Railways Assistant
What the work is
Assists with operating and maintaining facilities at a railway station, and selling tickets to passengers.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Assists rail passengers by providing information regarding train schedules and services, and answering enquiries
- Assists rail passengers with additional needs, such as wheelchair users, or those with large luggage or prams
- Sells tickets to rail passengers and assists with monitoring ticket barriers
- Maintains the cleanliness of railway station facilities, including platforms, waiting areas and restrooms
- Reports any safety hazards or maintenance issues to the appropriate authorities for action
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a suburban and regional passenger rail line, with busy stations and trains that run from early morning to late night. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A packed peak-hour train empties and fills smoothly because everyone moved sensibly
- A passenger who was lost leaves knowing exactly where to go
- The last train of the night leaves on time with everyone safely aboard
Hard days
- A cancelled train and a platform full of frustrated passengers
- Cold, wet platforms and a shift that finishes after midnight
- Being the face of the railway when people are tired, late and cross
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 899532, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.