The conductor is the person in charge of the carriage. Working as a train conductor: pros and cons Working as a train conductor
Employment as a guide is considered attractive to many young girls and boys who dream of the romance of travel. This opportunity is provided by the Russian Railways company, which is a monopolist on the passenger transportation market in Russia. But if in the Soviet Union such a position was prestigious with an appropriate salary, today the situation is somewhat different. Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at what the average salary of a conductor is in 2019.
Responsibilities of the conductor
First, it’s worth talking about what is included in the job responsibilities in this profession. The work begins even before the train departs, the conductor prepares it at the site entrusted to him. So, he receives linen, detergents, goods for sale, as well as other consumables. Before departure, he inspects his carriage, cleans it, and if any problems are identified, he calls a team to fix them.
After the train starts moving, he has the following responsibilities:
- Place all passengers in the seats written on their tickets;
- Regulate lighting, ventilation, and heating;
- Provide passengers with bed linen and other items depending on the type of carriage;
- Carry out dry or wet cleaning of bathrooms, corridors and compartments;
- Fill out travel forms, and when working on international routes, distribute customs declarations to passengers;
- Monitor the correct functioning of electricity in the car;
- Inform passengers about the imminent arrival of the train at their destination, as well as to the final destination of the train;
- If the need arises, provide first aid to passengers, and also report the emergency to the head of the train;
- Resolve conflict situations and, if the need arises, call the police;
- Train trainees.
When stopping at stations, the job of the conductors is to ensure the free movement of passengers.
How are salaries calculated?
What the salary of a passenger carriage conductor will be is directly determined by the number of flights performed and the time spent on the road. In this profession, there is piecework payment, at which the tariff rate is 51 rubles for each hour of work. The minimum requirement for each employee is 176 hours per month. Therefore, to increase their salaries, conductors try to work longer and take on more flights. In addition to the basic salary, it is possible to receive additional bonuses based on performance. Thus, after 5 years of high-quality performance of their job duties, employees are entitled to a bonus amounting to up to 3 months’ salary.
Additionally, how much Russian Railways conductors earn is influenced by their compliance with the following criteria:
- Availability of secondary or higher specialized education;
- High health indicators;
- Successful completion of the internship.
The duration of such internships is 90-120 days.
How much does a conductor earn?
By the end of 2018, Russian Railways management stated that the average salary level for employees in the company was 46 thousand 800 rubles. Additionally, mention was made of its upcoming indexation, planned for the first quarter of 2019. Obtaining such a level of income is determined by a whole complex of factors, including:
The largest earnings are made by people working in SV carriages or compartments of a branded train. Additionally, employees who belong to the Russian Railways management, located in Moscow, St. Petersburg or Stavropol, receive higher wages. In such situations, their income may be at the level of the average salary in the company. In other departments the salary is about 22.5 thousand rubles. But such an indicator is not fixed, therefore, depending on a number of factors, it varies between 17-34 thousand rubles.
Speaking about how much conductors of long-distance trains are paid, it is important to note that the average salary for this category of Russian Railways employees is 26 thousand rubles.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the sales plans that are presented to conductors. If they fail to comply, they have to pay the remaining amount from their own funds. But if such a plan is successfully followed by all train cars, another 15% will be added to the employees’ salaries. In addition, audits are carried out regularly along the route of the train, the results of which are also reflected in income. If errors or shortcomings are identified, employees are deprived of bonuses. Deductions from wages are possible in case of loss of bedding sets.
As a result, there is a high turnover of personnel in this area, which even the double indexation carried out in 2018 did not correct. Even Sapsan conductors often can’t stand it, despite the more comfortable conditions that exist on branded trains, as well as increased salaries. The highest level of income is for workers who trade well. And this applies not only to the implementation of the company’s plans, but also to the sale of “left” goods. Additionally, they take parcels, letters for a fee, or transport stowaways for a fee.
Salary bonuses
In addition to how much train conductors earn in Russia, it is worth knowing that conductors working for Russian Railways have other motivational benefits. The main thing is the possibility of free higher education through correspondence, and also 2 times during the year they have the right to travel at the company’s expense to the place of study, as well as back. For workers who need housing, it is allocated from the Russian Railways fund. Additionally, there are special programs to support young employees. Work on holidays is paid to conductors at an increased rate.
