PASSENGER CONDUCTOR TRAINEE - 90376437 - Sacramento

Amtrak•Sacramento, CA

32d•Onsite

About The Position

The Passenger Conductor Trainee supports safe and efficient passenger train operations while learning the knowledge and skills needed to become a conductor. The role combines customer-facing service with physically demanding operational duties, including assisting passengers, supporting the Conductor and onboard staff, conducting safety checks, and responding professionally to service disruptions. Trainees communicate with passengers, crew members, and dispatchers, and must be able to work independently as well as part of a team. Trainees may be assigned to on-corridor or off-corridor locations. On-corridor work may include preparing trains for service, operating track switches, connecting and disconnecting rail cars, working around diesel locomotives, and occasionally performing tasks beneath rail equipment. All assignments may involve climbing on and off rail equipment, moving between cars, bending, reaching, walking on uneven surfaces, riding alongside slow-moving equipment when required, and carrying tools or equipment. Work is mostly outdoors and may occur in all types of weather, including in rail yards, on station platforms, and along railroad right-of-way areas. The position is a union role requiring membership. Trainees work on an extra board with no set schedules or shift-swapping capability. Shifts may be long and variable, including shifts exceeding 18 hours or spanning multiple days. Employees must be available for nights, weekends, holidays, and extended periods away from home. Assignments are typically communicated about three hours in advance, and employees must report to the station at least 40 minutes before departure. After training, new conductors are placed on the extra board. New hires must attend a seven- to eight-week training program in Wilmington, Delaware, with full attendance required. Training combines classroom instruction in safety, customer service, and operating procedures with on-the-job training at the assigned Crew base. The role requires compliance with operating rules, safety and emergency procedures, and uniform and grooming standards. Applicants must live within a two-hour commute of the Crew Base. Travel requirements are up to 100%; relocation is not offered. The hourly range is $24.38–$24.38, with opportunities for increases under the applicable collective bargaining agreement after employment begins. Amtrak requires a pre-employment background check and drug screen. Safety-sensitive candidates are subject to applicable DOT drug and alcohol record requirements.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Two years of full-time verifiable work experience and/or college coursework, with a combination of work and coursework accepted to total two years.
Demonstrated work experience showing responsibility, initiative, and leadership characteristics.
Satisfactory attendance and adherence to safe work practices in previous employment.
Must live within a two-hour commute of the Crew Base.
Ability to lift 50 pounds.
Must meet Federal Railroad Administration standards for vision, color vision, and hearing under 49 CFR 242.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Must attend the full seven- to eight-week training program in Wilmington, Delaware.
Must be able to work flexible, variable shifts and be available for nights, weekends, holidays, and extended periods away from home.
Must be able to stand for extended periods and perform physically demanding duties, including climbing, bending, reaching, walking on uneven surfaces, and carrying equipment.
Must follow safety instructions and remain alert while working around moving equipment and in rail yards, on station platforms, and along railroad right-of-way areas.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading or supporting others in a work or team setting.
Customer service experience involving cash handling.
Work history demonstrating adaptability to varying work schedules.
Basic mechanical experience or knowledge, including familiarity with equipment maintenance and troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

Assist the Conductor with train movements and ensure operating crew understand and carry out movement orders, service plans, operating rules, and safety rules across passenger and non-passenger operations, including yard duty and work trains.
Promote a safe environment for passengers and crew by enforcing safety procedures, responding to emergencies, and assisting passengers during boarding and detraining.
Perform yard operations, moving around and between train cars while carrying, positioning, and connecting heavy air hoses and electrical cables for train assembly and inspection.
Sort and organize checked baggage on long-distance trains by final destination and ensure accurate tracking, timely unloading, and proper transfer.
Assist passengers, make onboard announcements, provide service and connection information, manage passenger conduct, and address service disruptions and special needs.
Collect and verify fares and revenue documentation according to established tariffs and procedures.
Assist with preparing and submitting operational and service reports, including reports about delays, incidents, passenger issues, and mechanical concerns.
Communicate professionally with passengers, crew members, and others to support safe operations and quality service, working independently and collaboratively.
Maintain knowledge of train operations, operating rules, safety and emergency procedures, equipment operation, air brake rules, electrical instructions, and troubleshooting practices.
Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor and comply with uniform and grooming standards.