Operating over 1,700 trains every weekday, Southeastern connects London, Kent, and parts of East Sussex, supporting millions of passenger journeys each year. As one of Britain’s busiest train operators, our work is fast-paced, rewarding, and constantly evolving — and we know that the future of the rail industry depends on the next generation of talent. That’s why we’re passionate about early careers.
From hands-on apprenticeships and summer internships to graduate schemes and industry work experience, we offer a range of structured programs to help young people build real skills and explore meaningful careers. Whether you’re interested in train driving, engineering, planning, communications, or operations, you’ll find a path here that makes a difference — to you, your future, and the communities we serve.
We’re proud to invest in people from all walks of life, offering nationally recognised qualifications, expert training, and ongoing support to help you grow with us. If you’re curious about how rail works — and where you could fit in — there’s no better place to start. No one understands your journey like us – and that includes your career!
Southeastern Fast Facts
🚊 10 Fast Facts about Southeastern
Busy Train Operator: Southeastern is one of the UK’s busiest train companies, helping people travel across London, Kent, and parts of East Sussex.
More Than Just Travel: It’s not just about getting from A to B—it’s about making every passenger’s journey special with small, meaningful moments.
Jobs for Everyone: You don’t need railway experience to work there—they’ll train you fully for any role you pick!
Great Perks: Employees get good pay, benefits, and long-term career opportunities when they join Southeastern.
Award-Winning Workplace: In 2023, Southeastern was named a “Great Place to Work” at the National Rail Awards—pretty cool, right?
Top for Equality: They ranked #1 in the Women in Transport Equity Index, showing they care about fairness for everyone.
Apprenticeship Champs: Over 500 workers have completed apprenticeships, and 400 more are currently training.
Big Plans: This year, Southeastern is set to bring in over 400 new apprentices—their biggest group yet!
Supportive Team: You’ll work with awesome colleagues who help you every step of the way.
Unique Jobs: The work is one-of-a-kind, and they’re looking for unique people like you to join the team!
Southeastern Rail UK offers high school students a great start with no experience needed. They provide training, apprenticeships, and a supportive, award-winning workplace. Whether it’s engineering or customer service, you can grow, earn rewards, and join a team that makes journeys special. Ready to jump in?
Apprenticeships
At Southeastern, our apprenticeships are about building a long-term career with real impact.
We offer a wide range of apprenticeship programs designed to suit different interests, skills, and career goals. Whether you’re looking to work with cutting-edge technology, deliver brilliant customer service, or lead teams in a fast-moving environment, there’s an opportunity here for you.
Our Apprenticeship Programs include:
Train Driver Apprenticeship
Learn what it takes to operate our trains safely, punctually, and confidently — all while working toward a Level 3 Rail Engineering qualification.
Work directly with passengers on board our trains. As a conductor, you’ll check tickets, deliver announcements, assist with accessibility needs, and make sure everyone has a safe and smooth journey.
Step up into a leadership role on the train. You’ll manage the onboard team, oversee customer experience delivery, and take charge during service disruptions or incidents.
Designed for those with leadership potential, this program helps you develop the skills to manage teams and make decisions that keep our network running smoothly.
A great fit for career changers or early-stage leaders ready to take the next step — this program prepares you for senior responsibility with a nationally recognised management qualification.
From detailed program info to real apprentice stories, you can discover everything about starting your journey with Southeastern over on their Apprenticeships page.
Graduate Schemes
If you’re finishing university and ready to jump into a role where you’ll make a real impact from day one, Southeastern’s graduate scheme could be the perfect next step.
Our two-year program is designed to give graduates a deep understanding of how our business works through hands-on experience, cross-functional placements, and real project ownership. Whether your interests lie in data, planning, operations, or beyond, you’ll find opportunities to build your skills and grow your career in the rail industry.
This scheme typically offers two specialist pathways: a Data-Driven Graduate stream, ideal for those who love problem-solving and analytics, and a Train Planning Graduate stream, perfect for those interested in timetables, logistics, and behind-the-scenes operations.
Rotations Across Departments: Work across a variety of teams to get a 360° view of how we operate — from planning and data to customer experience and engineering.
Meaningful Project Work: You’ll take on real projects that contribute to our business goals, supported by experienced mentors and team leads.
Professional Development: You’ll have access to structured training, coaching, and leadership development to help you step confidently into a long-term career with us.
Great Perks: Southeastern graduates enjoy competitive salaries, generous leave, and travel benefits, plus a supportive workplace that values your ideas and ambition.
Our graduate roles help you build confidence, grow your skills, and take that next step into a long-term career.
Stay Tuned
While applications for our 2025 graduate intake have now closed, we’re already planning for what’s next. Keep an eye on Southeastern’s careers site and your university careers portal for updates on the 2026 Graduate Scheme.
Summer Internships
Southeastern’s paid summer internships are designed to give you hands-on experience, real industry insight, and a clear pathway into a future career. Over nine weeks, you’ll contribute to real projects, gain mentorship from industry professionals, and take part in development activities that make your time with us genuinely rewarding.
Available Internships
The Data-Driven Intern
Analyse real railway performance data and help improve train services as part of the Joint Performance Team.
Hands-On Experience: Contribute to meaningful projects that support Southeastern’s customers and communities.
Mentorship: Work closely with experienced professionals who will guide and support your learning.
Development Opportunities: Get involved in activities like a Train Driver Experience Day, Future Labs workshops, and team networking events.
Travel Benefits: Enjoy free Southeastern travel and reimbursement for approved work-related travel beyond the network.
Career Progression: Interns get access to internal job boards and a guaranteed interview window for future roles after graduation.
How to Apply
These internships are open to second-year university students heading into their final year. Applications are currently open and will close soon, with successful applicants notified in April or early May.