In addition, all employees are provided with 28 days of annual leave, paid for the purchase of special clothing, medical examinations, and, if necessary, medical examination. Also, young mothers are paid benefits from the Social Fund. Insurance until the child reaches 3 years of age. Employee expenses for:
- Teaching his children;
- Treatment carried out in special sanatoriums;
- Playing sports.
If a conductor buys a home, Russian Railways issues him a loan on preferential terms. When he retires after completing the required length of service, he has the right to retain a number of bonuses for life. These include benefits for travel and treatment.
How to get a job as a guide?
Separately, it is worth considering how to get a job as a conductor in Russian Railways and what is needed for this. Each candidate must have at least a secondary, and preferably a higher education. Special training is required after completing preparatory courses. It can also be obtained by studying at a railway college with a degree in “Passenger Car Conductor”. You must undergo a medical examination, as well as pass safety exams and testing for knowledge of job responsibilities.
To try themselves in this profession, those who wish have the opportunity to obtain the status of a temporary employee. Such sets are carried out during the period of peak load, which is observed in the summer.
Requirements for a candidate
Speaking about how to become a train conductor, it is worth noting the requirements that apply to applicants for this vacancy. So, there are age restrictions, which is why the candidate must be:
- Over 18 years old;
- Under 45 for women and under 50 for men.
Additionally, it is important to have the following qualities:
- Organized, punctual and able to make decisions quickly;
- Ability to find a common language with different categories of people;
- Physical endurance;
- Accuracy, attentiveness, and the ability to simultaneously hold a significant amount of information in your head;
- Ability to work effectively given the lack of external control.
To work on international flights, knowledge of English and other foreign languages is additionally required. But the salary on such routes is correspondingly higher.
The work of Russian Railways conductors is hard work that attracts lovers of travel, as well as road romance. The salaries of such employees depend on many factors, especially the amount of time worked and the ability to sell various goods to passengers. To obtain such a job, you must meet strict requirements for all candidates.
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The profession of a guide evokes ambivalent feelings. On the one hand, it is covered with a flair of romance: you can travel a lot and communicate with different people. On the other hand - a difficult schedule, insomnia, fulfilling the sales plan and fines for the slightest deviation from the rules.
We are in website We studied many interviews and several blogs of guides who write about their everyday lives, and decided to collect as many details as possible from their lives.
What's it like to work as a conductor?
- It is a mistake to think that being a conductor is more of a female profession. In fact, the staff is roughly equally divided between men and women.
- The number of days off depends on the route, but, as a rule, the guide rests for as many days as he has been on the road.
- It is not advisable to take vacations in the summer, as there is usually a staff shortage, so Employees take rest most often during the off-season.
- There is a saying among workers: “Not the guide who worked for a year, but the one who survived the winter”. The fact is that in winter you often have to work physically, which can be very difficult. It is necessary to clear the cars of snow, remove ice from under-car equipment with a crowbar, maintain a comfortable temperature so that passengers do not freeze, and the plan to save electricity is fulfilled. Moreover, if the equipment breaks down or the carriage is old, it will have to be heated manually with coal. Yes, all carriages are still equipped with coal boilers.
- Usually, Railway employees do not have a choice whether or not to celebrate the New Year at work. There is a clear schedule and schedule. True, many people say that there is nothing wrong with celebrating a holiday at work. However, on New Year's Eve you will have to do without the usual sparklers. They are strictly prohibited on the train according to fire safety rules, since according to the teachings the carriage burns out in 8 minutes.
Tricks and tricks of conductors
- Before the flight, each conductor is given tea products, the so-called chaika: coffee, tea, snacks, chocolates, etc. All this is brought in large garbage bags, which the employee must disassemble, count the contents, and check the expiration date. If something loses its presentation, for example, cookies break or chocolate melts, the conductor must compensate for the damage.
