PASSENGER CONDUCTOR TRAINEE - 90292954 - New York (NYP)

About the role

As a Passenger Conductor Trainee, you will support safe and efficient train operations by performing both customer-facing and physically demanding duties. Responsibilities include assisting passengers, managing service disruptions with calm and professionalism, conducting safety checks, and supporting the Conductor in overseeing onboard operations and on-train staff. Strong communication skills and the ability to think and act independently are essential, as you will interact regularly with crew members, dispatchers, and customers in real time.

Trainees may be assigned to either on‑corridor or off‑corridor locations. On‑corridor assignments are located on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC), connecting major cities such as Washington, DC, New York City, and Boston. This high‑activity area involves preparing trains for service (putting rail cars together in the correct order), operating track switches, connecting and disconnecting rail cars, working safely around diesel locomotives, and occasionally performing tasks underneath rail equipment. Off‑corridor assignments are located outside the NEC, typically supporting facilities that serve Amtrak’s long‑distance and regional routes. All trainee positions are physically demanding, requiring climbing on and off rail equipment, moving between rail cars, bending, reaching, walking on uneven surfaces, riding alongside slow‑moving equipment, and lifting or carrying tools and equipment. Most work is performed outdoors in all weather conditions. Safety is the top priority—you must follow operating rules, remain vigilant around moving equipment, and make smart decisions in complex, high-risk environments.

This is a union position; membership is required. The role requires a high degree of flexibility and resilience: trainees work on an extra board with no set schedules or shift‑swap capability, may be assigned long and variable shifts (including those exceeding 18 hours or spanning multiple days), and must be available to work nights, weekends, holidays, and extended periods away from home. Assignments are typically communicated approximately three hours in advance; employees must report to the station no later than 40 minutes prior to departure. Work location: New York. Relocation is not offered. Travel requirements: up to 100%. Watch a day in the life of an Amtrak Conductor.

Responsibilities

• Support the safe, efficient operation of trains by assisting the Conductor with train movements, compliance with operating and safety rules, and ensuring execution of movement orders and service plans 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 safely assisting passengers during boarding and detraining.
• Perform yard operations requiring continuous movement around and between train cars while safely carrying, positioning, and connecting heavy air hoses and electrical cables in support of train assembly and inspection activities.
• Systematically organize and sort checked baggage on long‑distance trains according to final destination, ensuring accurate tracking, timely unloading, and proper transfer upon arrival.
• Deliver an exceptional customer experience by assisting passengers, making onboard announcements, providing service and connection information, managing passenger conduct, and addressing service disruptions and special needs.
• Collect and verify fares and revenue documentation in accordance with established tariffs and procedures.
• Assist with the preparation and submission of operational and service reports, including delays, incidents, passenger issues, and mechanical concerns.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with passengers, crew members, and others to support safe train operations and high‑quality service, while working independently and as part of a team.
• Maintain required knowledge of train operations, including operating rules, safety and emergency procedures, equipment operation (air brake rules and electrical instructions), and troubleshooting practices.
• Represent the organization with a professional appearance and demeanor, consistently complying with uniform and grooming standards.

Training

New hires must attend a comprehensive training program lasting seven to eight weeks in Wilmington, Delaware. The program requires full attendance and may involve extended time away from home, particularly for candidates who live outside the Northeast Corridor. Training blends classroom instruction with hands‑on fieldwork:

• Instructional setting: learn safety protocols, customer service techniques, and operational procedures.
• On‑the‑job training at assigned Crew base: apply foundational knowledge in real‑world scenarios alongside seasoned conductors.

Upon completion, new conductors are placed on the extra board and must demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to shift work.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Demonstrated work experience showcasing responsibility, initiative, and leadership characteristics.
• Two (2) years of full‑time verifiable work experience and/or college coursework (combination accepted), totaling two years.
• Demonstrated history of satisfactory attendance and adherence to safe work practices in previous employment.
• Must live within a 2‑hour commute of the Crew Base.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and meet Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) standards for vision, color vision, and hearing as specified in 49 CFR 242.
• Although a driver’s license is not required, applicants who currently hold a license must successfully clear a motor vehicle record review (administered per DOT regulations and applicable laws) after a conditional offer.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills to troubleshoot equipment and understand/comply with safety regulations and emergency procedures.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail to accurately document delays, incidents, passenger impacts, and mechanical issues.
• Problem‑solving and conflict‑management skills to arrange contingency solutions during service disruptions and ensure orderly, compliant passenger conduct.

Pay

Hourly rate: $24.38 (with opportunity for increases per the applicable collective bargaining agreement after beginning employment).

Benefits

Some benefits are subject to the collective bargaining agreement. Offerings include:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401K
• Rail Pass Privileges
• Wellness Programs
• Railroad Retirement Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Medical Plan Opt‑out Credit
• Life Insurance
• Commuter and Flexible Spending Accounts
• No‑cost Personal Health Advocate
• No‑cost Financial Advisor Session
• Fertility and Family Building Benefits

Schedule & Work Conditions

• Union position; membership required.
• Extra board with no set schedules or shift‑swap capability.
• Long and variable shifts, potentially exceeding 18 hours or spanning multiple days.
• Must be available nights, weekends, holidays, and extended periods away from home.
• Physically demanding: standing for extended periods, climbing on/off equipment, moving between cars, bending, reaching, walking on uneven surfaces, riding alongside slow‑moving equipment, lifting/carrying tools.
• Most work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Assignments communicated ~3 hours in advance; report to station no later than 40 minutes before departure.
• Pre‑employment background check (employment verification, criminal history, drug screen) required. Positive marijuana test disqualifies regardless of state law; testing administered per DOT regulations.