Rail Track Operative

Track Maintenance Operative

A track maintenance operative inspects, maintains and repairs railway tracks, plant and machinery, tools and other equipment, making sure that everything is safe.

The Work

You could be:

· Inspecting tracks, sleepers, switches, crossings and sets of points

· Carrying out maintenance work on the track, using mechanical and manual tools

· Checking that all fastenings on the track are secure

· Using machinery to check that the track is level

· Inspecting and repairing track, vehicles, plant and other equipment

· Performing lookout and hand signalling duties

· Reporting accidents and incidents

· Driving road vehicles if required

· Making sure that all equipment, tools and materials are fit for use and stored correctly.

Pay

Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

· Where in the UK you would be working

· The size of the company or organisation you work for

· The demand for the job

· Weather it being a night shift or weekend work

Pay currently for a new recruit, we advise this can be in the region of £13 to £16 per hour. You can earn extra through shift allowance, overtime bank holidays etc. Earnings can increase with progression to supervisory positions.

Conditions

· You will work mainly outdoors

· You may be asked to lift heavy weights, this will often be assisted

· You would work irregular hours including evenings, nights and weekends; a lot of work is done at these times to avoid disruption to services.

· You may get the opportunity to work away from home at times, however, is not essential.

· You may sometimes be on call in order to deal with emergencies.

· You will have to wear protective clothing such as high visibility jacket, hard hat and safety boots.

Getting In2

· You do not usually need formal qualifications to get in. A good general education is useful, including English and some ability with numbers.

· You need to have good physical fitness and have to pass a medical examination which includes drug and alcohol tests.

· You also must pass some online tests.

What Does It Take?

You need to be:

· A good communicator

· Reliable and responsible

· Aware of safety matters

· Practical work

· Physically fit

You need to be able to:

· Work well in a team

· Work to set rules and regulations

· Work quickly and accurately

· Deal with emergencies quickly and calmly.

· A basic understanding of English