Short-Term Timetable Manager

David Peters works for Southern Railway. He helps to plan timetables around engineering works - ensuring smooth journeys for the 120 million passengers who use the company's trains every year.

How would you outline your role?

I look ahead to see how planned track repairs, maintenance and other works are going to affect our services. Then I draw up schedules to make sure our trains run safely and efficiently.

What are your main responsibilities?

We start planning around two years in advance. Each team member concentrates on one week of train services. I start by looking at Network Rail's proposed schedule of engineering works for that week. Our services cover a very wide area of the country, so there is almost always some work that will affect our services. I identify any line that will be blocked and work out how to divert services where necessary. If replacement buses are needed, I plan those too. Then I have to dovetail my schedules with those of colleagues who plan details of the trains, drivers and crew that will be available. One of our company mottoes is 'think like a passenger'. If, for example, the last train from London to Brighton is timetabled for 11.00pm, people should expect to be able to make that journey at that time, regardless of engineering works.

What hours do you work?

I work from 8am to 4pm. When we're fully staffed we can usually get all the work done in a normal 37 hour week.

What is your working environment like?

I'm based in an office. I try to get out as much as possible to see the how things work in practice. For instance, I spend time at bus/train interchange points, checking that the timetables allow people enough time to get from one service to the other.

Who do you work with?

Within my section I have a team of eight people. We work alongside other colleagues who have responsibility for different elements of the timetables. I report to a train planning manager. Externally, I negotiate with the train planning department at Network Rail, which looks after the tracks. I also liaise with other train operating companies.

What skills or qualities do you need?

I think it is important to be methodical and have excellent attention to detail. Anything that is missed on a plan could cause delays on the day. It's also important to be able to work well alone and within the team. If a change comes up at late notice, we all pitch in to help each other out.

Why did you choose this type of work?

My dad had a strong interest in railways and I picked that up from him. I suppose I got interested in timetables through planning trips when I was quite young.

What training have you done?

Initially I went on a three-day course run by Network Rail, which introduced me to the basic principles of train planning. But most of the training has to be done on the job. I've learnt by shadowing colleagues and then working under supervision. It takes around four to six months in all.

Do you use any special tools or equipment?

We have an electronic tool that will run a check on a timetable. It should highlight any potential problems. But it's designed to be an extra check, rather than taking the place of our own calculations.

What do you like/dislike about your job?

For me, the big satisfaction is being able to see that the plan I've put in place does work in practice. There's variety too. It's very rare that I can take a complete plan from one week and copy it into another. I also enjoy the camaraderie. There's a particular brand of humour among people who do this kind of work! On the down side, it is frustrating when a plan is disrupted by last-minute changes.

What are the main challenges?

One big challenge is being alert to the impact of changes I am asked to make. Most requests are reasonable, but sometimes I think, "Do they really have to do this work at that time, when it's busy?" We have a good relationship with Network Rail so we can negotiate on those points to some extent.

How do you see your future?

There's a wide variety of roles I could go on to try. Train planning manager would be the next logical step, but I might take on a role at a depot or a station. It might also be interesting to move from the operational to the commercial side of the company, giving more direct contact with our passengers.

David's route

• Degree in economics and geography.
• Joined Southern Railway as a trainee.
• Gained experience in the timetabling and rolling stock sections.
• Appointed as a section manager.

David's tips

• Do your research about train companies and their territory before applying for jobs.
• Even without technical knowledge, be prepared for practical interview questions, for instance, think about your options as a scheduler if a line was blocked.