[Site name]

Train conductor

Also called train guard, rail conductor, train attendant

Train conductors assist passengers in the boarding and leaving of the train. They answer questions from passengers concerning train rules, stations, and provide timetable information. They collect tickets, fares, and passes from passengers and support the chief conductor in performing his operational tasks e.g in regard to door closing or certain operational communication. They ensure the safety of passengers respond to technical incidents and emergency situations.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects26 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Personal service workersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €900 (Bulgaria) to €3,900 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Personal service workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training.Personal service workersWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Transport conductors · ILO

What you'd do

Transport conductors · ILO
  • Collecting and issuing tickets, passes or fares, and checking the validity of tickets issued previously
  • Attending to sleeping-cars and their occupants on passenger trains
  • Providing assistance with boarding, seating and luggage as required, especially to elderly, sick, or injured people
  • Opening and closing doors for passengers
  • Performing equipment safety checks prior to departure
  • Signalling to drivers to stop or proceed
  • Greeting passengers boarding transportation equipment, and announcing routes and stops
  • Ensuring that safety regulations are respected
  • Responding to passengers requests and complaints and providing information about stops and connections
  • Taking appropriate action in case of emergencies or accidents
Provide information to passengersAssist passengers in emergency situationsAnswer questions about the train transport serviceManage the customer experienceAssist passengers+ 15 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as personal service workers in the EU
10.21m10.63m10.46m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
3,074,000 replacing leavers 244,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Personal service workers26
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of transport conductors, 6 a surplus.
Transport conductors · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €900 a month (Bulgaria) to €3,900 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among service and sales workers in the EU, women earn 3% less per hour than men. Service and sales workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training is the usual route.

Highest qualification of personal service workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 15%Vocational 46%General secondary 16%Basic schooling 23%

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.25 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 10 tasks
Responding to passengers requests and complaints and providing information about stops and connections0.61
Collecting and issuing tickets, passes or fares, and checking the validity of tickets issued previously0.46
Greeting passengers boarding transportation equipment, and announcing routes and stops0.29
Ensuring that safety regulations are respected0.23
Performing equipment safety checks prior to departure0.20
Attending to sleeping-cars and their occupants on passenger trains0.17
Signalling to drivers to stop or proceed0.17
Providing assistance with boarding, seating and luggage as required, especially to elderly, sick, or injured people0.14
Taking appropriate action in case of emergencies or accidents0.12
Opening and closing doors for passengers0.09

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for transport conductors. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).