Train Movement Apprentice (Formerly Shunter Driver)

Job Introduction

Looking for a career that can take you places? 

Become a Southeastern Train Movement Apprentice (Formerly known as a Shunter Driver).

We are seeking 40+ Train Movement Apprentices to join Southeastern in 2025 across our London, Kent and East Sussex Depots. 

Can you move people? Apply now.

What you’ll do

• As a trainee Train Movement Apprentice you’ll be enrolled into the Driver Apprenticeship Level 3 Programme which will lead to a nationally recognised qualification
• You’ll complete a mix of classroom days, modular assessments and practical training with a Shunter Driver Team Leader
• It usually takes approx. 6 months to become competent

Once Competent

• You will be responsible for ensuring Trains are shunted/driven and prepared for service, as well as communicating with YMC's, Drivers, Signallers and other agencies/contractors, via radio and the preferred method of face to face.
• You will correctly set routes for the trains, by pulling points manually, to ensure the trains are positioned in the correct part of the yard
  

Driving a train carries great responsibility but with that comes pride and achievement, knowing that an invaluable service has been delivered on time to a ever changing industry.                

Your shifts

• Rosters vary but are based over a 35-hour week. This will include a mix of early, late, night and weekend shifts
• Our railway operates 24-hours, so shifts can start as early as 05:00 and end at almost any time of day or night.

The experience you’ll need

You don’t need railway experience to do this role. We’re looking for people from all backgrounds to join our team.

We’re looking for a great mix of talented people with concentration, co-ordination, problem solving, great teamworking skills and a talent for customer service too.

However, we can only consider you for the role if you:

• are 20 years or older, as train driving is a safety critical role
• live within a 40-minute drive of your chosen Kent/East Sussex depot
• Or 20-minutes by public transport (not car or motorbike) from our London Victoria depot.
• We do not accept applications from candidates for our Kent depot's who are north of the river at this time

We have depots located at Ashford (Kent),Slade Green, Gillingham, Grove Park, Ramsgate and Victoria.  

As proud members of the Armed Forces Covenant and Disability Confident Scheme, we will offer you an interview if you apply under these schemes and meet the minimum criteria for the role. Find out more here.  

What you’ll get in return 

We offer a generous salary (plus regional allowance where applicable) which rises in increments throughout your journey to becoming a Competent Train Movements Apprentice

The starting salary for the role is £33,601, which rises to £41,588 once you are deemed competent.

Along with your salary, the rewards you’ll get include:

• a final salary pension
• 24 days annual leave allowance (including bank holidays)
• free rail travel across our networks.

Meaning you can feel secure in your career as well as fulfilled by your work. Click here to see our full range of amazing benefits.

A bit about Southeastern

We’re one of Britain's busiest train operators, serving London, Kent and parts of East Sussex. We run over 1,700 trains a day, carrying more than 500,000 passengers and serving 180 stations.

However, working on our railway is more than getting passengers from A to B. It’s about all the little moments that make a difference to their journey.

It’s also about making our railway a great place to work. With a team that represents the communities we serve. This is a journey we’re fully committed to and we’re proud to have been named a ‘Great Place to Work’ at the 2023 National Rail Awards and endorsed as a WORK180 Employer for Women. 

Our ways of working are what we expect of everyone at Southeastern. They are powerful. Tiny moments, every day, from every one of us, add up to massive, positive change. Improving how it feels to work here and how it feels to travel with us.

Learn more about our railway and what we achieved in 2023. 

Other things to know

• This vacancy may close early if we receive a large number of applications. So, make sure you get yours in early.
• All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, a right to work verification, a basic criminal record check, and a pre-employment medical assessment. Work visa sponsorship isn’t available for this role.
• If you applied but weren’t successful in getting a similar role at Southeastern, please wait six months before applying again.

Find out more about our recruitment process and get tips to help you apply.

SE Trains Limited