Scotrail - Travel Safe Officer (Haymarket)

[LockKeeper86]

Hi,

I'm currently interested in several positions with Scotrail and saw this Travelsafe officer vacancy. It's based in Haymarket but it'll be across the network mostly evening and weekends.

At first, I didn't think it was for me but I looked at the job description and I think I could do it. I have a good knowledge of the local landscape and I've worked with challenging behaviours in previous jobs. I've dealt with the public and have relevant life experience and a good understanding of what combination of elements can cause volatility. I've been told I am good at remaining calm and defusing a situation, too.

That being said, I'm worried about the potential risks. There's a lot of antisocial behaviour right now, and as much as I love the railway I'm not exactly willing to be hurt on a train. I'm not cut to be a ersatz of a police officer either. Feels like a fairly new job, too? Maybe backup for Gateline and Conductor staff? But I'd want to be sure they're clear on the role and protocols so that I'm not thrown in at the deep end with minimal training.

ScotRail

apply.scotrail.co.uk

Is anyone considering going for it or have any experience / insight?

Thanking you in advance.

 

[Blockandchock]

Hi!
I just applied for this position...I currently work in a different industry but am looking for a career change.
I thought I might have a small chance at getting an interview due to my previous experience as a police officer...but then again, it seems like it could be a bit of a thankless job - although the salary is enticing!
Just hope there is a proper legal framework provided...and hope that it does't essentially boil down to a security guard role.

Probably not useful at all but thought I'd share my thoughts!

 

[LockKeeper86]

Good luck with the application! Yeah the pay is pretty good. It's hard to tell exactly what the ground level tasks will be and I guess that's a question for the interview. It seems it'll also be office based with a lot of reports / data.

I hope whoever gets the job feels valued and supported as opposed to someone who's stretched to their limit. I'd imagine it's a stressful job.

It's worth applying and then using the interview to gauge I guess!

 

[Saltire1973]

I’m also considering applying for this after first seeing it a week or so ago, initially it didn’t really float my boat but on reflection I think I have transferable skills that would be useful for this role.

After first reading the description I figured it would predominantly be office based but as the roster is flexible and mainly late shifts and weekends I’m now thinking it will be more hands on.

Does anyone know if this role already exists or if this is a completely new role?

 

[LockKeeper86]

I think it will be a challenging job mentally because you'll need to be actually patient and build a good rapport with people who probably want to lock in a power struggle with you. Equally you'll probably deal with people who are having a really **** day.

After a quick online search, it seems there was a recruitment drive in 2022 and so this is not a new job and there are travel officers already working although don't remember seeing any but didn't travel much between 2020 and 2024.

Here's what I found:

ScotRail Travel Safe officers?

On a train from Gourock to Glasgow at present and there are four people constantly walking through the carriage in high viz purple, branded as 'travel safe officers'. What is their job and why are they walking through the carriage in a group every couple of minutes? They were doing the same on...

www.railforums.co.uk

Scotrail Travel Safe Team

Had three of the above on my trip from Edinburgh to Falkirk Grahamston tonight. They met up with two BTP Officers at FKG whose van was outside - they must have got lost on the way to Stirling or Edinburgh. This is the first time I have ever seen the Travel Safe officers in their gaudy Pupley...

www.railforums.co.uk

ScotRail to expand Travel Safe Team following recruitment drive

ScotRail has confirmed the expansion of its Travel Safe Team following the train operator’s current recruitment drive. ScotRail is actively recruiting 24 Travel Safe Officers, three Travel Safe Supervisors, and one Safeguarding Manager. Once complete, this recruitment will make permanent the...

www.scotrail.co.uk

Meet the Travel Safe Team: My evening with ScotRail staff keeping us out of trouble on the tracks

In April 2022, a member of ScotRail’s staff was hospitalised after a man...

hellorayo.co.uk

 

[Saltire1973]

@LockKeeper86 & @Blockandchock - did you apply and if so, have you heard anything back?
I know railway recruitment can be slow, but I’d imagine the process for this role may be quicker than for a driver or conductor etc

 

[LockKeeper86]

@LockKeeper86 & @Blockandchock - did you apply and if so, have you heard anything back?
I know railway recruitment can be slow, but I’d imagine the process for this role may be quicker than for a driver or conductor etc

I didn't apply as I realised it wasn't for me

I also applied for a Station grade B job (Burntisland) via Scotrail's website in early September, I haven't heard back yet.

In July this year, I applied for conductor (Stirling) and heard back in August, had SCAAT test within a week and heard back within a week too (didn't meet the standard.) My guess is that living very near Stirling and being able to get to work in 15min helped my application.

I'm taking a little break from applying and going for trainee bus driver at the moment.

