• Home
• Programme
• Qualifications
• Careers
• Benefits
• Facts
• Requirements

Careers

Basically, this is an operational programme where you’ll work with colleagues from across the Capital and deal with customers from all over the world. We’re a 24/7 organisation, so you’ll be working shifts which could start early or finish late. And there’s a great deal of importance resting on your shoulders – everything we do is about providing a first-class, efficient, safe service, and you’ll help us deliver that.

At the end of the two years, it’s really a case of ‘what’s your line?’. We’ll look at how you’ve performed and see where your strengths lie, coupled with our own operational needs. You could then be offered a job as a Service Operator or possibly a Train Operator. But things don’t end there, of course. We’ll see you as the future of our organisation, part of the next generation of talented managers who will steer us through the challenges of the 21st century. It’s a very real possibility you could be a manager by your early twenties.

Service Operators

It’s a big responsibility being a Service Operator: you’ll be absolutely crucial to the efficiency and safety of the Tube network. As you can imagine, there’s a complex network with a myriad of lines and busy intersections. But, in a nutshell, it’s about making sure trains go in the right direction, at the right time. Each signal cabin and control centre is unique, and every Service Operator has her or his favourite. While some cabins use manual lever systems, more and more now boast the latest in digital technology. During the programme, you’ll learn a number of skills including:

• Decision-making
• Accountability
• Communication
• Operation of signalling equipment
• Incident management

Train Operators

Watching Train Operators pull into the station in their cab, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s quite an isolated, even lonely, occupation. In reality, it’s an important service role where you’ll be in constant contact with the control room, Service Operators and customers. For instance, when we have any service issues or delays, you’ll be the one responsible for reassuring our customers and providing them with accurate information.

However, it’s safe to say that being a Train Operator isn’t the most sociable job in the world, as you are on your own a lot of the time. You need to be self-motivated. You also need the ability to concentrate for long periods of time and to put yourself in our customers' shoes.

Some of the things you’ll learn about on the programme include:

• Fault diagnosis
• Rolling stock (ie different types of trains and carriages)
• Driving a train under the supervision of an Instructor