Have I been thrown in at the deep end in this new job?

Somewhat standard. You need to learn on the job and ideally you'd have lots of support but that's not always the case, especially if they're understaffed as you say.

I think it is normal to feel this way - give it some time and you should get used to the procedures and duties. I do think retail is a different type of job to this. Retail - you would spend more time to talk to customers in order to encourage sales, but working in transport, you want to help maintain an efficient and seamless system. You can be polite and make small talk, but not spend too long conversing with customers.

That's true.

Maybe I should just go back to retail!

I would say give this job a chance before you quit. You have only just started, and you might find as you get used to it, you might enjoy it more. If you still feel the same, then your experience would help you return to retail if you still want to. I think I remember you posting on here before about this position?

My only concerns at the moment... it's basically standing in the cold all day at the ticket barriers. It's a big station so I thought it would be busy and constant so it would be fine, but it goes quite quiet at times and I just thought I'd rather be at my old job. Someone my age who has only been there for 3 weeks, told me he's had enough already and said it's boring! He said he's asked to move to a different section.

I was quite happy in my old job. It was just everyone was going on at me saying I was better than retail, but if I'm honest, I was quite happy. In retail, the wage isn't too good, but i'd rather be happy in a job, rather than being unhappy and paid more.

My old manager said if for any reason things didn't work out, she'd have me back... on the same hours, same position, immediately. My old store manager also said the same to me.

My dream was always a job in photography. If I could turn back time, I wish I stayed at my old job, and kept going with it there until I found my more dream job.

I remember you saying that you were in interested in transport and there was scope for career progress and a higher wage, which is why I encouraged you to go for the transport job. What are your actual duties? Do you have potential to move aside to a different department?

Like I also said, if things don't work out you can always return to retail. As least you know you tried. It is good that you are on good terms with your old manager too.

Have you thought of starting a photography business if that is where your true passion lies. You could set up a website or a blog showing a portfolio of your best shots. You could do this alongside your retail/transport job.