Careers with Amtrak

[Bob Dylan]

Hi guys. I have a question for any Amtrak engineers here. I posted a couple of years ago when I was going through the process of getting hired in mechanical. So now I’ve been there for a little bit, I was curious about anyone who’s been through the interview process for engineer trainee. Does anyone know specifically what kind of questions they ask?

As you know, AU is not affiliated with Amtrak.

We have many members who are Amtrak employees, but most do not identify themselves as such on this site.

There are several members who I personally know who have served as OBS and as Conductors , and Engineers.( several have worked in Freight,Commuter Rail and for Amtrak)

Perhaps one of them will be willing to communicate with you via PM and give you the info you seek about applying to be an Amtrak engineer.

Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[KDH420]

Hi I was just hired as a B&B Mechanic and I have to go for my physical next week. I have a small umbilical hernia and I separated my collar bone 2 years ago. I was just
Wondering what the physical consists of and if this will DQ me from the job offer

 

[thezache23]

I have applied for a position with Amtrak. Is there anything else I can do to get in touch with someone who is in charge of the hiring process?

Looking for entry level position working in the passenger cars. I live next to Little Rock, so I'm close to a station.

 

[zephyr17]

I have applied for a position with Amtrak. Is there anything else I can do to get in touch with someone who is in charge of the hiring process?

Looking for entry level position working in the passenger cars. I live next to Little Rock, so I'm close to a station.

If you get an OBS position, you'll work out of an OBS crew base. The Eagle's OBS base is Chicago. Probably the closest OBS crew bases to Little Rock are Chicago and New Orleans. There may be a small base at Ft Worth for the Heartland Flyer, not sure about that but I can't see another option for OBS on that train

 

[outbound]

I have applied for a position with Amtrak. Is there anything else I can do to get in touch with someone who is in charge of the hiring process?

Looking for entry level position working in the passenger cars. I live next to Little Rock, so I'm close to a station.

Howdy, you may be interested in monthly recruiting events that Amtrak often advertises on their main jobs page (https://careers.amtrak.com/). Usually when scrolling down that careers page, a "virtual assistant" pop-up will display such upcoming online events, where you can sign-up and have a 10 minute text-based chat with a recruiter or possibly even have a video call (I've only done recruiter chat). They're usually held toward the end of the month. I'm not currently seeing the pop-up dates for October or later months, though.

If you're a college student, the Summer '25 internship application period is opening up this month per Amtrak's LinkedIn page.

For whatever it's worth, I get the sense as a complete outsider myself that on-board assignments are very competitive positions to secure. I've yet to even get past the initial application after several dozen attempts, though importantly I've no prior rail experience. I write that to say don't be discouraged if you hear nothing back. Truly, I wish good luck to fellow rail fans hoping to secure a position there!

 

[railiner]

For whatever it's worth, I get the sense as a complete outsider myself that on-board assignments are very competitive positions to secure. I've yet to even get past the initial application after several dozen attempts, though importantly I've no prior rail experience. I write that to say don't be discouraged if you hear nothing back. Truly, I wish good luck to fellow rail fans hoping to secure a position there!

It might be easier to first obtain a position in reservation’s or station services. Once you get your “foot in the door”, and spend a specified period (a year?); Amtrak’s internal transfer system, makes it much easier to pursue a different career path, plus, some of your benefit seniority, continues…

 

[KDH420]

Does anyone have any idea what the typical work hours are for a B&B Mechanic? Just got hired but the recruiter doesn’t have an answer for me

 

[Brian Battuello]

No idea, but congrats on the hire and welcome to Amtrak Unlimited!

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

https://catalog.ctstate.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=19&poid=7640

Not sure how helpful this track of formal education is, but you can get college credit here. Seems a bit lightweight introduction rather than a real skill.

 

[railiner]

Does anyone have any idea what the typical work hours are for a B&B Mechanic? Just got hired but the recruiter doesn’t have an answer for me

B&B…is that a Bridge and Buildings mechanic?

 

[OBS]

B&B…is that a Bridge and Buildings mechanic?

Yes