PASSENGER CONDUCTOR TRAINEE - 90246046 - New York

Amtrak•New York, NY

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Passenger Conductor Trainee supports safe and efficient passenger train operations while developing the knowledge and skills needed to become a conductor. The role combines customer-facing duties with physically demanding work, including helping passengers, supporting the Conductor and onboard staff, conducting safety checks, responding professionally to service disruptions, and communicating with crew members, dispatchers, and customers. Trainees may be assigned to on-corridor or off-corridor locations. On-corridor assignments on the Northeast Corridor may involve preparing trains for service, operating track switches, connecting and disconnecting rail cars, working around diesel locomotives, and occasionally working underneath rail equipment. Off-corridor assignments support facilities serving long-distance and regional routes. Work takes place in rail yards, on station platforms, and along railroad right-of-way areas, mostly outdoors and in all types of weather. It involves climbing on and off equipment, moving between cars, walking on uneven surfaces, bending, reaching, standing for extended periods, and lifting or carrying tools and equipment. The position is a union role requiring membership. Trainees attend a seven- to eight-week training program in Wilmington, Delaware, combining classroom instruction and fieldwork, followed by on-the-job training at their assigned Crew base. After training, conductors are placed on an extra board. Schedules are not set, assignments are typically communicated about three hours in advance, and employees must report at least 40 minutes before departure. Shifts may be long and variable, including shifts exceeding 18 hours or spanning multiple days, and the role requires availability for nights, weekends, holidays, and extended periods away from home. The work requires safety vigilance, sound judgment, flexibility, customer service, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Two years of full-time verifiable work experience and/or college coursework, or a combination totaling two years.
Demonstrated work experience showing responsibility, initiative, and leadership characteristics.
History of 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 to attend the full seven- to eight-week training program in Wilmington, Delaware, potentially requiring extended time away from home.
Ability to work variable schedules and shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended periods away from home.
If the applicant has a driver's license, successful completion of a motor vehicle record review after a conditional offer of employment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist the Conductor with train movements, compliance with operating and safety rules, and execution of movement orders and predetermined service plans across passenger and non-passenger operations.
Help ensure operating crew understand and carry out service plans, including yard duty and work trains.
Promote passenger and crew safety by enforcing safety procedures, responding to emergencies, and assisting passengers during boarding and detraining.
Perform yard operations involving movement around and between train cars, and carry, position, and connect air hoses and electrical cables for train assembly and inspections.
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 disruptions and special needs.
Collect fares and verify revenue documentation in accordance with established tariffs and procedures.
Assist with operational and service reports covering delays, incidents, passenger issues, and mechanical concerns.
Communicate professionally with passengers, crew members, and others to support safe operations and high-quality service.
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.