Train Dispatcher

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Department Name: OZ Property Operations/National Stations/Birmingham (752359) G5

Location: Birmingham, GB

About Network Rail Join Network Rail – Where People and Connections Matter. At Network Rail, we’re dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you’re not just part of a team – you’re part of something that matters to millions. We believe our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. Click here to learn more. We’re committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work‑life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we’ll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process. If you’re ready to make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Brief Description Central route is at the heart of Britain’s railway. The route covers a major part of the national rail network and is a key commuter line in and out of Birmingham, with hundreds of thousands of passengers, and thousands of tonnes of freight carried within our route each week. Within our route is the Chiltern Main Line between London Marylebone and the West Midlands, the Snow Hill line from Stratford‑upon‑Avon to Worcester, the Cross City line in Birmingham, and lines to other cities including Wolverhampton, Coventry, Walsall, and Oxford. We are home to Birmingham New Street station, the busiest station outside of London with more than 170,000 passengers using it every day.

About The Role (External) Please note internally this role is known as a Platform Assistant.

What will you be doing? Birmingham New Street Station is the heart of Birmingham, and our station is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. As a Train Dispatcher at Birmingham New Street Station, in this highly safety‑critical role you will be primarily responsible for ensuring trains depart safely and on time, and making sure customers benefit from exceptional service down on our platforms. It is a highly visible role and our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We’re an organisation where people matter. You need to be prepared for challenging situations as customers can get frustrated due to delays or disruption, but you will continue to provide excellent customer service at all times. Whatever the weather, whatever your shift, your enthusiasm will shine brightly and because Birmingham New Street is a fast‑paced, busy environment, you’ll relish the challenge of thinking on your feet. Due to the nature of the role, you will be expected to participate in a roster which will cover early mornings, evenings and night shifts which will also include weekends. Also, our station is sub‑surface, therefore you will be expected to work in all weather conditions.

Requirements and qualifications

• The ability to speak and write English fluently
• A track record of providing first‑class customer service
• Excellent people skills – from listening and questioning, to building relationships
• Good hearing and eyesight, with normal colour perception
• Able to work shifts including nights and weekends
• Meet the required benchmark for application screening questions
• Must meet required online testing benchmark

Please note we onboard our frontline teams in cohorts due to the training requirements, so if you were to be successful at interview stages, you must be able to start on the 16th March 2026. This is also of course subject to you successfully completing our onboarding checks and medical checks.

How To Apply (External)

Salary: £29,364

Closing date: 10th November 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.

Our benefits

• 28 days holiday entitlement (plus bank holidays)
• My benefits – our discounted online shopping site
• A range of discounted offers including childcare vouchers, healthcare offers – cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits
• Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets
• 75% discount on leisure travel
• A choice of contributory pension schemes
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community
• 5 days volunteer leave

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of a range of pre‑employment checks. Click here for more information.

Application process

You will need to apply via our Oracle. Please attach your CV and complete the pre‑screening questions at the start of the application process. Your application will then be reviewed by the hiring manager after the closing date, and if you meet the requirements, you will then be invited to an assessment centre on either the 1st or 2nd of December 2025 in Birmingham. Unfortunately we are unable to offer any alternative dates nor can you select a date due to the volumes.

Diversity and Inclusion In the North West & Central Region, we’re proud to be building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We know that inclusive teams make better decisions, drive innovation, and help us create a safer, more accessible railway for everyone. Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. If you’re passionate about making a difference and believe you have the skills or potential to thrive in this role, we’d love to hear from you. We’re committed to creating an open, supportive environment where everyone feels they belong. Your unique perspective and experience could be exactly what we need to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably. Discover more about our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail Equity, diversity and inclusion – Network Rail.