Queensland Rail
    (141 reviews)

    Company Reviews

    Working at Queensland Rail

    3.5141 ratings in total
    5
    47
    4
    36
    3
    18
    2
    18
    1
    22
    95%
    Rate salary as high or average
    66%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.6(141 ratings)
    Career development
    3.3(141 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    3.5(141 ratings)
    Management
    2.9(140 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.4(141 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.6(141 ratings)
    Ratings for Queensland Rail are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

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    4.0
    Travel Consultant
    Oct 2025
    Brisbane QLD 40003 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Worked in a fast-paced, customer-facing travel role, it was a great experience however challenging.
    The good thingsI thoroughly enjoyed my role, as I genuinely love helping people. I also appreciated being part of a team that shared that same passion for supporting others. I loved the opportunity to learn various reservation systems and challenge myself along the way. The company had a strong sense of morale, with regular morning teas and celebrations of success that made me feel truly appreciated.
    The challengesAlthough it was a great company to work for, like many organisations, communication among management could be improved—particularly around policy changes or last-minute service disruptions. At times, it felt like senior leadership adopted a “just deal with it and move on” attitude, which occasionally impacted team morale. That said, it wasn’t a constant issue. I did encounter some very difficult customers, but with the support of my team, we were always able to manage and get through it. I believe there could be stronger security measures in customer-facing areas, as there often seemed to be heightened behaviour around the stations. Additionally, more visible support from senior management and regular training opportunities—for both leaders and frontline staff—would help build confidence, consistency, and a stronger sense of teamwork across all levels.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Senior Project Engineer
    Sep 2025
    All Brisbane QLDLess than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Wide range of Projects, Good Team members, Work life balance, Good Salary
    The good thingsI’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to work on diverse projects from concept to completion, applying my technical expertise and problem-solving skills. Collaborating with talented teams and delivering successful outcomes has been rewarding.
    The challengesMid-project changes Regulatory approvals
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Instructor
    Sep 2025
    Redbank QLD 43012 to 3 years in the role, former employee
    Training in railway signalling was the most interesting and rewarding job with so much variety of experience from maintenance to construction.
    The good thingsThere was great support from Signal Engineering staff at Signal and Operational Systems (SAOS) They took responsibility for all training content review for competency standards and they reviewed and approved all assessments.
    The challengesHaving to wait for long lead times for specific signalling equipment that was imported or difficult to acquire for training purposes.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    DMA
    Aug 2025
    Brisbane QLD 40006 to 7 years in the role, current employee
    Very Bad. wasting Many years
    The good thingsNothing. Micro Management. Not Professional people. Looks like a based business.
    The challengesThey have no idea what they are doing—micro management. There is no value for an engineer.
    5.0
    Carpenter in train ing
    May 2025
    South Townsville QLD 48104 to 5 years in the role, former employee
    Great Job and great staff
    The good thingsThe fellows were great and management was among the best. On the day I got my indenture papers at the end of my apprenticeship, I was offered and took a new position. one hour later the QAS rand seeking me urgently to relieve at Mt Garnet. I told my boss i had to pack and go, he let me leave early,
    The challengesNo it was all good but no longer there.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Adviser
    Apr 2025
    Brisbane QLD 40001 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Very poor culture. Avoid.
    The good thingsCompetitive salaries.
    The challengesSystemic lack of accountability, competence and professionalism, particularly in upper management and corporate functions. Incredibly poor culture, leading to widespread disempowerment, apathy and disfunction. Some good people but overall the most demotivating workplace I have ever encountered.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Head Office
    Dec 2024
    Brisbane QLD 40003 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Waste of many years - though paid off the loans.
    The good thingsThe money. Frontline team members.
    The challengesEverything else. Terrible, shocking culture, run by the unions, managers that are promoted based on term in the role, not based on skillset. Unwilling and unable to change in terms of processes, stuck in the 1980's. Team members that have been there for 20 plus years, unable to understand the real world. Favouritism, promotions based on family and friends. Outside of the money, there is nothing good about working for Queensland Rail. - NOTHING
    6 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Customer Service Representative
    Oct 2024
    All Brisbane QLD7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Thanks for the experience... lessons learnt for my next role.
    The good thingsThe people who work on the frontline do go above and beyond.
    The challengesMicromanagement and nepotism from managers, difficult customers, no work/life balance, managers guilt tripping you to come in to work on your days off and no support.
    8 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Senior Asset Maintenance Engineer
    Feb 2024
    Toowoomba QLD 43503 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    I joined QR as a stepping stone to progress my career. I now look within QR for the next challenge to extent myself professionally and the next step for my QR career. I have recommended to family and friends to strongly consider their next role and long term career within QR.
    The good thingsQR genuinely recognizes and values the skills and potential of their people. Opportunities for professional development and upskilling, alongside career progression. Management is receptive to innovation for operational improvements and appreciates and recognises contributions. Flexible working arrangements and supportive benefits.
    The challengesUnpredictability of weather, which can impact planned work.
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Administration Role
    Jul 2023
    Brisbane QLD 40001 to 2 years in the role
    Great place to work. But shrouded by management that move the goals. Expected to work extra hours no pay
