London is the capital city of the United Kingdom, and with over 12 million people living in the greater metropolitan area, the city is home to one of the most complex rail networks found anywhere in the world.London's reliance on rail is matched only by its roads. With the East Coast, West Coast and South Coast lines all converging in the city, employment opportunities are plentiful and diverse. Popular jobs in the capital include those for train drivers, ticket inspectors, platform guards and customer service staff. However, maintenance and administration staff in the industry far outnumber those working on the trains themselves. A number of private contractors combine to take care of London's many miles of tracks, and roles in maintenance include risk managers, quality assurance workers and engineers.
Dozens of train operators are based in London, and many more deliver regular train services into the city. The most prominent train operators include East Coast, Virgin, Eurostar and First Great Western. The London Underground and Overground are also significant employers of train operators and maintenance staff in the city. Candidates should keep in mind that specialist recruitment agencies work on behalf of most train operators in London.Train drivers can expect to receive a salary of between £30,000 and £50,000 with most of London's large train companies. Guards, and customer service staff should expect to receive a salary of between £18,000 and £35,000, depending on seniority and levels of accountability. Senior engineers and managers can earn anything up to £80,000 per year.