Rail Construction & Maintenance Operatives

Description

Rail construction and maintenance operatives lay, re-lay, repair and examine railway track and maintain surrounding areas.

Tasks

• Patrols length of track and visually inspects rails, bolts, fishplates and chairs for distortion or fracture checks tightness of bolts and wedges, replaces damaged rail chairs and repacks ballast under sleepers if necessary lubricates points, examines fences, drains, culverts and embankments and carries out any necessary maintenance spreads ballast and lays sleepers or metal plates at specified intervals positions lengths of rail, sets of points and crossovers and secures rail with bolts, wooden wedges or clips fastens together sections of rail by bolting fishplates to rails

Entry Requirements

There are no formal academic entry requirements. Off and on-the-job training is provided. NVQs/SVQs in Rail Engineering and apprenticeships at Levels 2 and 3 are available.