Get your career on track with a team where you can grow, belong and make an impact from day one.

Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) is the UK’s largest rail operator, connecting millions of people across the country through Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services.

With 239 managed stations and a network that supports commuters, businesses and communities every day. We are driven by our purpose to deliver safe, reliable and customer focused journeys while making a positive impact on the communities we serve.

At the heart of our work is Creating Great Journeys, a vision that reflects our commitment to improving experiences for passengers, supporting local communities and investing in the future of rail. We actively engage with and support the diverse communities across our network, while also developing future talent to ensure a sustainable and thriving railway for years to come.

Career development

Our people are central to everything we do, and we are committed to creating an environment where colleagues can grow, contribute and feel proud of the work they do.

At GTR, you career isn’t just another job; it is a journey where the destinations are endless. We are committed to career development and progression, offering clear pathways to help you steer your future.

Because the railway connects vibrant and diverse towns and cities, we believe our workforce should reflect the communities we serve. We actively invest in future talent from all backgrounds to bring fresh perspective to our industry.

Whether you are taking the next step in the industry or just starting out; we’ll welcome you on board with us when you are ready to grow and build you career right here.

GTR’s Undergraduate Placement Scheme takes place within the heart of the busy Train Planning Unit working with a team of around 70 planners. Many of these were previous placements who have returned to GTR after graduation to continue their professional development and this is something that we encourage.

We will give the successful candidates training and support to quickly become functioning and productive members of the team as they embark on their railway careers. The role is structured to deliver a wide-ranging set of work experiences, a varied workload and a broad introduction to the rail industry. For example:

• Producing documents for operational and customer service colleagues that detail short-term variations to the advertised timetable as necessitated by engineering work or special events. These contain essential information required by drivers, station staff and 24-hour controllers.
• Recording the department’s Key Performance Indicators and producing related reports.
• Organising and administrating the special events planning groups.
• Maintaining and developing timetable data to inform the Passenger Information System on board our various train fleets.
• Collaborate with other parts of the organisation and industry to improve train service performance.
• Undertaking train planning activities to support the teams.

Applicants will need:

• To be a registered university undergraduate student on a degree that includes a year in industry and ideally on a transport, geography or logistics related programme.
• An understanding of the railway industry, its framework and operation.
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office, with an ability to learn additional specialist techniques and packages as required.
• An ability to learn quickly, self-organise and manage tasks efficiently.
• Analytical skills, initiative and an ability to communicate effectively.
• An accurate, clear, methodical and responsible approach to work.

The contract for the position will last from July 2027 until September 2028. A two-month overlap will occur with the present incumbents to facilitate workplace familiarisation, a smooth handover and to ease the new post holders into their role.

The GTR Train Planning Unit is located at London King’s Cross Station.

The successful applicant will receive an annual salary of £30,767 plus other benefits including paid annual leave and a combination of free and discounted (depending on location) rail travel.

Applications, including a CV and covering letter detailing the candidate’s interest in and suitability for the role, should be received by 13th November 2026. Interviews will take place in December 2026.

Recruitment process and timelines

We aim to provide a fair, transparent and engaging recruitment experience. This is what you can expect from our process.

• Application window: Submit your application before the advertised closing date
• Screening and shortlisting: Applications are reviewed following the closing date. This stage may include online assessments or testing, depending on the role
• Assessment: Depending on the role, you may undertake an assessment (or sent of assessments)
• Interview process: A two-stage interview process using competency-based questions to assess your skills, experience and alignment with our values
• Offer: Once successful, you will be given a verbal conditional offer which is based on a clear DBS check and medical. We will also ask you to provide your Right to Work document(s) at this stage
• Contract: Your contract and formal offer letter will be issued once a start date has been agreed
• Induction: Your first week of employment will be at our East Croydon location where you’ll undertake your induction and receive your IT equipment before you meet your team and get stuck into your new role.

We will keep candidates informed throughout the process and aim to complete hiring decisions in a timely manner. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback at the application stage.