what is a train attendant?
Train attendants – in some companies also called travel companions or customer service agents – accompany passengers during the journey, check tickets, ensure passenger safety, and provide good customer service. They work for public or private railway operators.
They check the validity of passengers' travel passes and sell tickets if needed. They take care of passengers' inquiries, for example by answering questions about the timetable or connecting services. They also provide information about the company's additional services and explain prices and special offers.
Train attendants ensure the best possible travel comfort for passengers and make sure the climate inside the train is pleasant – not too cold, not too warm. They also keep everything clean and ensure there is enough space for everyone. Additionally, they guarantee that safety standards are met.
You are in contact with the train attendant and, for example, give the departure clearance. Before starting operation, you check the train. In case of disruptions, train attendants provide assistance if possible.
train attendant jobsworking as a train attendant.
Dear passengers, the train will be departing from the station in a few minutes.
Or something along those lines, you've probably heard this phrase many times during or before a train journey.
The whistling of the train attendant when the train is ready to depart is also quite familiar to you.
But the role of a train attendant involves more interesting tasks as well.
What can you expect as a train attendant?
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your area of responsibility
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Checking the tickets: Shortly after the train departs, you start inspecting the travel documents. Are there passengers travelling without a valid ticket? If so, you discuss with the individual concerned to find out why, and then decide on the next steps. Is a fine warranted? Or are there understandable reasons that justify a payment afterwards? The final decision is at your discretion.
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Ensuring a safe journey: As a train attendant, you carefully check that all passengers have boarded the train safely. Only once this is confirmed do you signal the train attendant with a whistle that he can depart. Throughout the journey, you continue to monitor safety, step in during disputes, or assist with medical issues.
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Making announcements: Not all passengers know exactly when they need to get off. That's why you make announcements about the upcoming stop and inform passengers about any disruptions or delays occurring along the route.
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Conflict management: There are also unfriendly passengers. This can affect other travellers or yourself as a train attendant. In such situations, stay calm, try to calm the person down, protect other passengers if necessary, and, if possible, resolve the conflict. If that’s not possible, you can always call for assistance.
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Informant: You are fully aware of what happens during the journey and how things proceed with this train during a shift change. You pass this information on to the train attendants of the next shift. You are also an important point of contact for passengers, able to provide information about arrival or departure times, disruptions, or connecting trains.
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who are your colleagues?
As a train attendant, you work within a team of fellow attendants who are either working on the same train or taking over the next shift, and they also brief you at the start of your shift. The train attendant is also an important point of contact. Additionally, you occasionally come into contact with the railway operator or their representatives. You often operate on different routes each day, so you meet various colleagues and there's always some variety within the team.
types of train attendants.
As a train attendant, you're on the move all day. Depending on your employer, you might be travelling long-distance or short-distance routes, where you also get the chance to look out the window and enjoy the scenery from time to time. But as a train attendant, you're also needed in other public transport vehicles, such as trams or buses. In these, your main task is usually just checking tickets, which is done randomly. Working as a train attendant on a train, however, offers a more varied range of responsibilities.
salary as a train attendant.
how much do I earn as a train attendant in a permanent position?
As a train attendant in a permanent position, you can expect an average gross annual salary of around 63,357.52 CHF. The salary range typically falls between 50,000 CHF and 91,000 CHF gross per year. Based on these figures, the monthly earnings range from approximately 4,167 CHF to 7,583 CHF gross. The starting salary for a train attendant is on average about 64,111 CHF gross.
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how much do I earn per hour as a train attendant?
As a train attendant, your hourly wage ranges between 24 CHF and 43 CHF gross per hour.
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in which industry do I earn the most as a train attendant?
The industry is quite clear when it comes to train attendants: most of them work for a railway company, whether private or public. With private companies, there’s a good chance that the pay will be higher than with a public one. As a train attendant on a tram or bus, your scope of duties is more limited, so you can expect a lower salary compared to a railway company, where you carry more responsibility.
training and further education as a train attendant.
The job title of train attendant can vary depending on the company. Possible alternatives include customer service agent or travel companion. To become a train attendant, basic vocational training in a service-oriented field is usually required. Afterwards, there is on-the-job training within the company or a qualified training program, such as an apprenticeship in business administration with a focus on public transport and train service.
positions as train attendant.
At Randstad, you can find various positions as a train attendant. A major company for train attendants is the SBB, Switzerland’s largest railway company. They are regularly looking for train attendants who enjoy being on the move and who care about providing excellent customer service. In Switzerland, there are also many private railway companies operating on specialized routes, offering fantastic trips for tourists and locals alike. Find the right employer for you here at Randstad!
positions for career changers as train attendants.
