Rail Engineering Operative Apprenticeship

Providing Support for Rail Engineers

Level 2 Rail Engineering Operative Apprenticeship

Unlock the potential of your workforce

The role of a Rail Engineering Operative is to provide support to Rail Engineers and Technicians.

A Rail Engineering Operative is involved in the following areas of The Railway: (infrastructure and trains); track (including minor works), electrification, overhead line, signalling, telecommunications and traction & rolling stock. In addition to specialising in one of these disciplines, a Level 2 Rail Engineering Operative will learn the core skills and knowledge.

A Rail Engineer is responsible for the safe construction, installation, maintenance and renewal of The Railway to provide a safe and reliable Railway for customers. A high level of safety critical work is involved in Rail Engineering, therefore activities require a disciplined and responsible approach.

Core Knowledge

Within a Rail context all Rail Engineering Operatives need to know about:

Safe and Professional working practices including: legislation, regulation, industry procedures and safety requirements.
The general engineering techniques required to support the maintenance, renewal and construction of The Railway.
How to work effectively and contribute to engineering solutions including: awareness of the importance of 3rd party requirement and the need to understand and adhere to corporate policies on ethics, equality and diversity.
Awareness of commercial principles applicable to The Railway and the implications of these.

Core Skills

Within a Rail context all Rail Engineering Operatives need to be able to:

Keep themselves and others safe by adhering to safe working practices. Understand and comply with statutory regulations and organisational safety requirements, including safe access to work locations.
Prepare for a high standard of technical work: Gathering and interpreting information including drawings, plans and schedules needed for rail engineering activities and prepare the work location.
Deliver a high standard of technical work: Undertake engineering activities in relation to maintenance, construction / installation and or renewal of assets. Take responsibility for their own work on completing relevant integrity and compliance checks. Reinstate the work area after engineering activity.
Identify and report problems: Identify, recognise and escalate appropriately common problems.
Use resources including the correct utilisation and storage of tools, materials and equipment, and the lifting and moving of materials, components and equipment.
Communicate effectively. Use oral, written, electronic and IT based methods and systems for the accurate communication and reporting & recording of technical and other information, using correct terms, standards, templates and certifications.

More information about the Core Knowledge and Skills, and the entry requirements can be found here.