Rail Construction and Maintenance Operatives
Wages
New workers start around £23,686. Normal pay is £38,353 per year.
Highly experienced workers can earn up to £58,444.
Available jobs
In the past year there were 8,532 vacancies for this type of job
Projected job growth over the next 8 years
Related courses
People work towards these careers by taking these courses at college and uni.
What they do most days?
Fastens together sections of rail by bolting fishplates to rails.
Positions lengths of rail, sets of points and crossovers and secures rail with bolts, wooden wedges or clips.
Spreads ballast and lays sleepers or metal plates at specified intervals.
Lubricates points, examines fences, drains, culverts and embankments and carries out any necessary maintenance.
Checks tightness of bolts and wedges, replaces damaged rail chairs and repacks ballast under sleepers if necessary.
Patrols length of track and visually inspects rails, bolts, fishplates and chairs for distortion or fracture.
Hard Skills
Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.
Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.
Soft Skills
Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education.
Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.