As a career changer, you have good chances of finding a job as a train attendant. An essential requirement is a basic education in a service-oriented field. Building on this, you can undergo on-the-job and part-time training to become a train attendant.
It’s important that you enjoy working in a customer- and service-oriented manner, are skilled in negotiation, work independently, and have a quick reaction time. Knowledge of foreign languages is definitely a big plus, since as a train attendant you’ll be dealing with people from different nationalities.
Since train attendants work in shifts, irregular working hours are part of the job.
career opportunities and development potential as a train attendant.
Train attendants have good prospects for finding long-term employment and staying in the profession, thanks to demographic developments. You have the opportunity to work for various railway companies and gain valuable experience. With this expertise, you could, for example, advance to a team leader position and manage your own team of train attendants. As a team leader, you give instructions, motivate your team members, and conduct employee reviews.
Would you like to further your training as a train attendant? Thanks to your experience in railway operations, you are a well-regarded candidate for a training position as a train attendant.
Another career move could be to pursue further training as a train dispatcher. Train dispatchers work behind the scenes, for example when there are delays or disruptions.
skills as a train attendant.
As a train attendant, good physical fitness is very important. Taking responsibility is just as much part of the job as resilience, reliability, honesty, and a friendly, approachable demeanor. A train attendant should also be able to stay calm and customer-focused, even in challenging situations. Good to very good language skills, especially in English, complete the profile of a train attendant.
advantages of working as a train attendant with randstad.
There are many good reasons to work as a train attendant at Randstad:
✓ exciting jobs with well-known companies
✓ a reliable contact person whenever you need one, personal advice really matters
✓ attractive employment conditions and good social benefits
✓ continuing education courses and personal development opportunities
✓ clear information in the myRandstad app
✓ do you have a fixed-term contract? Often, there’s a chance to secure a permanent position afterwards. Many popular companies also recruit their staff directly through Randstad
your training budget as a train attendant with randstad.
If you work as a train attendant for Randstad, you have access to further training courses. As part of the TempTraining program from swissstaffing, you can attend training sessions. You will get the course fees reimbursed later, provided you pass the course exam. Your consultant from Randstad is there to support you if you have any questions. This way, you can acquire additional language skills or job-specific knowledge—all during your working hours as a train attendant.
application tips for train attendants at randstad.
Have you found your dream job as a train attendant? Not only qualifications and certificates determine the success of your applications. Careful, error-free, and personalized documents will definitely help you in your job search. Here are a few useful tips to improve your chances:
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1. find a position as a train attendant
Search through the Randstad job offers. If you don’t find a position that’s a perfect fit, you’re still welcome to get in touch with us personally without any obligation or to create a Randstad profile.
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2. applying as a train attendant
The job ad continues right away: apply online, give us a call, or send us an email.
Make sure your documents are complete:✓ CV with photo
✓ work references & diplomasYou don't have a CV yet or only an outdated version? Create a new layout using a free online template.
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3. preparing for the job interview as a train attendant
A good preparation will help you stay calm during the interview as a drywaller. Here are some tips for your job interview.
frequently asked questions.
Here you'll find answers to frequently asked questions about the train attendant profession.
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what does a train attendant do?
A train attendant accompanies passengers during the journey. They check the validity of tickets, answer passengers' questions, and assist with any issues that arise. Before departure, they ensure everything is in order on the train and give the driver the signal to depart.
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how much do I earn as a train attendant?
As a train attendant, you typically earn around 63,000 CHF gross per year. The salary range is between 50,000 CHF and 91,000 CHF gross annually. This translates to a monthly income of roughly 4,200 CHF to 7,600 CHF gross. The starting salary for a train attendant is approximately 64,000 CHF gross.
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is being a train attendant a good profession?
If you see shift work as an advantage and enjoy being on the move, then working as a train attendant might be the right job for you. You'll come into contact with many people, be able to work customer-oriented, and have good prospects of securing a permanent position.
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is it difficult to be a train attendant?
A train attendant is a profession that requires good health and strong communication and conflict resolution skills. In the daily work of a train attendant, challenging situations can arise repeatedly. If a situation becomes too difficult to handle on your own, you can always ask for support.
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do you need experience to become a train attendant?
As a train attendant, you should have completed basic training in a service-oriented profession. You will already have gained experience in dealing with guests or customers, which will be helpful in your role as a train attendant.
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what requirements do I need to meet to become a train attendant?
To become a train attendant, a basic qualification in a service-oriented profession is required. Additionally, you should be physically fit, communicative, well-mannered, quick to grasp new information, and possess good to very good language skills, especially in English.
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how do I apply for a vacant position as a train attendant?
Applying for a train attendant position is very straightforward: create a Randstad profile and browse our site for train attendant job offers. Then, simply send us your CV and a personal cover letter. If you need help with your application, check out our tips for job hunting!
