Passenger Host

Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd.; Cambridge; Remote; GBP 12,000 - 17,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free travel

Oyster card privileges

Travel discounts

Final pension

Training & progression

Job summary

Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd. is seeking a Passenger Host to deliver outstanding customer service, information and assistance across our stations and trains. You’ll contribute to safety, security and revenue protection while helping customers with journey queries and ticket checks.

The role requires a proactive, calm approach, strong numeracy and excellent communication. It includes unsocial shifts, weekend work and extensive training with clear pathways for progression within the company.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to deliver outstanding customer service in busy environments.
• Able to manage customers effectively, even when under pressure.
• Demonstrates strong numerical ability for fare checks and revenue protection.
• Strong communication and clear instructions under assessment.
• Confident in making customer-focused decisions promptly.
• Willing to work unsocial hours including weekends.

Responsibilities

• Check tickets on stations and trains to ensure valid fares.
• Protect revenue and support security alongside officers.
• Deliver information and assist customers with high service standards.
• Work across shifts, fitting around operational hours.

Skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Numerical ability

Decision making

Team support

Problem solving

Job description

Do you have a passion for customer service?

Let's shape the railway together and develop your skillset!

We are looking for talented individuals who are passionate about delivering outstanding customer service.

As aPassenger Hostyou are a key member of staff whose responsibility is to provide a high level of information to our customers as well as a feeling of safety, security and well-being whilst protecting the revenue of GTR.

Your duties as a Passenger Host fall into three main categories – revenue protection, customer service and security.

You will carry out your duties in a professional manner ensuring that customers are in possession of a valid ticket by undertaking station and on train ticket examinations at various locations and take the necessary action to deal with those individuals without valid tickets. You will be working alongside any contracted security officers, PCSO's, REO's or BTP at stations or on trains enhancing employee and customer safety.

Passenger Hosts work on a shift-basis covering unsocial and irregular hours, including weekends. Due to the shift times you must live in the local area and have available independent transport to ensure that you arrive at the station for the first shift and work your last shift as required as there may not always be a train service available.

Experience / Skills / Requirements

• A proactive approach coupled with passion and ability to support and develop your team
• Exceptional levels of customer service, each and every time – you will be a role model for others to follow
• Demonstrable experience of managing customers effectively in difficult environments
• You must be able to demonstrate a high level of numerical ability
• An effective communicator and must be able to demonstrate this both through your application and or assessments
• Confidence to make decisions in a customer focused manner and carry out instructions effectively

In return, you'll be rewarded with aninteresting and varied work schedule, in an environment wherelearning and progressionis actively encouraged. You'll enjoygreat company and industry benefits, as well as the support of a passionate team.Along with comprehensive and ongoing training, your benefits will include free travel on our network, privilege rate oyster card, up to 75% off travel on other TOCs (train operating companies), final salary pension and much more.

“It was my brother’s suggestion to join the railway. He was already working in the industry and knew I had some university bills to pay off so told me to give it a go, get out of debt and see what I wanted to do next. After a while, it just felt like actually – this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m part of a great team and the on-board department as a whole are brilliant to work with. I feel at home here.”

Tonderai Matizha-Johnson
Area Operations Manager

“When I saw that GTR was advertising places for its apprenticeship scheme I looked into it straight away because I thought it was a great opportunity to learn whilst getting real life experience in a 9-5 job. I applied for a level three business administration apprenticeship and was thrilled to find out I had a place on the course! I was so excited that I didn’t even mind it was based 250 miles away from where I lived.”

“Working for GTR is very rewarding and fulfilling. You really feel like you're making a difference to customers, no matter what role you're in as at the end of the day they're the heart of our business. I’ve had lots of opportunities to explore other aspects of the business including supporting our station staff and gaining my Train Dispatch Licence which has been enriching for my experience here.”

“If you’ve always had an interest in rail, or maybe you’re just curious to find out what working in the railway might look like, GTR is the operator to go for. Not many companies do an official work experience program and this unique opportunity will give you a good grounding with varied activities to help you find the best place in the railway for you. It certainly did it for me.”

Nathaniel Owen
Station Manager

“I work as part of the Fleet Infrastructure team, which means ensuring our 18 Engineering locations operate safely and efficiently. We oversee all building and track maintenance works as well as various minor and major projects across the network.”

“I started in a small ticket office back in 1996 and have continued to work my way up ever since. A previous manager told me about a job he’d seen advertised for a trainer. ’d never considered a job in HR or mentoring before then, but he said I’d be perfect for it and I haven’t looked back since!”

Zoey Hudson
Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion

“Since April, I’ve helped to support our Kickstart Scheme. It’s been a really rewarding process to be part of because I know first‑hand how tough it can be to find work once you’re out of it.”

“I’m a Thameslink passenger host and team leader based at Luton station and I’m currently doing a Level 3 Supervisor apprenticeship so that I can improve my skills even further. I was hesitant to do the apprenticeship at first because of my age – I left school over 60 years ago without any qualifications! It’s been hard to get back into the routine of learning again.”

“It was my brother’s suggestion to join the railway. He was already working in the industry and knew I had some university bills to pay off so told me to give it a go, get out of debt and see what I wanted to do next. After a while, it just felt like actually – this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m part of a great team and the on-board department as a whole are brilliant to work with. I feel at home here.”

Tonderai Matizha-Johnson
Area Operations Manager

“When I saw that GTR was advertising places for its apprenticeship scheme I looked into it straight away because I thought it was a great opportunity to learn whilst getting real life experience in a 9-5 job. I applied for a level three business administration apprenticeship and was thrilled to find out I had a place on the course! I was so excited that I didn’t even mind it was based 250 miles away from where I lived.”

“Working for GTR is very rewarding and fulfilling. You really feel like you're making a difference to customers, no matter what role you're in as at the end of the day they're the heart of our business. I’ve had lots of opportunities to explore other aspects of the business including supporting our station staff and gaining my Train Dispatch Licence which has been enriching for my experience here.”

“If you’ve always had an interest in rail, or maybe you’re just curious to find out what working in the railway might look like, GTR is the operator to go for. Not many companies do an official work experience program and this unique opportunity will give you a good grounding with varied activities to help you find the best place in the railway for you. It certainly did it for me.”

Nathaniel Owen
Station Manager

“I work as part of the Fleet Infrastructure team, which means ensuring our 18 Engineering locations operate safely and efficiently. We oversee all building and track maintenance works as well as various minor and major projects across the network.”

“I started in a small ticket office back in 1996 and have continued to work my way up ever since. A previous manager told me about a job he’d seen advertised for a trainer. ’d never considered a job in HR or mentoring before then, but he said I’d be perfect for it and I haven’t looked back since!”

Zoey Hudson
Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion

“Since April, I’ve helped to support our Kickstart Scheme. It’s been a really rewarding process to be part of because I know first‑hand how tough it can be to find work once you’re out of it.”

“I’m a Thameslink passenger host and team leader based at Luton station and I’m currently doing a Level 3 Supervisor apprenticeship so that I can improve my skills even further. I was hesitant to do the apprenticeship at first because of my age – I left school over 60 years ago without any qualifications! It’s been hard to get back into the routine of learning again.”