PASSENGER CONDUCTOR TRAINEE - 90261250 - Harrisburg

Amtrak•Harrisburg, PA

About The Position

The Passenger Conductor Trainee supports safe and efficient train operations while learning the duties of a conductor. The role combines passenger service with physically demanding work, including assisting the Conductor, supporting onboard operations, conducting safety checks, responding professionally to service disruptions, and communicating with passengers, crew members, and dispatchers. Trainees may be assigned to on-corridor or off-corridor locations. On-corridor work may include preparing trains in rail yards, operating track switches, connecting and disconnecting cars, working around locomotives, and occasionally performing tasks beneath rail equipment. All assignments involve physical activity and careful attention to safety around rail equipment and in railroad operating areas. Work is mostly outdoors and may occur in any weather. This is a union position requiring membership. Trainees work on an extra board without set schedules or shift-swapping capability. Assignments may involve long and variable shifts, including shifts exceeding 18 hours or spanning multiple days, and require availability nights, weekends, holidays, and extended periods away from home. After training, assignments are typically communicated about three hours in advance, and employees must report at least 40 minutes before departure. New hires must attend a seven- to eight-week training program in Wilmington, Delaware, with full attendance. Training combines classroom instruction in safety, customer service, and operating procedures with hands-on fieldwork and on-the-job training at the assigned crew base. Candidates may spend extended time away from home during training. The hourly rate is $24.38, with opportunities for increases under the applicable collective bargaining agreement. The position requires clear communication, sound judgment, problem-solving, and a strong commitment to safety and customer service. Amtrak requires pre-employment screening, including background checks and drug testing. Safety-sensitive applicants must also provide consent for required drug and alcohol testing records to be obtained.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Two years of full-time verifiable work experience and/or college coursework, in any combination totaling 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 and meet Federal Railroad Administration vision, color vision, and hearing standards specified in 49 CFR 242.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability and willingness to attend full-time training for seven to eight weeks in Wilmington, Delaware, potentially requiring extended time away from home.
Availability for extra-board work with no set schedule, including nights, weekends, holidays, long or variable shifts, and extended periods away from home.
Ability to stand for extended periods and perform physically demanding work, including climbing on and off rail equipment, moving between cars, bending, reaching, walking on uneven surfaces, and carrying equipment.
Ability to remain alert and follow safety instructions while working around moving equipment, in rail yards, on station platforms, and along railroad right-of-way areas.
If the applicant holds a driver's license, successful completion of a motor vehicle record review after a conditional offer.

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, operating and safety rules, movement orders, and service plans for passenger and non-passenger operations, including yard duty and work trains.
Promote passenger and crew safety by enforcing safety procedures, responding to emergencies, and assisting passengers with boarding and detraining.
Move around and between train cars while carrying, positioning, and connecting heavy air hoses and electrical cables for train assembly and inspections.
Sort and organize checked baggage on long-distance trains by destination and support accurate tracking, unloading, and transfer.
Assist passengers, make onboard announcements, provide service and connection information, manage passenger conduct, and address service disruptions and special needs.
Collect fares and verify revenue documentation according to established tariffs and procedures.
Assist with preparing and submitting reports about delays, incidents, passenger issues, and mechanical concerns.
Communicate professionally with passengers, crew members, and others, working independently and as part of a team.
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.