    The good thingsJob security is good. Rail pass provided Staff at the lower levels
    The challengesManagement don’t listen to staff concerns
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Signal Electrician
    Apr 2023
    Rockhampton QLD 47007 to 8 years in the role
    ok just needs to fix pay gap and demanding callout requirements
    The good thingsThe scenery, some level of flexibility
    The challengesManagers not moving with the times and living in the stone ages. Demanding callout roster with no work life balance, and no company plans to fix lacking staff numbers.
    6 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Maintenance Role
    Jul 2022
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    No training provided, whilst the incompetent children of managers got all of the apprenticeships
    The good thingsFree Train travel, slight bonus to super if you also salary sacrifice. Do very little work if that's what you are looking for.
    The challengesGovernment bueraracy, Politics, No training opportunities, opportunities going to family members of management.
    9 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Enabling Corporate
    Mar 2022
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Not a good experience
    The good thingsFree train travel, some flexibility (dependent on leader), some good peers
    The challengesPoor Culture, bureaucracy, suppression of risks, issues and opportunities Incompetent enterprise leadership group - can be very unorganised due to management incompetence - no accountability in some areas of leadership, Long Hours, work stress or performance issues - expectation to work long hours, understaffed on the ground, top heavy in management.
    8 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Telecommunications Technician
    Nov 2021
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Avoid this dysfunctional organisation
    The good thingsSome good people, free train travel to work and home
    The challengesToxic work environment, very poor management, conflict, dysfunction
    8 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Customer service offices
    Jan 2021
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    rewarding
    The good thingsBeing at different places
    The challengesI experienced no challenges
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Security Guard
    Oct 2020
    former employee
    Treat staff" Inc Security with Respect & Courteous!
    The good thingsPublic co-operation,assisting helping others"
    The challengesQld Rail are strict on security" they fail to realise security are their safety net to a crime taking place"
    3 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Reporting Manager
    Mar 2020
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    An enjoyable one that wore thin in the end.
    The good thingsThe team and people, the remuneration and benefits.
    The challengesThe ridiculous politics and bureaucracy. They completely get in the way of all logical decision making. Because of these things progress is made very difficult.
    3 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Catering Attendant
    Mar 2020
    It was a good experience.
    The good thingsGreat management and good salary if you are a shift worker.
    The challengesPolicies changes overnight. Staff likes to blame each others instead of taking responsibility.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Communications Specialist
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Toxic
    The good thingsWell-paid positions, free travel
    The challengesToxic work environment
    6 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Authorised Officer
    Mar 2020
    One of the worst employers. Like any QLD government job only worse as it’s private run, government funded
    The good thingsNot much. Better than the dole
    The challengesToxic management. No support. Low wage
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Corporate HR
    Jan 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    I really thought QR was the place to be. Unfortunately it wasn't, they cant embrace change internally and find new ideas a threat.
    The good thingsFree train rides to & from work
    The challengesThe systems were outdated, still working with paper files. IT consultants unable to find a solution,causing delays. Management not being up front , in fact dishonest & HR puppets, the lack of communication.
    4 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Forklift Driver
    Nov 2019
    a life of a rail worker
    The good thingsthe friendships built with other workers
    The challengeshaving to leave eventually
    2.0
    Support Maintainer
    Nov 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Sometimes interesting work if you can actually get a job with them. They are too selective with their so called EEO employment.
    The good thingsGetting out & about, travelling to different work locations.
    The challengesWorking in the heat.
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Information Technology Business Analyst
    Nov 2019
    Tenuous, uninspiring, sad and demotivating.
    The good thingsFree rail travel. That’s it
    The challengesHappy to have projects delayed, career public servants just waiting for the next paychexk
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Manager
    Nov 2019
    Challenge
    The good thingsGood worklife balance, some really good people
    The challengesNo genuine consultation at times, certain processes not followed and no accountability in some areas of leadership
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Warehouse Supervisor
    Nov 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Terrible. Made to feel uncomfortable, unwanted and pushed out at the end of my time there. Hated it.
    The good thingsNothing. Old men sitting around waiting to retire.
    The challengesEverything. They don't have any interest in improving or change.
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Self Employed Carpenter
    Nov 2019
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Shift work to unpredictable
    The good thingsCoin,mates,easy job
    The challengesKeeping my marriage,shift work,no sleep, fatigue
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Information Technology Support Role
    Nov 2019
    Disappointing and frustrating
    The good thingsProviding a Public Service
    The challengesPoor Culture, bureaucracy, suppression of risks, issues and opportunities
    3.0
    Bridge maintenance
    Nov 2019
    11 to 12 years in the role, former employee
    Lots to learn if you are willing to do them with no reward
    The good thingsGood work mates great experience
    The challengesWorking with others that don’t deserve to be a team leader
    3 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Customer Contact Representative
    Nov 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Not enough work home balace
    The good thingsGood pay, but working 10 days in a row is a bit much
    The challengesRepetitive calls,not enough days off after a ten day stint
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