Train Planning Placement

Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Rail travel benefits

Paid annual leave

Job summary

Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd. offers an Undergraduate Training Placement in the Train Planning Unit at London King's Cross.

The role runs from July 2027 to September 2028, with a two-month overlap to help you settle in while learning the ropes of timetable planning and rail operations. You will join a team of around 70 planners, receive comprehensive training, and undertake a wide range of activities from short-term timetable variations to KPI reporting and timetable data maintenance, supporting

Qualifications

• Registered university undergraduate student on a degree that includes a year in industry.
• Programme in transport, geography or logistics is preferred.
• Able to learn quickly and manage tasks efficiently.
• Able to learn quickly, self-organise and manage tasks efficiently.
• Analytical, proactive, and able to communicate clearly and effectively.
• Precise, methodical, and responsible in approach to work.

Responsibilities

• Produce documents detailing short-term timetable variations for drivers and controllers.
• Record and report Department KPIs and related analyses.
• Organise and administer the special events planning groups.
• Maintain and develop timetable data to inform Passenger Information System.
• Collaborate across the organisation to improve train service performance.
• Undertake train planning activities to support the teams.

Skills

IT skills

Analytical thinking

Self-organisation

Communication

Ability to learn quickly

Education

Undergraduate student (year in industry)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Title: Train Planning Placement
Location: Kings Cross Offices
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Get your career on track with a team where you can grow, belong and make an impact from day one.

Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) is the UK's largest rail operator, connecting millions of people across the country through Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services.

With 239 managed stations and a network that supports commuters, businesses and communities every day. We are driven by our purpose to deliver safe, reliable and customer focused journeys while making a positive impact on the communities we serve.

At the heart of our work is Creating Great Journeys, a vision that reflects our commitment to improving experiences for passengers, supporting local communities and investing in the future of rail. We actively engage with and support the diverse communities across our network, while also developing future talent to ensure a sustainable and thriving railway for years to come.

Our people are central to everything we do, and we are committed to creating an environment where colleagues can grow, contribute and feel proud of the work they do.

At GTR, you career isn't just another job; it is a journey where the destinations are endless. We are committed to career development and progression, offering clear pathways to help you steer your future.

Because the railway connects vibrant and diverse towns and cities, we believe our workforce should reflect the communities we serve. We actively invest in future talent from all backgrounds to bring fresh perspective to our industry.

Whether you are taking the next step in the industry or just starting out; we'll welcome you on board with us when you are ready to grow and build you career right here.

GTR's Undergraduate Placement Scheme takes place within the heart of the busy Train Planning Unit working with a team of around 70 planners. Many of these were previous placements who have returned to GTR after graduation to continue their professional development and this is something that we encourage.

We will give the successful candidates training and support to quickly become functioning and productive members of the team as they embark on their railway careers. The role is structured to deliver a wide-ranging set of work experiences, a varied workload and a broad introduction to the rail industry. For example:

• Producing documents for operational and customer service colleagues that detail short-term variations to the advertised timetable as necessitated by engineering work or special events. These contain essential information required by drivers, station staff and 24-hour controllers.
• Recording the department's Key Performance Indicators and producing related reports.
• Organising and administrating the special events planning groups.
• Maintaining and developing timetable data to inform the Passenger Information System on board our various train fleets.
• Collaborate with other parts of the organisation and industry to improve train service performance.
• Undertaking train planning activities to support the teams.

Applicants will need:

• To be a registered university undergraduate student on a degree that includes a year in industry and ideally on a transport, geography or logistics related programme.
• Anunderstanding of the railway industry, its framework and operation.
• Strong IT skillsincluding Microsoft Office, with an ability to learn additional specialist techniques and packages as required.
• Anability to learn quickly, self-organise and manage tasks efficiently.
• Analytical skills, initiative and an ability to communicate effectively.
• An accurate, clear,methodical and responsible approach to work.

The contract for the position will last from July 2027 until September 2028. A two-month overlap will occur with the present incumbents to facilitate workplace familiarisation, a smooth handover and to ease the new post holders into their role.

The GTR Train Planning Unit is located at London King's Cross Station.

The successful applicant will receive an annual salary of £30,767 plus other benefits including paid annual leave and a combination of free and discounted (depending on location) rail travel.

Recruitment Process and Timelines

We aim to provide a fair, transparent and engaging recruitment experience. This is what you can expect from our process.

• Screening and shortlisting: Applications are reviewed following the closing date. This stage may include online assessments or testing, depending on the role
• Assessment: Depending on the role, you may undertake an assessment (or sent of assessments)
• Interview process: A two-stage interview process using competency‑based questions to assess your skills, experience and alignment with our values
• Offer: Once successful, you will be given a verbal conditional offer which is based on a clear DBS check and medical. We will also ask you to provide your Right to Work document(s) at this stage
• Contract: Your contract and formal offer letter will be issued once a start date has been agreed
• Induction: Your first week of employment will be at our East Croydon location where you'll undertake your induction and receive your IT equipment before you meet your team and get stuck into your new role.

We will keep candidates informed throughout the process and aim to complete hiring decisions in a timely manner. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback at the application stage.

We look forward to hearing from you and exploring whether GTR could be your next career step.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

“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.”