Duty Controller

As the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway’s Controller you manage and be responsible for the operations of the daily train service, ensuring that it is run safely and efficiently.

You will have a responsibility for the safe operation of the railway. You will tackle issues that arise with both the railway, its neighbours and its passengers. You will be responsible for producing rosters for the railways paid and voluntary staff. You will be required to train in other operational roles on the railway for the benefit of fulfilling the role and the needs of the railway.

The role requires both customer facing and behind the scenes skills. No matter what task you are undertaking you will be expected to provide excellent customer service to our passengers and visitors.

About the Role

Key responsibilities will be, but not limited to:

• Manage the day-to-day operation of the train service. Ensure that it is running safely at all times.

• Monitor the radio and GPS tracking system. Responding to radio messages as required.

• Ensure compliance with the railways Safety Management System and Competency Management System.

• Support the training and development of the paid and voluntary staff.

• Coordinate information between stations.

• Ensure Groups, Passengers who are disabled or with special needs are looked after correctly.

• Deal with Passenger complaints as they arise.

• Produce rosters for Operational and Retail paid and voluntary staff.

• Monitor rosters to ensure changes are implemented as required and any gaps are filled in a timely manner.

• Produce and circulate the Weekly Planning Notice.

• Record locomotive and carriage usage and ensure fault records are passed to the person responsible for ensuring repairs are undertaken.

• Record paid staff hours.

• Complete the daily log, recording events that have occurred on the railway during each day of operation.

• As Controller in times of emergency or degraded working you will coordinate how the railway moves forward including liaising with the Office of Rail and Road and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch if required.

• Assist with the development of timetables and the delivery of special events.

• Assist with the heavy cleaning of the railways carriage fleet.

• Assist with non railway Health and Safety tasks and monitoring. Including First Aid Kits and Fire Extinguishers.

• Ensure good communication with colleagues in other RH&DR departments.

• Liaise with and manage contractors working on or off site.

• Always Work safely, addressing or escalating health and safety concerns appropriately.

• Attend training as required to maintain competence and up-to-date knowledge.

• Undertake any other duties which may be required from time to time to contribute to the successful operation of the railway.

Reporting and Relationships:

• You will report directly to the Operations Manager. With the Operating Manager you will ensure day-to-day safety compliance. Arrange training and coordinate rosters.

• You will liaise with the Permanent Way Manager to ensure information is shared with the wider workforce and that the P Way staff are protected when undertaking work.

• You will liaise with the Locomotive and Rolling Stock Manager with regards to locomotive rostering and reporting defects that may have arisen.

• You will liaise with the Volunteering Manager on Volunteer personnel and rostering matters.

• You will support, train and encourage paid and voluntary staff.

• You will work closely with locomotive drivers, signallers and dispatchers to ensure the safe operation of the railway.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Proven leadership and management skills.

• Be able to prioritise conflicting demands.

• Be able to problem solve and think creatively.

• Sound knowledge of health and safety legislation.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Strong organisational and planning abilities.

• Willingness to learn and develop personal knowledge and skills

• Competent IT skills, ideally including Microsoft Office.

• Full UK driving license.

• Physically fit.

Desirable:

• Health and Safety qualifications. (eg IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH).

• Knowledge of railway operations.

• Rostering skills.

Benefits:

• Railstaff Travel Card (after 6 months of employment)

• Company pension scheme.

• Discount prices in cafes and shop

• Complimentary travel on the RH&DR.

• Discount Pass to local attractions,

To apply, please email: directors@rhdr.org

Closing date: 20th March 2026

Full Time

Working Hours

40

Working Days

5 APPLY NOW

Locomotive Driver & Operations Assistant

As the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway’s Operations Assistant & Locomotive Driver you will work as part of a focused team undertaking different duties to deliver the railway’s operational needs of transporting passengers along our historic railway.

These duties will include Train Dispatching, Fire Lighting, Signaling and Locomotive Driving. During the low season and winter months you will work with either permanent way work or undertake maintenance tasks within the railways engineering section depending upon your personnel skill set.

You will be required to be self-disciplined and carry out all tasks to a consistently high standard. You will be required to communicate with colleagues and passengers in a polite and courteous manner at all times.

This is a public facing role and weekend working will be required.

About the Role

Training will be given in all tasks. Successful applicants will be required to complete both written and practical assessments to demonstrate their competency in each task. Successful applicants will be required to pass a Railway Medical with the RH&DR’s Railway Doctor.

Key responsibilities will be, but not limited to:

• Preparation and daily maintenance of your rostered locomotive when undertaking Locomotive Driving Duties.

• Preparation and daily maintenance of your carriages when undertaking Dispatching Duties.

• Preparation and cleaning of your signal box when undertaking Signalling duties.

• Undertake and record daily safety checks for the duty that you are undertaking.

• Ensure that you have read and understood the Weekly Planning Notice and any other relevant notices and instructions that have been issued ahead of beginning your rostered duty.

• When operating locomotives do so in a safe and efficient manner. Following training that has been given. Ensure compliance with operating procedures and the RJH&DR rule book.

• Support the training and development of the paid and voluntary staff.

• Work closely with colleagues rostered in operational duties and ensuring good communication and understanding at all times.

• Comply with instructions given by the Controller. These will include operating instructions for the day such as level of service, temporary speed restrictions and fire risk information.

• Undertake end of day tasks, including stabling of carriages, closure of signal boxes and disposal of locomotives.

• Ensure faults are reported and logged.

• Help provide excellent customer service to our passengers and visitors by being helpful and courteous.

• Ensure compliance with risk assessments and method statements.

