About the role
Overview
This role is at the heart of working with customers and stakeholders to plan for the future of our railway so that it continues to deliver what our passengers, freight users, and communities need.
As Strategic Planner for your dedicated section of Western route you will have the opportunity to work with a diverse and motivated group of internal and external stakeholders to identify and develop improvement strategies.
You will have the opportunity to get involved in new stations aspirations and potential service improvements, helping to advise on which and how to progress. You will also get to grapple with the big challenges, including decarbonisation, helping to set out how our railway can support the society we want to live in the short, middle, and long term.
You will come to develop an excellent understanding of the areas we serve through your ability to build productive relationships across the board. You will be a key contact for influential external stakeholders including Subnational Transport Bodies and other strategic transport planning partners, helping them achieve their goals.
You will be supported by a welcoming and inclusive strategic planning team, and you will work closely with colleagues across teams to make sure that the strategic benefits you identify are translated into deliverable outcomes.
You will find opportunities to grow both within the strategic planning team and in the wider route and railway, and you will find that the breadth the role brings stands you in good stead for your next move.
This is a fascinating and critical time for strategic rail planning, and you will have a real opportunity to shape the system for decades to come.
Your Main Responsibilities will be to
- Facilitation of cross-functional input to the development of route plans.
- Develop route plans for specified simple routes and contribute to development route plans for more complex routes, both from internal perspective (i.e. Operating Route / Area) and external perspective (i.e. by strategic route), based on needs and priorities of stakeholders to make sure that they are being met (e.g. regulatory outputs and customer commitments).
- Undertake analysis work for capacity studies, and develop train service specifications for assessment by the Strategic Access Planning Unit (SAP).
- Work with the Senior Route Planner to undertake business appraisal of complex projects and route strategies. Identify industry benefits of rail capacity changes, journey time improvements etc. Specify and obtain demand forecasts.
- Work with sponsors of major asset renewal and enhancement schemes to develop in alignment with Route Strategies and the Capacity Utilisation study and develop, where appropriate, combined renewals and enhancement strategies.
- Prepare reports on route plans, customer reasonable requirements (CRR) and Business plans.
- Assist with the Route's input to the Business Plan, in particular the presentation of Route Plan material.
- Assist in identifying the needs and priorities of stakeholders and monitor to ensure that they are being met. Participate in liaison with internal and external parties.
Pay and Rewards
Salary: This role is a Band 4B £35,582 to £43,400 per annum.
Location: Flexible across Swindon Western House, Reading Apex, Bristol Temple Point, or London Enterprise House, depending on the successful candidate's preference.
As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!
- Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.
- A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
- GWR ticket alliance, Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (48 passes per year)
- Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.
- A range of Pension schemes to choose from
- Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, hybrid working, flexible working, flexible leave, and enhanced family friendly support.
- 5 days paid volunteering leave.
- 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.
- In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.
To find out more about the benefits at Network Rail, click here.
More about the role and your application
Closing date: 4th November 2026 . Late applications will not be accepted. This vacancy is also being advertised externally.
This role requires working in the office for a least 60% of the working week
To submit your application, click apply now. For tips to help you prepare and apply click here
We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. Therefore, should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please do let us know by including within your application.