GTR Station Manager - Recruitment Questions

[Joshapple23]

Hi there; I have successfully gained a final interview for a Train Station Manager for GTR (Southern& Gatwick Express); I know its a competency based interview but has anyone got any tips?

Also can any of you enlighten me on work patterns and times?

Thank you

 

[Horizon22]

Well done on getting the interview - I know you've applied for the role before so this is a positive next step.

It somewhat depends on where you'd be based I think - larger stations might have a few station managers on staggered shifts like an early, middle and late shift, mid-sized stations might just have one manager 9-5 or you might be in charge of a bunch of smaller stations which again would be broadly 9-5. Some flexibility would probably be expected (large events, disruption etc.) but not always.

I would focus on examples regarding customer experience, safety, performance management, rules/procedures and sharing any supervisory or management experience you have to date.

 

[Joshapple23]

Well done on getting the interview - I know you've applied for the role before so this is a positive next step.

It somewhat depends on where you'd be based I think - larger stations might have a few station managers on staggered shifts like an early, middle and late shift, mid-sized stations might just have one manager 9-5 or you might be in charge of a bunch of smaller stations which again would be broadly 9-5. Some flexibility would probably be expected (large events, disruption etc.) but not always.

I would focus on examples regarding customer experience, safety, performance management, rules/procedures and sharing any supervisory or management experience you have to date.

Hi there,

Yes I'm so happy!

Ok great thank you I'm gonna prep prep prep!

Is it Monday- Friday or a different roster each month?

Also (sorry for the questions) is it/ can you wear the uniform/ smart casual or suited and booted?

I'm currently a cabin crew manager and volunteer on a heritage railway so will focus on my strengths!

Thank you!

 

[Horizon22]

Hi there,

Yes I'm so happy!

Ok great thank you I'm gonna prep prep prep!

Is it Monday- Friday or a different roster each month?

Also (sorry for the questions) is it/ can you wear the uniform/ smart casual or suited and booted?

I'm currently a cabin crew manager and volunteer on a heritage railway so will focus on my strengths!

Thank you!

Glad to here - don't overprep and get flustered but ensure you've got solid depth and breadth of answers depending on how the interview goes.

Most will be Monday - Friday, but some may have a bit of weekend working. Definitely a good question for the panel. Normally it would be smart business dress (shirt, dark trousers etc.), although ties less required these days. You'll probably have access to a few pieces of uniform too which might be useful at certain times, such as events.

 

[Joshapple23]

Glad to here - don't overprep and get flustered but ensure you've got solid depth and breadth of answers depending on how the interview goes.

Most will be Monday - Friday, but some may have a bit of weekend working. Definitely a good question for the panel. Normally it would be smart business dress (shirt, dark trousers etc.), although ties less required these days. You'll probably have access to a few pieces of uniform too which might be useful at certain times, such as events.

Hey, ah that's great thank you!

Yes I would like a choice between uniform and my own clothes!

They said in the assessment centre that SM's get shifted around and that's part of the job; seeing as I live in Worthing could they suddenly shift me to an area of London/ Hampshire where it makes it impossible to commute to?

Cheers, Josh

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2025 ==

Glad to here - don't overprep and get flustered but ensure you've got solid depth and breadth of answers depending on how the interview goes.

Most will be Monday - Friday, but some may have a bit of weekend working. Definitely a good question for the panel. Normally it would be smart business dress (shirt, dark trousers etc.), although ties less required these days. You'll probably have access to a few pieces of uniform too which might be useful at certain times, such as events.

Also forgot to ask would I have to wear safety shoes or my own choice of footwear?

 

[Horizon22]

Hey, ah that's great thank you!

Yes I would like a choice between uniform and my own clothes!

They said in the assessment centre that SM's get shifted around and that's part of the job; seeing as I live in Worthing could they suddenly shift me to an area of London/ Hampshire where it makes it impossible to commute to?

Cheers, Josh

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2025 ==


Also forgot to ask would I have to wear safety shoes or my own choice of footwear?

I would suggest the vast majority of time will be your own clothes.

No I don’t think you would get “shifted” instantly or without notice. It might be part of a management change where SMs are redeployed for various reasons but that would be something you are consulted on. Even then it might not be impossible but longer - and your Area Manager would know and you might be able to work on train (emails etc.) and Southern don’t run many stations in Hampshire and Worthing isn’t the worst place to be there by taking a train on the West Coastway service anyway.

You’d wear your own shoes but you may well be dispatch trained and therefore if doing safety-critical duties you’d need to wear them.