All internships run from July 7th to September 5th, 2025.
Southeastern is committed to helping young people explore future careers in the rail industry through meaningful early exposure and hands-on learning.
Rail Industry Work Experience Programme
In partnership with Routes into Rail, Southeastern offers a dedicated work experience programme designed for students aged 14–15. This programme typically runs during the Easter half-term and gives students a behind-the-scenes look at a wide range of roles in the rail industry.
Participants take part in interactive sessions, learn from experienced staff, and build skills that can support future education and career decisions, all while getting a feel for what it’s like to work in a fast-moving, essential service.
If you’re looking for more ways to get started in the rail industry, Southeastern also offers paid summer internships, apprenticeships, and graduate schemes.
Applying for a role at Southeastern is a step-by-step process designed to help you show your strengths — whether you’re applying for your first-ever job or looking to start your career in rail. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Online Application
You’ll start by completing an online application for the role you’re interested in. It’ll ask about your education and experience (including any part-time jobs, volunteering, or school activities), and give you the chance to answer a few short questions. Southeastern has also put together some helpful application hints and tips if you’re not sure where to start.
Step 2: Online Assessments (for some roles)
Some roles include short online tests to understand how you approach problem-solving and decision-making. You’ll get clear instructions and practice materials beforehand — nothing to stress about.
Step 3: Assessment Centre (if invited)
You might be invited to an in-person or virtual assessment day. This could involve team activities, real-world scenarios, or task-based challenges — designed to see how you work, not trip you up.
Step 4: Interview
If you progress, you’ll be invited to a structured interview focused on real examples from your own experience — whether that’s school projects, part-time jobs, or hobbies. To help you prepare, Southeastern has a great interview prep guide and some example questions in their interview question bank.
Step 5: Medical Check
Everyone completes a basic medical check and a standard drug and alcohol screen. For safety-critical roles (like train driving), the checks are more in-depth to meet rail industry standards.
Step 6: Offer & References
If you’re successful, you’ll receive a formal offer. Before starting, Southeastern will ask for references covering the last five years and may complete a basic criminal record check, depending on the role.
Step 7: Welcome & Induction
Before your first day, you’ll join an induction to get familiar with Southeastern, meet some of the team, and feel prepared for the role. For frontline jobs, this includes full training to help you hit the ground running.
If you need support or adjustments at any stage, the recruitment team is happy to help — just email careers@southeasternrailway.co.uk
You can also check out the full recruitment journey in this visual guide.
Benefits & Support
At Southeastern, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your professional and personal well-being. Here’s an overview of what you can expect:
Competitive Salary
We offer attractive salaries that reflect the skills and experience you bring to Southeastern.
Contributory Final Salary Pension Scheme
Plan for your future with our robust pension scheme, providing a secure retirement income.
Extensive Travel Benefits
Enjoy free unlimited travel on Southeastern, Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern, and Gatwick Express trains for both work and leisure. After six months, your partner and dependents can also travel for free on these services. You’ll also get 75% off leisure travel with other train companies.
Generous Annual Leave
We offer more annual leave than the legal minimum, with the number of days based on your role and roster.
Professional Training and Development
From in-house training to formal qualifications, Southeastern supports your growth at every stage of your career.
Health and Well-being Support
You’ll get access to discounted gym memberships and health-focused initiatives to help you feel your best.
Family-Friendly Policies
Enhanced maternity and paternity leave, carers leave, and flexible work arrangements help support your family life.
Employee Discount Schemes
Get exclusive deals at over 900 retailers through our Extra Mile benefits portal — including food, travel, entertainment, and more.
Cycle to Work Scheme
Save up to 39% on a new bike and gear through our tax-free Cycle to Work scheme.
Free Uniform
If your role requires a uniform, we’ll provide it — no cost to you.
To learn more about our full range of employee benefits, visit our What We Offer page.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Southeastern, we’re building a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to succeed, no matter their background, identity, or life experience. Diversity and inclusion are central to the way we work and the communities we serve.
Our Commitment to Everyday Inclusion
We believe a diverse workforce makes us stronger, more innovative, and more effective. Our inclusion goals are shaped around three key values:
Think What If: Encouraging curiosity and creative thinking across everything we do.
Show You Care: Creating an environment where everyone feels heard and valued.
Make Great Things Happen: Working together to make a positive impact — every day.
Colleague Network Groups
Our employee-led networks offer safe, supportive spaces for colleagues to connect, share experiences, and drive positive change:
LGBT+ sOUTheastern: Supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion and visibility across the business.
AccessAbility: Promoting accessibility and equal opportunity for colleagues with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
Armed Forces Network: Supporting veterans, reservists, and families connected to the Armed Forces.
Mind the Gap: Raising awareness and breaking down stigma around mental health.
CultuRail: Celebrating cultural diversity and challenging racial inequality.
WIRE (Women in Rail Empowerment): Empowering women in the workplace and supporting gender equality across the organisation.
Partnerships and Accreditations
We’re proud to be recognised and supported by a number of organisations, including:
We’re actively working to increase the number of women across our workforce — especially in train driving and leadership roles. This includes Women in Leadership Apprenticeships, targeted coaching programs, and mentoring opportunities.
Rail Business of the Year 2023 — Highly Commended for Diversity & Inclusion and Wellbeing in Rail
Financial Times Diversity Leaders 2023
Women in Rail Top Employer (2020 and 2022)
At Southeastern, we know inclusion is a journey — not a one-off. We’re committed to learning, listening, and making continuous improvements to create a workplace where everyone can thrive.
National Diversity Week Features
Amy, Vice Chair of Women in Rail Empowerment
Matt, Chair of LGBT+ Southeastern
Raban, Vice Chair of CultuRail
Chindra, Chair of AccessAbility Network Support Group
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Become a Train Driver
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