- Any product you buy on the train must have a special holographic sticker. However, guides often sell not the products given to them, but their own, purchased in nearby stores. Thus, all the money raised goes into their pocket. But, of course, this does not happen often, and only unscrupulous employees do this. By the way, To the left of the conductor's compartment there should be a printout with the entire range and prices.
- If you were given damp, wrinkled underwear and there was no card in the bag indicating when it was packed and by whom, then most likely someone has already slept on it before you. In the slang of conductors, such a set is called “Chinese”, that is, underwear that is reused. For example, a passenger has already gotten off the train, and what is left behind is a clean sheet and an almost unused towel. These things are put aside, and then a complete “set” is assembled from them, which is sealed in cellophane using any heated metal object and passed off as fresh. Of course, such frauds are strictly suppressed by the management, and in case of the slightest suspicion, the passenger can call the Russian Railways hotline, where they will definitely help him.
- By the way, if you didn't buy set of linen, you will not be able to use the mattress and pillow on the train, even if you brought your bedding with you. If an inspection comes and finds that the passenger is lying on a mattress without “official” bed linen, the conductor will be fined.
- Since guides are financially responsible for everything, they must very carefully make sure that nothing goes missing from the carriage, otherwise you will have to compensate for everything from your own pocket. Therefore, before accepting the carriage, the conductor must carefully check everything - from cup holders to blankets. Some guides even tie toilet brushes.
It seems to many of us that the profession of a guide is not very difficult. But few people think about the fact that in addition to checking tickets and issuing bed linen, conductors have a lot of other responsibilities. For example, they must be able to provide first aid and clean the carriage before and after the trip. So, how much do conductors earn and what does it depend on?
The profession of a conductor is in demand in several transport industries. But regardless of the place of work, the list of job responsibilities includes the following:
- Passenger service.
- Maintaining the internal equipment of the car in good condition.
- Heating of carriages in winter.
- Checking hand brakes.
- Providing bed linen.
- Notifying passengers about the names of stopping points.
- Dry and wet cleaning.
- Registration of customs declarations.
The list of conductor responsibilities does not end there. In the event of an emergency, he must ensure the safety of passengers and be able to provide the necessary medical assistance.
What determines the final salary amount?
The most important factor influencing salary is the number of hours worked. Further, much depends on the destination of the flights. Long-distance train workers earn more than their commuter counterparts.
The salary of conductors is also influenced by the following:
- Seasonality.
- Difficulty of flights.
- Number of night shifts.
- Train class.
In addition, on a number of long-distance trains, the conductor must fulfill a sales plan for products and services. Its implementation can significantly increase the amount of bonus payments. Length of service and direction can also provide a significant addition. Some conductors also privately provide parcel delivery services for a fee, which sometimes also gives a good increase to the basic salary.
In some cases, you cannot count on a bonus. This happens mainly due to inattention or negligent attitude towards work. For example, if the conductor loses part of the bed linen or during the audit, significant violations in the performance of official duties were revealed.
Salaries in the capital and regions
According to statistics from such a well-known resource as trud.com, more than 200 vacancies are open daily for the conductor profession. For 73% of them, the salary is indicated in the range from 14,000 to 27,000 rubles. For 16% – from 5,000 to 14,000 rubles. And only 9% of employers are willing to pay from 27,000 to 41,000 rubles.
Salary in Moscow and other large cities
If we consider statistical data separately for large cities, then conductors from St. Petersburg earn the most, their average income is 26,000 rubles. Next come their metropolitan colleagues with an average salary of 25,000 rubles. The top three are completed by conductors from Sverdlovsk, their average salary is 19,000 rubles. At the same time, it is most profitable to work as a conductor on the so-called branded trains. The salary level of such employees is significantly higher than average.
Salary in the regions
As with most other professions, guides from the regions receive significantly less. Their average salary ranges from 17,000 rubles. In addition, the choice of vacancies here is much smaller.
According to statistics from the website trud.com, the highest earnings are among conductors from the Chechen Republic, their average income is 54,000 rubles. They are followed by colleagues from the Amur region with a salary of 44,000 rubles. In third place are workers from the Novgorod region - 40,000 rubles.
- Republic of Karelia – 38,000.