• Ensure good communication with colleagues in other RH&DR departments.

• Always work safely, addressing or escalating health and safety concerns appropriately.

• Attend training as required to maintain competence and up-to-date knowledge.

• Undertake any other duties which may be required from time to time to contribute to the successful operation of the railway.

Reporting and Relationships:

• You will report directly to the Operations Manager as your line manager.

• When undertaking Permanent Way duties you will report to the Permanent Way Manager.

• You will liaise with the Locomotive and Rolling Stock Manager with regards to locomotive defects and guidance on maintenance.

• You will support, train and encourage paid and voluntary staff.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Be able to undertake practical tasks. This is a hands on role.

• Be able to prioritise conflicting demands.

• Attention to detail in tasks being undertaken.

• Sound knowledge of health and safety legislation.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Comfortable interacting with members of the public.

• Willingness to learn and develop personal knowledge and skills

• Full UK driving license.

• Physically fit as you will be working outside in all weather conditions.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of railway operations.

• Experience of steam or diesel locomotives.

• Knowledge of vintage machinery.

Benefits:

• Railstaff Travel Card (after 6 months of employment).

• Company pension scheme.

• Discount prices in cafes and shop.

• Complimentary travel on the RH&DR.

• Discount Pass to local attractions

To apply, please email: directors@rhdr.org Closing date: 20th March 2026.

Full Time

Working Hours

42

Working Days

5 APPLY NOW

Operations Manager

As the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway’s Operations Manager you will oversee the Operation of our world-famous heritage railway. Managing the Operations team, you will ensure safety is the number one priority. Ensuring compliance with relevant policies, standards and legislation.

You will ensure the Operations team fulfil the commercial requirements of the business. You will be responsible for overseeing training and development of our paid and voluntary staff. You will provide support to other areas of the railway and work collaboratively as part of the wider management team.

About the Role

Key responsibilities will be, but not limited to:

• Coordinate all operational requirements of the RH&DR.

• Ensure that operational notices and Weekly Planning Notices are distributed.

• Ensure rosters are produced and distributed in a timely manner.

• Lead, manage and mentor the operational staff responsible for operating all aspects of the RH&DR public services.

• Ensure commercial requests for charter trains, train formations and timetables are met and where these requests cannot be met alternative solutions are offered.

• Devise timetables that meet the needs of the railway.

• Lead the training and development of the paid and voluntary staff.

• Manage the RH&DR’s Competence Management System and ensure there is compliance across all operational roles.

• Develop training and assessments standards to ensure the CMS remains relevant to the RH&DR operation.

• Feed into the RH&DR’s Safety Management System to ensure compliance with the legal requirements of the Office of Rail and Road.

• Audit records relating to the CMS, SMS, training, maintenance and daily operating logs.

• Manage the content and distribution of the RH&DR rule book in conjunction with the General Manager and wider management team.

• Prepare and maintain RAMS, procedures and engineering standards.

• Gain and maintain competence in Operational Roles including Disptacher, Signaler, Duty Controller and Railway Incident Officer.

• Ensure Level Crossing checks are carried out to ensure compliance with the Level Crossing risk assessments and orders.

• Take a lead when incidents and accidents occur. Ensure that these occurrences are reported to the relevant authorities. Where necessary, ensure these are investigated properly and the learning points are shared.

• Promote a Safety Culture at all levels of the RH&DR operation.

• Work with other managers to develop and deliver the RH&DR special events programme.

• Ensure good communication with colleagues in other RH&DR departments.

• Liaise with and manage contractors working on or off site.

• Always Work safely, addressing or escalating health and safety concerns appropriately.

• Attend training as required to maintain competence and up-to-date knowledge.

• Undertake any other duties which may be required from time to time to contribute to the successful operation of the railway.

Reporting and Relationships:

• You will report directly to the General Manager.

• You will line-manage operations staff including the Duty Controller and Locomotive Drivers.

• You will liaise with the Engineering Manager on health and safety compliance matters.

• You will work with the Locomotive and Rollingstock Manager to fulfill the commercial needs of the RH&DR.

• You will liaise with the S&T and Permanent Way Managers to facilitate their works around the RH&DR.

• You will liaise with the Volunteering Manager to coordinate volunteer development.

• You will liaise with the Building Maintenance Manager to ensure buildings connected to the operation of the railway are maintained to a satisfactory standard.

• You will support, train and encourage paid and voluntary staff.

Person Specification The post holder will be required to pass a railway medical with the RH&DR Railway Doctor.

Essential:

• Experience of working in safety management role.

• Proven leadership and management skills.

• Sound knowledge of health and safety legislation.

• Knowledge of railway operations.

• Ability to prepare and review risk assessments, standards and procedures.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Strong organisational and planning abilities.

• Willingness to learn and develop personal knowledge and skills

• Competent IT skills, ideally including Microsoft Office.

• Ability to understand, design and implement management systems.

• Budgeting and procurement knowledge.

• Creative problem solving and troubleshooting ability.

• Flexible approach to working hours.

• Full UK driving license.

• Physically fit.

Desirable:

• Health and Safety qualification such as IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH

• Training and Assessments qualification.

• Knowledge of railway maintenance including rollingstock, signaling and permanent way.

• Knowledge of HOPS Management and Compliance system.

• Project Management skills.

Benefits:

• Railstaff Travel Card (after 6 months of employment)

• Company pension scheme.

• Discount prices in cafes and shop.

• Complimentary travel on the RH&DR.

• Discount Pass to local attractions

To apply, please email: directors@rhdr.org Closing date: 20th March 2026.

Full Time

Working Hours

40

Working Days

5 APPLY NOW