maybe become a guard, and then so on...

 

[me123]

Are they still? I'm 17, nearly 18 and am looking for a job anywhere. I've worked with the public in a supermarket for over a year now.

Dunno. Just an add in the Evening Times one day.

FSR are maybe a little far away

Maybe... but I'm sure FTPE would have similar policies. (As could other TOCs)

I would just like a small, simple job with the railway, but so I know once I'm 18+ that I can start to move up. Maybe become a guard, and then so on...

Do you want to work on the railways for ever? If so, good luck!

 

[Gizmogle]

Do you want to work on the railways for ever? If so, good luck!

I don't know, but at least it's not a dead end job like a supermarket. At least if I don't have any backup plans, then I know I can move up in time and get a better job within the railway.

 

[me123]

I don't know, but at least it's not a dead end job like a supermarket. At least if I don't have any backup plans, then I know I can move up in time and get a better job within the railway.

The good thing about the railways is that there're always opertunities for advancement. Personally, I wouldn't mind being a Train Manager/Conductor. Get to work with the public, and get lots of free rail travel (and coverage!). But, I'd rather pursue other things.

 

[Gizmogle]

Yeah, see, you all know how reluctant I am to getting a job. But college is not going well. I'm considering dropping out.
Even if just for a year while I get myself sorted, and then try again next year when I'm ready.

I would have no choice but to get a job in that time though, as my Mum wouldn't receive child benefits, and wouldn't have the money to support us.

It'd be nice, that if this does happen, I know that I'm gaining something from the job, rather than just shelf stacking for a year.
At least I know if things go wrong, I'm in the railway, and can work hard and advance into other areas.

 

[Coxster]

Basically it's jobs that are considered non-safety critical. I think that's basically ticket office clerks, gateline assistants and cleaners. Of course once you're in you have access to the internal vacancy lists rather than just the jobs advertisied externally.

 

[Gizmogle]

Yes, but nowadays, everything is safety critical. What if I smashed a passengers face in with the ticket machine?

What are gateline assistants?

I'm right in assuming that I cannot do any work on the platforms until I'm 18, yes?

 

[me123]

What are gateline assistants?

I think they're the people who check tickets going on and off the platform and perhaps let people through electric barriers if they have a boarding-card ticket or can't fit through the normal barriers or whatever.

 

[Coxster]

Gateline assistants (on SWT at least) man the gates, with ticket office clerks working in the, errrm, ticket office Station assistant roles are indeed for over 18s. Looking at the Virgin Trains site, if you do their screening questions thingie and select 'Under 18' you get linked to their customer service PDF. You may want to take a read through that: http://www.virgintrainscareers.co.uk/downloads/ApplicationForm_CustomerService.pdf

Am I aged 18 or over? (This is a legal requirement for onboard

positions due to serving alcohol). The minimum age for most station
positions is 17, however some stations have a ‘First Class Lounge’​

which would involve serving alcohol, therefore you need to be 18.

 

[Gizmogle]

Ah, that's what I thought. I was just double checking.

Oh...shifts See, early mornings and late nights tend to be a problem, as we have an hourly service to Buxton and it's not terrific. Finished quite early. It depends what they mean by a night shift.

 

[ChrisCooper]

Gateline or ticket office would be good jobs if you wanted to move onto conductor or dispatch in the future, since they give you experiance of how the railways and ticketing work and experiance in a customer facing position. Problem is though that in a lot of areas, local railway jobs are hard to come by, although if you are prepared to travel into Manchester (remembering that even those sort of jobs can have unsociable hours where public transport is difficult or impossible) you should have a reasonable selection.
By the way, gateline assistants are the people who stand around the ticket barriers to assist people who's tickets don't work, or don't have tickets and also hit people with ticket machines if they try and climb over the barriers (never quite as good since they replaced the old SPORTIS machines).
I expect any job involving ticket issuing is classed as safety critical due to the risk of paper cuts to either youself or others from that nasty sharp paper.