- Murmansk region – 38,000.
- Leningrad region - 36,000.
- Krasnoyarsk Territory - 34,000.
- Buryatia – 30,000.
- Saratov region – 26,000.
- Penza region - 26,000.
Rating of Russian regions by salary level for the profession Conductor
What additional payments and benefits can conductors expect?
Like all other employees of Russian Railways, conductors can count on a full social package. It is also one of the few organizations that has its own trade union. It is he who monitors the rights of workers and tries to achieve more favorable working conditions for them. Now a passenger train conductor can count on the following benefits:
- Free train travel.
- Vacation pay.
- Paid leave in connection with the registration of marriage and the birth of a child for up to 5 days.
- Additional benefit for the birth of a child.
- Monthly supplement for mothers with children under 3 years of age.
- Additional payment for a second or more child.
- Compensation for dismissal at the initiative of the company.
Not all benefits are listed above. In fact, their list is quite extensive.
How to become a guide
It is easy to become a conductor. To do this, you need to complete a technical school, school or courses in the specialty “passenger carriage conductor”. The training program necessarily includes such subjects as the Russian language, business ethics and psychology. In addition, future conductors study the electrical equipment of the carriage, fire safety and physics.
After completing training, future specialists are assigned a rank. 2nd - allows you to work only on commuter trains, 3rd - long-distance, 4th category is the most prestigious; you won’t be able to get it immediately after training. It is awarded only after 2 years of work and completion of advanced training courses. This rank allows you to become an employee of a branded train with the highest salary.
To get a job you will need to take a certificate of education or diploma and a health book. After the interview, the HR specialist will make the final decision.
Advantages and disadvantages of the profession
The most important disadvantage of being a guide is the long absence from home. This problem is especially relevant for those who work on long-distance routes. The next problem is the need for constant contact with a variety of people. Not all passengers are disciplined. Some drink strong drinks after landing and annoy others.
After accepting the shift, the conductor must stay awake even at night, and upon arrival at the destination, fully prepare the carriage for departure on the return trip. And this sometimes takes 4-5 hours, which, of course, no one takes into account.
Also, one of the most important problems of the profession is systematic overtime. They happen especially often in the summer. The number of carriages is increasing, but the company is in no hurry to hire new employees.
Among the advantages of being a guide, it is worth noting a full benefits package and annual paid leave. Also, upon receiving higher education, you can count on the possibility of career growth to the position of train manager.
At the moment, the profession of a conductor is not popular. Young professionals with no work experience most often agree to this job. And the lack of prospects for increasing wages does not add to her chances. For a number of years, the level of wage growth has been minimal.
However, there are many applicants for the vacancy of conductors. This is explained by the social package provided and a number of benefits. In addition, even after retirement, Russian Railways retains the right to free travel for former employees.
"For those who love to travel, receive vivid impressions, watch a kaleidoscope of new faces and communicate with a variety of people! We invite you to visit us..." This is what an advertisement for recruiting those who are ready to surf for days looks like Russia, help passengers, serve tea in iron cup holders and change bed linen at each station, of course. For those who are ready to choose a profession as a passenger carriage conductor. People who have already worked in this difficult profile can add to the colorful descriptions permanent lack of sleep and a day without sleep, showdowns with rowdies, irregular work schedules, fines and low (relatively, however, in our country everything is relative) wages.
Nevertheless, the profession of a guide remains the most beloved for many who have chosen it. Example - Maria Ukolova and Pavel Skvortsov. In a long interview with the site Ezhmedia young people told why they chose this profession and never regret it.
Masha is an architect, and Pavel is a car mechanic. But they were united by the railway, the work of a conductor and the place of training - the Vladimir student brigade of conductors ( SOP) « Pulse».
To become a “car driver” and take courses, you must be at least 18 and not older than 24 years old. Go through a medical examination, fill out a form and, as it is written on the website: “pack your things, don’t forget a lot of positive things and a sea of energy, and set off for the whole summer to conquer the city on the Neva (training takes place in St. Petersburg)". The ex-head of SOP “Impulse” spoke about other features of the site Elena Mishkanova.
