Trainee Train Planners (3091)
- Salary:£29,870 along with excellent benefits including free travel across our network
- Location:Kings Cross, East Side Offices
- Contract Type:Permanent
- Closing Date:22 August 2025
Are you analytically minded with an organised and methodical approach to tasks?
Are you comfortable with IT, competent in Microsoft Office and have the ability to quickly learn specialist new software?
Looking for a role where you'll receive mentoring and support in order to develop your railway career?
Join our team of over 50 planners within the busy Train Planning Unit as a Trainee Train Planner!
The award winning GTR Train Planning team is highly regarded and has an ethos of responsibility and results. You'll be fully trained and supported to become a functioning and productive member of our team. This is a structured role, where you'll gain all the knowledge and experience needed to pursue a career within train planning.
You will gain essential planning skills such as train timing, resource diagramming and access planning management. You'll have the opportunity to utilise and master industry train planning tools and systems, and learn the importance of contractual relationships, customer expectation and efficiency of output. This will give you the opportunity to transition from trainee to full planning post when appropriate.
To be successful in the role of Trainee Train Planner, you will need:
- To be competent using Microsoft Office and comfortable using IT and be able to quickly learn additional specialist systems and techniques as required
- The ability to self-organise and manage tasks efficiently including working to deadlines
- Analytical skills, initiative and an ability to communicate effectively
- An accurate, clear, methodical and responsible approach to work
- A good standard of education
- A keen interest in the UK rail industry, its structure and relationships.
Please make sure to refer to the required skills in your application. You must also attach your up-to-date CV and a covering letter. If you do not attach a covering letter, your application will not be progressed.
Govia Thameslink Railway is a partnership between two world-class transport operators – the Go-Ahead Group and Keolis. With nearly 7000 staff across the South East of the UK, we are the largest train operating company in the UK, operating Gatwick Express, Thameslink Southern and Great Northern. We're here to introduce ground breaking new technologies and carry out the biggest rail transformation in decades.
Working for us, you'll enjoy great company and industry benefits, including free travel on our services (Gatwick Express, Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern) and huge discounts with other UK and international train operators, including London Underground. You'll get a market leading pension, and fantastic discount schemes. Not to mention, an interesting and varied work schedule, in an environment where learning and progression are actively encouraged.
Benefits

Pension

Staff Travel

Childcare Vouchers

Extra Holidays

Discount Scheme

Long Service Awards

Employee Assistance Programme

The Transport Benevolent Fund

In-House Occupational Health Department

Cycle to Work Scheme
Testimonials
What our staff say
“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.”
Hannah Richards
Fleet Infrastructure Administrator
“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.”
Jack Gow
Mobile Station Manager
“I love the freedom that comes with being a train driver. Obviously, there are rules and regulations to follow as well as duties and commitments to carry out, but in a way, you’re sort of your own boss, which is nice.”
Ashley John
Train Driver
“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.”
Bob Bryce
Passenger Host Team Leader
“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.”
Harriet Dee
Team Administrator
“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.”
Maggie Luckhurst
Platform / Train Dispatch
“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