 

[Gizmogle]

"Am I aged 18 or over? (This is a legal requirement for onboard
positions due to serving alcohol). The minimum age for most station
positions is 17, however some stations have a ‘First Class Lounge’
which would involve serving alcohol, therefore you need to be 18."

 

[Max]

Different TOCs have different policies though. I seem to remember that Northern definitely start employing for station roles at 16.

 

[Gizmogle]

Ah, fantastic. But then where would be my closest (properly) staffed Northern station?

 

[me123]

Sadly, the Northern website is proving to be problematic just now.

 

[Mintona]

I don't know, but at least it's not a dead end job like a supermarket. At least if I don't have any backup plans, then I know I can move up in time and get a better job within the railway.

Hey...working in a supermarket isn't necessarily dead end, there are plently of opportunities in retail management et cetera. I may be going to do a Morrisons retail management scheme soon.

However, I would much rather find a job in the railways - I will wait until I am 18 though before applying (it is less than 2 months now!)

 

[Gizmogle]

Yeah, well, I've got another year until I'm 18.

...which is a point. Say I drop out of college. If I go back next year, will I have to pay college fees? I'll be 17 until December, when I turn 18.

 

[1D53]

Ah, fantastic. But then where would be my closest (properly) staffed Northern station?

Whalley Bridge and Woodsmoor have a Morning ticket office (till 1) as does New Mills Newtown and Disley till 10am, Hazel Grove ticket office only till 8pm. Stockport is WC, some Northern staff at Piccadilly, but ticket office etc is WC.

 

[adambro]

Rather than dropping out, is it not possible for you to consider trying to address whatever problems you've been experiencing? Granted you might not want to discuss it openly but seeing as it's only December and the term will have started in September, you must have a fair amount of time to sort things out. I guess you've got exams coming up and this could be what has prompted you looking at your options.

 

[Techniquest]

Certainly wise to keep options open, but do address any concerns with your course at college. I kept going through all of mine, but lost interest near the end and suffered as a result. Not just back then (about 4.5 years ago now) but I continue to now as a direct result of not doing my college course properly.

As for getting into the rail industry, try doing some volunteer work at weekends or something as long as it has relevance to the role you wish to persue later on. If nothing else, get a shelf replenisher position for some time. Boring it might be, but there are ways to make most jobs within that role fun. You could do worse. You COULD end up in Pizza Hut. I've been there, I'd rather replenish shelves. My biggest advice would be to avoid catering roles, especially if you dislike early mornings/late evenings.

You WILL need customer service experience, so try getting a job as a cashier at the local Tesco/Sainsbury's/Morrisons/Asda for some time. A cashier job can be more fun than it looks.

Anyway, all in all seriously consider staying at college. You'll be better off for finishing your course, especially if you get a good grade in it.

 

[Gizmogle]

Yeah, see, if I carry on the way I am, I'm not going to do well, and will most likely get kicked off my course anyway.

I don't really have much interest in my course, and I'm not motivated. I'm getting behind with work, and it's not going to get any better.
adambro - we don't have exams.

I think I'd rather take this time off to get things sorted out, and either have a second attempt at it, or maybe try an apprenticeship (Gosport?)

 

[Coxster]

"Am I aged 18 or over? (This is a legal requirement for onboard
positions due to serving alcohol). The minimum age for most station
positions is 17, however some stations have a ‘First Class Lounge’
which would involve serving alcohol, therefore you need to be 18."

I already quoted that in my reply...

 

[Gizmogle]

Ah, but you added it after I read your post

 

[Zamracene749]

Whatever you decide, please, please bear in mind that a lifetime is a hell of a long time to regret making the wrong decision. You need to be 110% certain that your current course is hopeless and beyond salvage, if it is try something else but do stay with education for now.

Once you get trapped in the mortgage/children to support/general home starting debt trap your further education options are as good as dead, regardless of ability, because you just wont have the time or money (and eventually drive/ability) to learn.

So do your absolute best now, and don't spend your life being bossed around by someone not fit to lace your boots knowing that you could have done better.

Sorry for sounding so pompous but hate to see someone else get stuck in a dead end.

At least if you tried and failed you have no regrets.