 

[Joshapple23]

I would suggest the vast majority of time will be your own clothes.

No I don’t think you would get “shifted” instantly or without notice. It might be part of a management change where SMs are redeployed for various reasons but that would be something you are consulted on. Even then it might not be impossible but longer - and your Area Manager would know and you might be able to work on train (emails etc.) and Southern don’t run many stations in Hampshire and Worthing isn’t the worst place to be there by taking a train on the West Coastway service anyway.

You’d wear your own shoes but you may well be dispatch trained and therefore if doing safety-critical duties you’d need to wear them.

Well thank you for all info; really helpful as my mind will just wonder and worry then my partner will get the brunt.

I will do a little bit (but not too much) prep for the panel interview!

 

[Horizon22]

Well thank you for all info; really helpful as my mind will just wonder and worry then my partner will get the brunt.

I will do a little bit (but not too much) prep for the panel interview!

You might have to do a few days here or there or meetings around the network, but that’s different to working their full-time

 

[Joshapple23]

Hi there, in my final interview yesterday they said about a final salary pension; the recruiter said "final salary for now"- does this mean the company can take this away at any time?

 

[Joshapple23]

Had a final interview yesterday with GTR, they said they would call me Monday with a decision, do they call with bad news or is it normally an email?

 

[Hazwa89]

Hiya Josh.

I can't speak for bad news but when I had my GTR interview it was on a Friday and I received an email on the Monday saying I had been successful.

I imagine that it will be an email for both.

 

[Joshapple23]

Hiya Josh.

I can't speak for bad news but when I had my GTR interview it was on a Friday and I received an email on the Monday saying I had been successful.

I imagine that it will be an email for both.

Hey, well initially the manager interviewing me said I would know by today at the latest but the recruiter said they would phone me Monday

Guess I will wait

 

[Hazwa89]

Ahh okay...well fingers crossed for Monday. Reading through some of the threads on here I've heard of people being called if they want to talk about other locations or TOCs.

So with GTR it could be that you've applied for Thameslink - Brighton but they want to talk about a Southern opportunity or depending on your location Brighton > Three bridges.

Either way.. Good luck and if it was me I would be hoping that a call means good news!

 

[Horizon22]

Being told you will be called at later date really doesn’t prove anything, either way.

They may have another interview to do Monday morning or late Friday for example and/or they want to gather notes and confirm and possibly loop in recruitment team too.

Best of luck for Monday.

 

[trek]

Hi there, in my final interview yesterday they said about a final salary pension; the recruiter said "final salary for now"- does this mean the company can take this away at any time?

I think that's just some railway cynicism creeping in.

It's a final salary scheme from start at GTR (some TOCs and Network Rail you can only enter the final salary scheme after a qualifying period, normally 2 years).

Probably the "for now" is more about a general cynicism that the final salary scheme will remain as strong as it is at present throughout your/their career.

Nothing has been announced to change, but one can look at the decline in the USS (Universities Superannuation Scheme) or civil service pensions over the past years to get an idea of what people in the industry are worried about.

 

[Joshapple23]

WELL I GOT STATION MANAGER FOR GTR!
Now before I go crazy buying suits what do male station managers for GTR wear?

 

[Horizon22]

WELL I GOT STATION MANAGER FOR GTR!
Now before I go crazy buying suits what do male station managers for GTR wear?

Congratulations!

A shirt and smart trousers is probably good enough. Maybe bring a tie for the first day and scope out how the rest of the management team appears.

 

[trek]

WELL I GOT STATION MANAGER FOR GTR!
Now before I go crazy buying suits what do male station managers for GTR wear?

Congratulations!

Back when I was in the role at GTR, smart trousers and shirt was fine. Pre-covid I would wear a tie - I ditched it as soon as I started going in again and I basically never wore one again. I'd agree with smart trousers/shoes, shirt and tie initially and you can always remove it going forward based on others.

It was a bit more common for some to wear a suit pre-covid but basically no one did after amongst the managers in my area. I very rarely wore one before covid anyway, because I liked to spend as much time as possible out and about and didn't want to be washing it when it inevitably got rained on/dirty on a platform. I only wore one when we had official visitors or events - you're unlikely to be thrown into those early on and they're certainly not a regular thing, and these days I don't think as likely to be needed anyway.

 

[Joshapple23]

Hi, got a new job as a Station manager; will be at different stations- is car parking at the station free?

