Crossing Keeper (Crossing Desk)
| Posting date: | 19 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £36,196 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 26 March 2026 |
| Location: | Basingstoke |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Network Rail |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Play a vital role in moving passengers and freight through the UK. Take control of our crossings and enable our railway to run safely.
Your Salary will be - £36,196
Your Location will be - Basingstoke Rail Operating Centre (ROC), once qualified, you will be operating a level crossing location OR you’ll sit as as part of the railway operations team viewing crossings on CCTV.
Your main responsibilities:
This is a vital safety-critical role at the heart of one of the busiest parts of the rail network. As a Crossing Desk Keeper, you’ll play a key part in keeping both the railway and the public safe by ensuring the secure and timely operation of multiple CCTV-controlled level crossing barriers.
Based in a signalling centre or a Route operating Centre that supports some of the busiest station in the country, you’ll work in a multi-person environment alongside other crossing keepers and signallers. Your primary responsibility is to monitor and operate CCTV systems to manage level crossings effectively, making real-time safety decisions to allow the safe passage of trains while protecting road users and pedestrians.
This role demands constant attention, clear communication, and teamwork. Your actions directly contribute to the smooth and safe running of the railway, making you a crucial part of a wider signalling and operational team that passengers and railway staff rely on every day.
Is this for you?
You don’t need any specific experience to start a career as a Crossing Keeper. It’s more important that you’ve got the right transferable skills and behaviours. Here are the key non-technical skills that matter in this role.
*Communication – You’ll need to be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in written format, to colleagues and members of the public.
*Willingness and ability to learn – You’ll be motivated to develop yourself, retaining, applying and sharing knowledge and skills..
*Working with Others – You can build key relationships with people internal and external to Network Rail, enabling us to work together to get the job done safely and effectively.
*Decision Making – You can make risk-based decisions in a timely fashion, to maintain a safe and efficient running railway. You’ll need to be comfortable operating efficiently and making safety critical decisions alone as you’ll at times work in a single person location.
*Conscientious – You’re able to work diligently, deliver high quality work through following procedures, and be willing to take responsibility for your actions. You’ll work in accordance with the standards, by taking a systematic and thorough approach to what you do without the need for constant supervision.
*Attention Management – You’ll be able to remain alert and focussed, to manage distractions, and keep an awareness of the overall situation.
*Workload Management – You’ll be able to prioritise your work and demands.
*Controlled Under Pressure – You’ll be able to think in a controlled manner under pressure, effectively dealing with stressors, and adapting to changeable conditions.
Safety matters
We’re committed to keeping our tracks, staff, and passengers safe, so it’s important that you’re always alert when you’re working as a Crossing Keeper. To help manage fatigue, you must live within a 50-minute commute of your chosen location, including any public transport. When you apply, you’ll be asked to confirm that you are able to commute to your chosen location, whether by car, public transport, bike or foot, in under 50 minutes.
If successful, you will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.
This role involves days, nights and weekend working and the job is safety critical. Offers of employment are subject to drug and alcohol testing and passing of the relevant medical assessment and BPSS pre-employment checks. This will include a hearing and eyesight examination.
Your Salary will be - £36,196
Your Location will be - Basingstoke Rail Operating Centre (ROC), once qualified, you will be operating a level crossing location OR you’ll sit as as part of the railway operations team viewing crossings on CCTV.
Your main responsibilities:
This is a vital safety-critical role at the heart of one of the busiest parts of the rail network. As a Crossing Desk Keeper, you’ll play a key part in keeping both the railway and the public safe by ensuring the secure and timely operation of multiple CCTV-controlled level crossing barriers.
Based in a signalling centre or a Route operating Centre that supports some of the busiest station in the country, you’ll work in a multi-person environment alongside other crossing keepers and signallers. Your primary responsibility is to monitor and operate CCTV systems to manage level crossings effectively, making real-time safety decisions to allow the safe passage of trains while protecting road users and pedestrians.
This role demands constant attention, clear communication, and teamwork. Your actions directly contribute to the smooth and safe running of the railway, making you a crucial part of a wider signalling and operational team that passengers and railway staff rely on every day.
Is this for you?
You don’t need any specific experience to start a career as a Crossing Keeper. It’s more important that you’ve got the right transferable skills and behaviours. Here are the key non-technical skills that matter in this role.
*Communication – You’ll need to be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in written format, to colleagues and members of the public.
*Willingness and ability to learn – You’ll be motivated to develop yourself, retaining, applying and sharing knowledge and skills..
*Working with Others – You can build key relationships with people internal and external to Network Rail, enabling us to work together to get the job done safely and effectively.
*Decision Making – You can make risk-based decisions in a timely fashion, to maintain a safe and efficient running railway. You’ll need to be comfortable operating efficiently and making safety critical decisions alone as you’ll at times work in a single person location.
*Conscientious – You’re able to work diligently, deliver high quality work through following procedures, and be willing to take responsibility for your actions. You’ll work in accordance with the standards, by taking a systematic and thorough approach to what you do without the need for constant supervision.
*Attention Management – You’ll be able to remain alert and focussed, to manage distractions, and keep an awareness of the overall situation.
*Workload Management – You’ll be able to prioritise your work and demands.
*Controlled Under Pressure – You’ll be able to think in a controlled manner under pressure, effectively dealing with stressors, and adapting to changeable conditions.
Safety matters
We’re committed to keeping our tracks, staff, and passengers safe, so it’s important that you’re always alert when you’re working as a Crossing Keeper. To help manage fatigue, you must live within a 50-minute commute of your chosen location, including any public transport. When you apply, you’ll be asked to confirm that you are able to commute to your chosen location, whether by car, public transport, bike or foot, in under 50 minutes.
If successful, you will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.
This role involves days, nights and weekend working and the job is safety critical. Offers of employment are subject to drug and alcohol testing and passing of the relevant medical assessment and BPSS pre-employment checks. This will include a hearing and eyesight examination.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.