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Apprenticeship

Rail engineering operative (level 2)

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Information about Rail engineering operative (level 2)

Providing support to technicians and engineers working on the rail network and trains, specialising in either infrastructure or operations.

Knowledge, skills and behaviours
View knowledge, skills and behaviours

Knowledge

  • Awareness of health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH). Fire safety. Hazards and risks. Health and Safety at Work Act. Electricity at Work Act. Isolation and emergency stop procedures. Manual handling. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Safety equipment: guards, signage, fire extinguishers. Safety signage. Situational awareness. Slips, trips, and falls. Working in confined spaces. Working at height.
  • Safe working practices and systems of work, including safe access to work locations.
  • Safety protocols for track access, including isolations and procedures for working near or on live railway lines.
  • Impact of the sector on the environment. Efficient use of resources. Recycling, reuse and safe disposal of waste and how to minimise disruption to the surrounding area during activities.
  • Types and impacts of seasonal changes on the operation of railway infrastructure and operations.
  • How commercial principles affect timetabling, scheduling and performance and the impact of events and decisions on customer service and reputation.
  • Business operation considerations: efficiency, customer satisfaction, competitiveness, risk awareness and minimisation.
  • Planning, prioritisation, organisation, and time management techniques.
  • How to gather and interpret information, including drawings, plans and schedules needed for rail activities and to prepare worksites.
  • How to complete required integrity and compliance checks.
  • Documentation requirements: electronic and paper.
  • What data is collected for rail activities and why it is collected.
  • How to reinstate work areas after rail activities.
  • The role of the rail engineering operative: responsibilities, limits of role and escalation procedures.
  • The physical parts of railway infrastructure and operations, including tracks, signals, and power traction supply, and their role in the rail system.
  • Types of and use of tools, materials and equipment.
  • Lifting, moving and storage requirements of tools, materials and equipment.
  • Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the workplace and the impact on their work.
  • Verbal communication techniques. The use of sector terminology.
  • Written communication techniques.
  • The principles of learning and development activities, including recording their completion.
  • Infrastructure. Principles of site layout, marking, measuring distances to ensure that rails and infrastructure are installed correctly.
  • Infrastructure. Lifecycle requirements of rail infrastructure.
  • Infrastructure. Techniques for installing components as part of rail engineering infrastructure activities.
  • Infrastructure. Inspection procedures and the types of tests used, and the relevant industry standards for documenting test results.
  • Infrastructure. Engineering processes related to rail infrastructure, including the principles of force, stress, wear, and fatigue in components.
  • Infrastructure. Routine infrastructure maintenance processes and methods.
  • Infrastructure. Types and purpose of components used to support infrastructure rail activities, including how and when it is used under supervision.
  • Operations. Types and purpose of specialist equipment used to support operational rail activities, including how and when it is used under supervision.
  • Operations. Roles and responsibilities for isolations, possession and handover duties, including the planning process for Isolations, possessions or worksites, and when it is carried out under supervision.
  • Operations. Onsite rail operations. How the operational impact of on-track plant (OTP) and on-track machines (OTM) within the worksite affects safety, access and task planning. Stakeholders including: safe work planners, Machine Controller (MC), Person in Charge of the Possession (PICOPS) and Engineering Supervisor (ES).
  • Operations. How to record and escalate information about defects, hazards, access issues and task completion using approved formats and communication channels.
  • Operations. How quality assurance processes affects work and individuals when completing tasks.
  • Operations. Key characteristics of railway infrastructure or assets, including their impact on operations.

Skills

  • Comply with safe working practices. Comply with statutory regulations and organisational safety requirements, including safe access to work locations.
  • Consider the impact on the environment when using resources and carrying out work.
  • Dispose of waste, ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
  • Provides support to rail activities. For example, using safety critical competences to work on the infrastructure including Personal Track Safety (PTS), Site Warden, Individual Working Alone (IWA), Direct Current Conductor Rails (DCCR).
  • Use planning, prioritisation, organisation, and time management techniques.
  • Gather and interpret information, including drawings, plans and schedules needed for rail activities and to prepare the worksite location.
  • Complete sector and organisational integrity and compliance checks.
  • Complete paper based or electronic documentation using correct terms, standards, templates and certifications.
  • Reinstate the work area after work rail activities.
  • Apply escalation procedures in relation to problems, faults or issues.
  • Maintain relationships with colleagues, clients, suppliers and the public.
  • Use tools, materials and equipment to complete rail activities.
  • Lift, move and store tools, material and equipment in line with requirements.
  • Apply the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the workplace.
  • Communicate with others verbally.
  • Communicate in writing with others.
  • Complete and record learning and development activities.
  • Infrastructure. Carry out rail infrastructure activities relating to lifecycle requirements.
  • Infrastructure. Install components as part of rail engineering infrastructure activities.
  • Infrastructure. Complete infrastructure inspections and tests, and document the results.
  • Infrastructure. Complete routine infrastructure maintenance tasks.
  • Infrastructure. Carry out site layout support activities, marking and measuring distances.
  • Infrastructure. Assemble or disassemble components under supervision.
  • Operations. Prepare and use specialist equipment for operational rail activities.
  • Operations. Under supervision, prepare and use isolation, possession and worksite duties.
  • Operations. Provides operational support with activities involving on-track plant (OTP) and on-track machines (OTM).
  • Operations. Provide input to the reporting of operational information using appropriate formats.
  • Operations. Work within quality assurance procedures and guidelines.

Behaviours

  • Act professionally.
  • Act ethically and contribute to sustainable development.
  • Demonstrates enthusiasm for learning, seeks feedback, and takes responsibility for personal and professional development.
  • Presents a professional image through appearance, language, and behaviour. Treats others with respect and upholds workplace standards and values.
  • Responds positively to change, adapts to new tasks or environments, and remains effective when faced with new challenges or shifting priorities.
  • Consistently attends work and training sessions on time, completes tasks as agreed, and can be depended upon to meet commitments.
Training category (sector)
Engineering and manufacturing
Training level
2
Equal to GCSE
Course duration
15 months
Maximum funding
£12,000
Maximum government funding for
apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
Job titles include
  • Rail engineering operative - infrastructure
  • Rail engineering operative - operations

View more information about Rail engineering operative (level 2) from Skills England.