Rail Track Maintenance Worker Careers

WORK ENVIRONMENT:-

A rail track maintenance worker is responsible for repairing and maintaining the tunnels, railways, bridges and track side equipment which makes up the rails network of the country. The duties and responsibilities of the rail track maintenance worker include:

• set up and renovate track, embankments, tunnels, cutting, bridges and level crossing
• determine tracks to check sections are at the proper distance and at proper height
• examining tracks for defects by making use of combination of equipment check and eyesight

• clearing and reporting possible obstructions, for instance after bad weather
• performing site survey to recognize the maintenance requirements to track section
• report about the incidents and accidents
• carry out hand signaling tasks and take care during track side operations

You will control heavy machinery to put down new track or perform most important repairs.

You will basically work in a small team and take instructions from a team leader under the administration of a rail engineering technician.

QUALIFICATION, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:-

You will work as an apprentice with a rail track maintenance company. You might not require qualification, but a good standard of education, which includes English and Mathematics GCSEs. An experience in the civil engineering or construction engineering will be of great use while looking for job.

Another way to get into this career is through an Apprenticeship scheme with Tube Lines on the London Underground or Network Rail. You will need four GCSEs for entry requirement for Network Rail's Advance Apprenticeship Scheme. The requirements of the Tube Lines Scheme are similar.

Before starting your training, you need to pass a medical test of your color vision, eyesight, general fitness and hearing.

The safety of staff and rail passengers is crucial and there is a severe policy on use of alcohol and drugs. Your test for alcohol and drugs can be taken any time.

You might require a driving license and use of vehicle to begin shift outside of normal public transport hours. If you need more information about the training and careers in the industry of rail check out the website of Careers in Passenger Transport.

Personal Track Safety:

Before working on track side, it is essential that you hold a track safety card. To get this card, the employers mostly send you for the Personal Track Safety course (PTS). This course is available for the workers who work in the rail engineering companies.

For additional information on safety cards and training provider, go through the National Competency Control Agency Website.

TRAINING DETAILS:-

You will be given a short induction course to study the safety aspect of the job and company rules, when you begin with your work. For instance, you can take a London Underground Line Safety Induction course to work for a contractor on the London Underground Line which is rub bye Transport for London. After finishing you have to apply for an entry permit from Transport for London which will permit you to work on London Underground Line.

After that, you will be working with the experienced maintenance workers. You can also take training for:

• Basic First Aid
• Personal Track Safety
• Look out and handling signaling tasks

If you pursue the Apprenticeship route, you will have to complete the level 2 NVQ in Performing Engineering Operations in your 1st year, then you might work towards NVQ in Railway Engineering (Level 2 and 3). Your employer might put you through the Institute of Leadership and Management's Certification in First Line Management with the help of which you will ultimately work as a administrator.

SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE:-

• a excellent level of fitness
• ability in practical and mechanical work
• excellent team management skills
• understanding of safe working practices on railways
• ability to make proper use of mechanical and hand tools
• good written and voiced communication skills

SALARY AND OTHER BENEFITS:-

• Trainees make between £ 12,000 and £ 15,000 p. a.
• Qualified staff can be paid £ 18,000 or more, as per their skills and hours worked.
• Track maintenance staff with managerial or examination duties can get up to £ 30,000 a year.

Some companies put forward the free or condensed price travel as an added benefit.

WORKING CONDITIONS:-

Railway staff worker will basically work in the shifts which cover up days, nights and weekends in every weather conditions. Safety is serious to this job, and your company will give you protective clothing such as a hard hat and protection boots.

DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES:-

Employment is currently taking place on the country's rail network with the intention that it carries faster and newer trains. For example, main upgrade projects are going further on for t 2012 Olympics (London).

You will find mainly the opportunities in the big cities and towns. Some alternative, metro and light rail operator also employs track staff.

With your skills, you can be advanced to supervisor or team leader and with additional training you can turn into a track manager or inspector.

Administrative and Clerical Careers
Alternative Therapies Careers
Animals, Plants and Land Careers
Arts, Crafts and Design Careers
Catering Services Careers
Construction Careers
Education and Training Careers
Environmental Sciences Careers
Financial Services Careers
General and Personal Services Careers
IT Careers
Legal Services Careers
Maintenance, Service and Repair Careers
Management And Planning Careers
Manufacturing And Engineering Careers
Marketing Sales And Advertising Careers
Medical Technology Careers
Medicine And Nursing Careers
Performing Arts Broadcast And Media Careers
Publishing And Journalism Careers
Retail Sales And Customer Service Careers
Science And Research Careers
Security And Uniformed Services Careers
Social Services Careers
Sport Leisure And Tourism Careers
Storage Dispatching And Delivery Careers
Transport Careers