“Students, boys and girls, are coming. Judging by last year, the excitement has already subsided. About 3-4 years ago it came to the initial stage more than 100 people. Education means lectures, exams, and passing a diploma. Everything is standard.
In a week you can see both a polar day and a dolphin in the sea.
There is a desire to work on a branded train, there is already advanced training, other categories and additional training. Just a student right away no one will put work for a company train.
It was our detachment that was trained by technical school teachers from Malaya Vishera. And so, in general, there are many SOP institutions where there is such a specialty.
The beauty of the profession is that Russian Railways- this is an incredible accumulation of different people and emotions. When you are a guide, you are always outside your comfort zone, this greatly improves your own personal qualities. And no one has canceled the beauty of nature outside the window. You can see it in a week and a polar day, and a dolphin in the sea", explained Elena Mishkanova.
After completing special courses, no one will force you to go work as a guide. Every free to do what is more interesting, necessary and important to him. Maria and Pavel decided to continue not to study, but to learn in practice what the profession of a guide is. True, as the guys admitted, it is still more comfortable and peaceful for them to work, albeit on the same train, but in different cars.
The heroes of the interview work on the route St. Petersburg - Adler in a double-decker carriage. “The first fundamental difference is the capacity of the compartment car. Here 64 people, not 32, as in the usual composition. Secondly, everything works throughout the entire route. This is a great happiness for the conductor, as well as for the passengers. Each compartment has 4 sockets, no one stands near the toilets with a phone to charge it. By the way, the car is heated without coal; just press a button and the temperature will be ideal. No titanium with boiling water- passengers come directly to the conductor with a small electric kettle. Many carriages do not have a conductor's compartment; in its place is a coffee machine. And video cameras do not leave smokers a single chance to break the ban.”
Maria and Pavel work according to the following scheme: completed two flights, you take two flights to rest. But it’s already summer, the girl says, and now you can only dream about relaxation.
When working in the last carriage, you still have time to monitor the serviceability of the tail signal lights.
In fact, the most important thing for a conductor is to provide maximum comfort to all passengers without exception. In addition, his responsibilities include working with all technical equipment of the train: water supply, ventilation, electricity, as well as sanitary treatment. Conductor should be able to provide medical assistance, help with paperwork (if the train crosses the border). When working in the last car you need more have time to follow for the serviceability of the tail signal lights.
A conductor's salary depends on several factors: seasonality(in summer there are more flights and passengers), train type(new equipment is modern, it is more difficult to work with, and therefore the salary is higher). The wages on branded trains are higher than on regular trains. We will not talk about any specific amounts: they change too often. For example, this year salaries have already increased since March 1, and will be indexed again in October.
If you go through sites on the Internet, the following picture emerges. On average, a conductor receives about 23 thousand rubles. This is if we assume that it works according to the norm, that is 176 hours per month. But very often conductors, wanting to receive more, overwork this limit. If we consider the option when bonuses, overtime and other allowances are awarded for work, then a “car driver” can receive about 50 thousand rubles. But, as they clarify on the websites, fulfilling such a norm is extremely problematic.
In addition, for every five years of continuous work, the conductor receives a bonus in the amount of 3-4 salaries. Every year, vouchers to sanatoriums and summer camps are allocated - free or partially paid. Provodnikov serve free of charge in clinics at Russian Railways.
If you have the desire and strength, you can “rise” to the head of the train, shift and, ultimately, the station.
There is also a gradation. The first link is an employee of local trains, then up the career ladder - a conductor of long-distance trains and company trains. If you have the desire and strength, you can " rise to the rank» to the train manager, the shift manager and, ultimately, the station. And this is facilitated by the fact that there is no age limit in the profession. From 18 and... if you have the desire and health, you can work even after reaching retirement.
The guides also have an interesting additional service. After the flights they " go for a smile" This means a visit to a psychologist. There they are taught to recognize different types of people, identify the most conflicting ones, and learn how to behave correctly with such personnel.