 

[galwhv69]

You will be able to apply for a virtual staff permit on the internal APCOA portal. Staff can usually pick 3 stations, however as a manager you will likely be able to get the All Stations pass for whichever brand you are working for

 

[Sly Sloth]

Hi, got a new job as a Station manager; will be at different stations- is car parking at the station free?

You’ll get an all stations pass

 

[Joshapple23]

Hi, waiting for my GP to send over a letter to Occupational Health @ GTR regarding my blood condition (CML), my mate at GWR also has this and is a driver.

Is it common for TOC's to revoke job offers?

Feeling stressed

 

[trek]

Hi, waiting for my GP to send over a letter to Occupational Health @ GTR regarding my blood condition (CML), my mate at GWR also has this and is a driver.

Is it common for TOC's to revoke job offers?

Feeling stressed

It should be fine, it's just a process they have to go through. My new TOC's medical took over a month to come back and I have no health issues or referals!

They prefer managers to be safety critical (they will likely get you dispatch competency, for example, if they can) but even if you fail the safety critical medical I've not known them to revoke an offer due to that. You can still manage people and the station even if you cannot do a safety critical activity.

It's only really if it's a drugs or alcohol issue they will revoke a non-safety critical role. But obviously every situation is different so we can't guarantee anything.

When I was a GTR Station Manager I had colleagues who were colourblind (cannot dispatch/drive) or diabetic for example and they still very much had the role even if it delay a few things.

Have you already left/handed in your notice at your previous job? In general I would advise against that before you know you've passed the medical even if this can delay the start - most of my railway colleauges would agree too and HR understands that, even if merely moving TOCs and already safety crticial!

 

[Joshapple23]

It should be fine, it's just a process they have to go through. My new TOC's medical took over a month to come back and I have no health issues or referals!

They prefer managers to be safety critical (they will likely get you dispatch competency, for example, if they can) but even if you fail the safety critical medical I've not known them to revoke an offer due to that. You can still manage people and the station even if you cannot do a safety critical activity.

It's only really if it's a drugs or alcohol issue they will revoke a non-safety critical role. But obviously every situation is different so we can't guarantee anything.

When I was a GTR Station Manager I had colleagues who were colourblind (cannot dispatch/drive) or diabetic for example and they still very much had the role even if it delay a few things.

Have you already left/handed in your notice at your previous job? In general I would advise against that before you know you've passed the medical even if this can delay the start - most of my railway colleauges would agree too and HR understands that, even if merely moving TOCs and already safety crticial!

Hey!
Yes they did say I would have to be dispatch compliant, I have passed my medical already it's just this letter which funny enough came through this Friday just gone which I cast an eye over it before it was sent to GTR.
Regarding employment contract would that be provided before day 1 of employment? I don't wanna hand my notice in before then

 

[Horizon22]

Regarding employment contract would that be provided before day 1 of employment? I don't wanna hand my notice in before then

It should be as you need to sign it!

 

[Joshapple23]

It should be fine, it's just a process they have to go through. My new TOC's medical took over a month to come back and I have no health issues or referals!

They prefer managers to be safety critical (they will likely get you dispatch competency, for example, if they can) but even if you fail the safety critical medical I've not known them to revoke an offer due to that. You can still manage people and the station even if you cannot do a safety critical activity.

It's only really if it's a drugs or alcohol issue they will revoke a non-safety critical role. But obviously every situation is different so we can't guarantee anything.

When I was a GTR Station Manager I had colleagues who were colourblind (cannot dispatch/drive) or diabetic for example and they still very much had the role even if it delay a few things.

Have you already left/handed in your notice at your previous job? In general I would advise against that before you know you've passed the medical even if this can delay the start - most of my railway colleauges would agree too and HR understands that, even if merely moving TOCs and already safety crticial!

Hey!

No haven't handed in my notice yet, I' just gonna wait until GTR's occupational health says fit to work then hand it in, will GTR make the employment contract available for me to view and sign online to speed things up?

 

[john2070]

Hi there, I have my Station Manager interview on June 29 th and I would love to hear if anyone has any advice that could help me get prepared ? I have no rail industry experience and I am coming from the hospitality industry where I have over a decade of experience in various roles all the way up to General Manager. Any help would be appreciated Thank you !!!

 

[Joshapple23]

Hi there, I have my Station Manager interview on June 29 th and I would love to hear if anyone has any advice that could help me get prepared ? I have no rail industry experience and I am coming from the hospitality industry where I have over a decade of experience in various roles all the way up to General Manager. Any help would be appreciated Thank you !!!

Hi John, I am a Station Manager- how did the interview go and did you get the job?