 

[Scotrail84]

This job involves going out on trains with body worn cameras across the central belt and fife, mainly at weekends and educating the public about safe travel and why there are travel safe teams. This will involve talking to all different types of passengers including groups of youths who may try to intimidate these teams as well as people under the influence of drugs and alcohol, but it's all about remaining calm and explaining to them why anti social behaviour is not acceptable. The teams may also deal with vulnerable people on the network and will be trained to deal with them accordingly. They have no powers like the police so it's not as if they can arrest anyone. It's not a job for everyone and you definitely can't get offended easily if you want to do this job.

 

[Saltire1973]

I didn't apply as I realised it wasn't for me

I also applied for a Station grade B job (Burntisland) via Scotrail's website in early September, I haven't heard back yet.

In July this year, I applied for conductor (Stirling) and heard back in August, had SCAAT test within a week and heard back within a week too (didn't meet the standard.) My guess is that living very near Stirling and being able to get to work in 15min helped my application.

I'm taking a little break from applying and going for trainee bus driver at the moment.

The more I researched the role, the more I think I am a good fit for it - thanks for the info you posted above, it was really helpful.
I applied for an engineering role away back in February and have done a huge series of assessments and been told that I had met the standards required but the application is still sitting at “under consideration” I had hoped this role would progress a bit quicker.
I currently work for Edinburgh’s largest bus company and although they are a good organisation to be a part of I really want to get back on the railway - good luck with your application for trainee bus driver.

This job involves going out on trains with body worn cameras across the central belt and fife, mainly at weekends and educating the public about safe travel and why there are travel safe teams. This will involve talking to all different types of passengers including groups of youths who may try to intimidate these teams as well as people under the influence of drugs and alcohol, but it's all about remaining calm and explaining to them why anti social behaviour is not acceptable. The teams may also deal with vulnerable people on the network and will be trained to deal with them accordingly. They have no powers like the police so it's not as if they can arrest anyone. It's not a job for everyone and you definitely can't get offended easily if you want to do this job.

Hi Scotrail84 - thanks for your explanation, it fits exactly with what I have researched and the more I found out about the role, the more I think I would be a good fit for it and it for me.

After almost 30 years in the fire service I can confirm I don’t get offended easily and at my age and having graduated from the University of Life hopefully the hiring manager will agree.

 

[Scotrail84]

Have any applicants on here heard anything about these jobs yet?

 

[Saltire1973]

Have any applicants on here heard anything about these jobs yet?

Still waiting patiently

Doesn’t look like the recruitment team have had a chance to look at it yet as on my profile it’s still at “under consideration”

 

[Saltire1973]

Hi!
I just applied for this position...I currently work in a different industry but am looking for a career change.
I thought I might have a small chance at getting an interview due to my previous experience as a police officer...but then again, it seems like it could be a bit of a thankless job - although the salary is enticing!
Just hope there is a proper legal framework provided...and hope that it does't essentially boil down to a security guard role.

Probably not useful at all but thought I'd share my thoughts!

Hi @Blockandchock , have you heard anything from the recruitment team regarding this application?

 

[Scotrail84]

Hi @Blockandchock , have you heard anything from the recruitment team regarding this application?

FWIW, I know someone who has sat a customer service/situational judgement test and has an interview for a position coming up very soon.

 

[Saltire1973]

FWIW, I know someone who has sat a customer service/situational judgement test and has an interview for a position coming up very soon.

Thanks for the update, looks like I should expect the “Dear John” email

 

[Scotrail84]

Thanks for the update, looks like I should expect the “Dear John” email

Don't lose hope mate, they may do application sifts in batches as there would likely be a lot of applicants.

 

[Scotrail84]

Has anyone on here been interviewed for this role yet? If so, have you heard back?

 

[Saltire1973]

Still “Under consideration”

 

[Scotrail84]

Still “Under consideration”

Have you had an interview?

 

[Saltire1973]

Have you had an interview?

No, my understanding is that if your application makes it past the initial sift the status changes to “application under further consideration” I have literally had applications sitting for more than a year before being declared unsuccessful - I know it’s a small recruitment team for such a large organisation, but it can be frustrating

@Scotrail84 have you applied?

 

[Scotrail84]

No, my understanding is that if your application makes it past the initial sift the status changes to “application under further consideration” I have literally had applications sitting for more than a year before being declared unsuccessful - I know it’s a small recruitment team for such a large organisation, but it can be frustrating

@Scotrail84 have you applied?

Under further consideration only usually applies after you've sat any kind of tests or had an interview.

No. I did not apply for that role.

 

[Saltire1973]

I got the unsuccessful email today - congratulations to those who got the role

 

[Scotrail84]

I got the unsuccessful email today - congratulations to those who got the role

Sorry to hear that mate, don't give up though, keep your eye on the website as theres always jobs getting posted.

 

[LockKeeper86]

I got the unsuccessful email today - congratulations to those who got the role

Ha, sorry to hear that. The railway is competitive.

Staff on Scotrail's social media team said they're going to be recruiting in the next two years or so so keep your eyes peeled. It's also worth registering with and checking Blue Arrow, as they sometimes deal with positons that Scotrail's own recruitment team is done with.