The profession of a guide does not always mean monotonous trips between cities. Two thousand workers in this field have already completed additional training courses before the start of the June 14 in Russia World Cup. We're talking about this. And who wouldn’t be interested in chatting with fans from Panama, Australia or Costa Rica? And even over the course of not just one feast, but an entire multi-hour trip? Now you can’t guess how such an acquaintance could end.
P. S. We have contacted the main characters of the material and will try to write about them in more detail in the near future.
Maxim Yaroshevsky
Working in railway transport is an attractive field for many. Russian Railways is a stable company that has not been known to delay wages. During their student years, many try to get a job as a guide there, since all they need to do is take courses, tests and fill out a medical book. In Soviet times, conductors received a lot; this profession was considered prestigious. Let's figure out how the situation is these days.
Responsibilities of the conductor
The salary of a conductor directly depends on the performance of his professional duties. If a person works poorly, there will be no question of any promotions or bonuses. Therefore, before dreaming of working for Russian Railways, you need to familiarize yourself with the professional responsibilities of passenger carriage conductors:
- Maintaining order is primarily about preventing drunkenness. A certain circle of people immediately after boarding the carriage begin to drink alcohol and disturb others; the conductor must stop such cases. If necessary, you can contact the train manager, who will report the rowdies to the nearest station. A police detachment will pick them up on it.
- Checking tickets and documents. It is important to notice the mistake in time and find those who are trying to leave using someone else’s travel documents or without them at all.
- Issue and collect bed linen in a timely manner.
- Sell tea, drinks, and groceries to passengers.
- Clean the carriage and maintain cleanliness.
- Monitor the boarding of passengers at all stations and report their arrival at their final destination.
These are just the main responsibilities. The work of a guide, like every profession, has its pitfalls. First of all, he must be on duty even at night, warm up the titanium in a timely manner, and write a lot of documentation. After arriving at the final destination, prepare the carriage for return: clean it completely, return bed linen.
Reviews from workers say that sometimes it takes 6-8 hours to prepare a carriage, but they are not taken into account when calculating wages. Each flight ends with agreement on the time of the next shift.
A significant disadvantage of this work is the long absence from home. Russian Railways has a rule that the number of days on the road is equal to the number of rest, that is, 15 work shifts per month. After the flight, the conductor is given several days off to rest, but in the summer their number is extremely small. The amount of hours worked per month should not be below the norm. Overtime occurs during the season when the number of trains increases and very few employees are hired. If you have chosen the profession of a guide, you should be prepared for systematic processing.
How much does a conductor get?
In mid-2018, the Russian Railways company reported that the average salary of its employees was 46,800 rubles. Management plans to carry out another indexation in the 1st quarter of 2019. Can conductors count on such a salary? It all depends on the circumstances and place of work. A conductor's salary depends on:
- season;
- train range
- complexity of the path;
- number of day and night hours worked;
- management;
- train class.
Conductors working on branded trains earn the most. If they belong to a department located in Stavropol, St. Petersburg or Moscow, then you can count on a higher salary. The salary of conductors from these cities is close to the average salary of Russian Railways. In other departments, salaries are more modest - the average salary is 22.5 thousand rubles. It is not fixed, according to the conductors themselves, you can get from 17 to 34 thousand.
There is also a sales plan for conductors that must be adhered to. If it is not completed, you will have to pay extra out of your own pocket. When the plan is fulfilled in all cars, the crew receives an additional 15% bonus. The results of the audit that is carried out along the route are also important. If inspectors find errors, the employee’s bonus is deprived. Part of your salary may also be deducted for lost linens.
Additional bonuses
Many people are attracted to Russian Railways by the social package. This company has a trade union that carefully monitors the rights of workers and tries to achieve a large list of benefits for them - from medical care in special clinics to an increase in pensions. Conductors have the opportunity to:
- free travel on railway transport;
- financial assistance when going on vacation;
- paid leave for newlyweds and young parents (up to 5 days to celebrate a joyful event);
- additional one-time benefit for the birth of a child;
- monthly supplement to the benefit for mothers under 3 years of age (helping to achieve average income);
- additional benefit if there is more than one child in the family;
- upon dismissal at the initiative of Russian Railways, compensation is paid, the amount of which depends on the reasons for termination of the employment contract.