Rail track workers look after and work on railway tracks and associated infrastructure.

Their duties may include:

• maintenance, renewal, installation and inspection of track, tunnels, embankments, cuttings, level crossings and bridges
• reporting and clearing potential obstacles
• reporting accidents and incidents
• performing lookout and hand signalling duties as instructed.

Laying new track, or carrying out major repairs, requires the use of machinery to lay ballast (crushed rock used for the foundation of railway tracks). Spades and shovels, pneumatic drills, and welding equipment are also used.

Workers form small teams and take instructions from a team leader under the supervision of a technician or civil engineer.

Hours and Environment

Work is carried out on the track in all weathers. Protective clothing is provided, which usually includes:

• overalls
• hard hats
• boots
• ear protection.

Depending on the location of the track, long distance travel from base could be necessary. This could involve relocation for short periods of time.

Skills and Interests

As a rail track worker, you should:

• be physically fit
• be good at practical and mechanical work
• enjoy working outdoors
• be a team player
• be safety conscious
• have the ability to use automated and manual tools
• have good communication skills
• have good hearing and eyesight, including normal colour vision.

Entry

There are no academic entry requirements, but a good general standard of education will be expected, particularly in literacy and numeracy. Previous experience in construction or civil engineering can be useful.

New entrants will be required to pass a medical examination; this is to test:

• fitness levels
• eyesight
• colour vision
• hearing.

The safety of rail passengers is of critical importance, and there is a rigid policy on drug and alcohol abuse. Random alcohol and drug tests can be conducted at any time.

Once of the main entry routes for this job is through an apprenticeship scheme with Network Rail or Tube Lines and Metronet Rail on the London Underground. Entry requirements for Network Rail's Advanced Apprenticeship scheme are four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3), including English, maths and science. Tube Lines and Metronet Rail's schemes have similar requirements.

See the Careers in Rail website for more details about jobs and training in the rail industry.

Personal Track Safety
You must hold a track safety card before you can work trackside. Your employer will put you through the Personal Track Safety (PTS) course and on completion, you will be awarded a safety card. This course is only available to workers employed by rail engineering companies; it is not open to the general public. 

For information about the safety card and training providers, see the National Competency Control Agency website in Further Information.

Training

After a short induction course to learn the safety aspects and company rules, new entrants will work alongside experienced track workers. Training is usually undertaken in:

• Personal Track Safety
• basic first aid
• lookout and hand signalling duties.

This is either done in-house or by an external training provider.

You may be able to work towards SVQ levels 2 and 3 in Rail Transport Engineering Maintenance (Permanent Way) or NVQ levels 1 to 3 in Railway Engineering 

Some workers develop skills in welding in order to be able to join sections of rail together, or in operating track-laying machines. Train-driving training may also be necessary.

Opportunities

Job vacancies may be advertised locally for each area or network. Most opportunities are in big towns and cities.

Some Underground/metro/light rail operators also employ track workers.

Job opportunities are improving; there is a lot of work to repair faulty tracks around the country and make them suitable for the new, faster trains. For example, major upgrading programmes are going ahead as London and the south-east gears up for the 2012 Olympics. 

Promotion is usually to supervisor or team leader. Some workers become track inspectors or managers. Promotion may be faster if you move between employers.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Apprentices earn between £8,000 and £13,000, depending on the stage of training.
Experienced workers earn £20,000 or more a year depending on skill and the hours worked.
Earnings can be over £30,000 a year with overtime and unsocial hours.

Some companies offer free or reduced price travel as an extra benefit.

Further information

40 Melton Street
London
NW1 2EE
Tel: 020 7557 8000 Human Resources Department
Central Station
East Bridge Street
Belfast
BT1 3PB
Tel: 028 9089 9400 Concorde House
Trinity Park
Solihull
Birmingham
B37 7UQ
Tel: 0121 635 5520