Trainee Train Conductor - Tonbridge

South Eastern Railway Limited; All Cannings; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Final salary pension

28 days annual leave

Free rail travel

Job summary

Southeast operates trains across London, Kent and East Sussex, seeking a Train Conductor. You will join the Hastings team, with a requirement to live within a 15-mile radius of the depot and be available for varied shifts including nights and weekends.

No prior railway experience is required; training will lead to a recognised qualification. The role includes engagement with customers, ticket checks, and safe operations on trains with a strong emphasis on passenger care.

Qualifications

• Proven face-to-face customer service experience.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Experience in handling cash and payments accurately.
• Ability to resolve issues calmly and professionally.

Responsibilities

• Greet passengers, check and issue tickets, and communicate with the train driver.
• Keep passengers informed during delays or issues and help them reach their destination.
• Work within a 15-mile radius of the target depot and comply with shift patterns (including weekends/nights).

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Cash handling

Problem solving

IT proficiency

Decision making

Teamwork

Job description

Job Introduction

Looking for a career that will take you in new directions? Join Southeast as a Train Conductor and start a rewarding journey with us. We are currently seeking applications for our

• Imagine the pride you’ll feel when your customer service skills and problem solving keeps hundreds of journeys running smoothly.
• Our training will take you from trainee to train Conductor and give you a nationally-recognised qualification.
• Enjoy a career that comes with great pay and benefits, a real sense of ownership, and where every shift is a chance to create a connection.

Job Introduction

Looking for a career that will take you in new directions? Join Southeast as a Train Conductor and start a rewarding journey with us. We are currently seeking applications for our Tonbridge team. We will only be progressing applicants for this role who live within a 45 min drive of Tonbridge

• Imagine the pride you’ll feel when your customer service skills and problem solving keeps hundreds of journeys running smoothly.
• Our training will take you from trainee to train Conductor and give you a nationally-recognised qualification.
• Enjoy a career that comes with great pay and benefits, a real sense of ownership, and where every shift is a chance to create a connection.

Role Responsibility

What You’ll Do

Make sure passengers feel welcome, comfortable and safe on our trains. This means greeting people as they step on board, checking and issuing tickets, communicating with the train driver, and dealing with any problem that comes your way.

Of course, sometimes there are issues with tickets or delays, which can be difficult for passengers. It’s up to you to keep them informed and do your best to help them get where they need to be.

We are currently seeking candidates for our Hastings team, you need to live with a 15 mile radius of this depot as explained in more detail below. If you apply and live outside of the distance of this station then you should expect long wait times for your application to be screened and processed.

Applications for this role will be accepted until the 9th September, however we encourage early submissions, as the vacancy may close sooner if we receive a high volume of applications.

Your training

• As a Trainee Conductor, you’ll be enrolled into our Conductor Apprenticeship Programme.
• You’ll complete a mix of classroom-based and on-the-job learning, covering everything from functional skills to safety procedures.

Your shifts

• You will work a varied shift pattern, which includes weekends, bank holidays and nights.
• Shifts can start before the first train departs in the morning, and some shifts will finish after the last train has dispatched at night.

The Ideal Candidate

The Experience You’ll Need

You don’t need railway experience to do this role. We’re looking for people from all backgrounds to join our team.

You Will Need To Demonstrate

• A genuine passion for making every passenger’s journey the best it can be
• Proven face-to-face customer service experience
• Confidence in handling difficult situations independently and resolving them professionally
• Experience in taking payments and handling cash accurately
• Excellent communication skills and good IT proficiency
• Strong decision-making abilities, problem-solving skills, and initiative
• Resilience and the ability to remain calm and professional under pressure

We can only consider your application if you live within a 15-mile radius of the depot you're applying to.

This helps ensure you get adequate rest between shifts and that your commute remains safe and manageable.

As proud members of the Armed Forces Covenant and Disability Confident Scheme, we will offer you an interview if you apply under these schemes and meet the minimum criteria for the role.

Other Things To Know

• This vacancy may close early if we receive a large number of applications. So, make sure you get yours in early.
• All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, a right to work verification, a basic criminal record check, and a pre-employment medical assessment. Work visa sponsorship isn’t available for this role.
• If you applied but weren’t successful in getting a similar role at Southern, please wait six months before applying again.

What You’ll Get In Return

Along with your salary, the rewards you’ll get include:

• a final salary pension
• 28 days annual leave allowance (including bank holidays)
• free rail travel across our networks.

Meaning you can feel secure in your career as well as fulfilled by your work.

About The Company

A bit about Southeast

We’re one of Britain's busiest train operators, serving London, Kent and parts of East Sussex. We run over 1,700 trains a day, carrying more than 500,000 passengers and serving 180 stations.

However, working on our railway is more than getting passengers from A to B. It’s about all the little moments that make a difference to their journey.

It’s also about making our railway a great place to work and building a team that represents the communities we serve. We’re committed to creating an inclusive, supportive environment, and we’re proud that this continues to be recognised through employer accreditations and our ongoing endorsement as a WORK180 Employer for Women .

Our ways of working are what we expect of everyone at Southeast. They are powerful. Tiny moments, every day, from every one of us, add up to massive, positive change. Improving how it feels to work here and how it feels to travel with us.

At the heart of everything we do, our Safeguarding Team works to keep our customers, colleagues, and the public safe by improving safeguarding measures and knowledge making sure everyone gets home safe, every day.

SE Trains Limited