Crossing Keepers
Play a vital role in moving passengers and freight through the UK.
Take control of our crossings and enable our railway to run safely.
What is Crossing Keeping?
As a Crossing Keeper, you’ll be responsible for controlling the movement of crossing barriers along your section of track. Raise barriers to let the public cross tracks when safe, maintain barriers and other crossing equipment to ensure safety, and respond quickly to any faults or risks with effective solutions. You’ll need to react to difficult situations and be comfortable challenging unsafe behaviour.
Our Crossing Keepers work a variety of shift patterns, including nights, evenings, weekends and bank holidays, and you’ll usually be working alone. It’s not for everyone – but you’ll finish the day knowing the work you’re doing have helped millions reach their destinations safely.
Our Crossing Keepers ensure the safe operation of a wide range of rail infrastructure, including distinctive features such as the swing bridge at Somerleyton.
Crossing Keepers (Desk)
This is a vital safety-critical role at the heart of one of the busiest parts of the rail network. As a Crossing Keeper (Desk), you’ll play a key part in keeping both the railway and the public safe by ensuring the secure and timely operation of multiple CCTV-controlled level crossing barriers.
Based in a signalling centre or a Route operating Centre that supports some of the busiest station in the country, you’ll work in a multi-person environment alongside other crossing keepers and signallers. Your primary responsibility is to monitor and operate CCTV systems to manage level crossings effectively, making real-time safety decisions to allow the safe passage of trains while protecting road users and pedestrians.
This role demands constant attention, clear communication, and teamwork. Your actions directly contribute to the smooth and safe running of the railway, making you a crucial part of a wider signalling and operational team that passengers and railway staff rely on every day.
Is it right for you?
You don’t need any specific experience to start a career as a Crossing Keeper. It’s more important that you’ve got the right transferable skills and behaviours. Here are the key non-technical skills that matter in this role.
- Communication – You’ll need to be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in written format, to colleagues and members of the public.
- Willingness and ability to learn – You’ll be motivated to develop yourself, retaining, applying and sharing knowledge and skills.
- Working with Others – You can build key relationships with people internal and external to Network Rail, enabling us to work together to get the job done safely and effectively.
- Decision Making – You can make risk-based decisions in a timely fashion, to maintain a safe and efficient running railway. You’ll need to be comfortable operating efficiently and making safety critical decisions alone as you’ll at times work in a single person location.
- Conscientious – You’re able to work diligently, deliver high quality work through following procedures, and be willing to take responsibility for your actions. You’ll work in accordance with the standards, by taking a systematic and thorough approach to what you do without the need for constant supervision.
- Attention Management – You’ll be able to remain alert and focussed, to manage distractions, and keep an awareness of the overall situation.
- Workload Management – You’ll be able to prioritise your work and demands.
- Controlled Under Pressure – You’ll be able to think in a controlled manner under pressure, effectively dealing with stressors, and adapting to changeable conditions
Feel like a match?
Safety matters
We’re committed to keeping our tracks, staff, and passengers safe, so it’s important that you’re always alert when you’re working as a Crossing Keeper. To help manage fatigue, you must live within a 60-minute commute of your chosen location, excluding any public transport. When you apply, you’ll be asked to confirm that you are able to commute to your chosen location, whether by car, bike or foot, in under 60 minutes.
If successful, you will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.
Our Grades and Salary
As our Crossing Keeper roles are very similar throughout the railway, when you join us as a Crossing Keeper you will be in a grade 1 or 2 role. Your Starting Salary will be:
- Grade 1 – £31,790
- Grade 2 – £34,871
Our Application Process
Our application process is very similar no matter which role you apply for. As part of your application, you’ll go through a number of stages, including online testing and a video interview.
If you have any questions about our application process, or are looking for some tips, you can visit our Top Tips page.
Application
Taking around 20 minutes, tell us about you, your interests and your understanding of the role.Testing
Complete our online testing, including an aptitude test and a safety & risk questionnaire.Application Questions
Tell us more about you, your skills and help us understand your suitability.Video Interview
We will ask you to provide recorded responses to a set of online video interview questions.Interview
Meet our teams to explore your skills and experiences in details and ask any questions you have.Available roles
No roles are available in this discipline at this time. Register your interest to be notified when we open new roles