Career prospects.

[Pinkyflash]

Hi all,let me introduce myself,my name's Tony but I have to call myself Pinkyflash on this forum.
I have joined primarily to test the water with regard to future employment in the industry.
I am thinking about committing to a 2 year level 3 Diploma in rail engineering.
The college tell me that there are many opportunities for a well paid career in this industry but they would wouldn't they?
What is the truth from the blokes on the ground?

I'm no spring chicken at 47 yo but have spent the last 26 years offshore and at sea in the engineering side of things,am I too much of an old fart?

 

[marcustandy]

I'm not sure about the age thing but maybe the following is worth taking into consideration before you make any decisions:


Network Rail upgrade delayed by Government

Network Rail statement

 

[Nym]

What kind of work did you do before, rail 'engineering' is a rather broad term and you may already have relevant experience and knowledge for skilled hire at more than a degree grad scheme would ever pay.

 

[The Snap]

Hi all,let me introduce myself,my name's Tony but I have to call myself Pinkyflash on this forum.
I have joined primarily to test the water with regard to future employment in the industry.
I am thinking about committing to a 2 year level 3 Diploma in rail engineering.
The college tell me that there are many opportunities for a well paid career in this industry but they would wouldn't they?
What is the truth from the blokes on the ground?

I'm no spring chicken at 47 yo but have spent the last 26 years offshore and at sea in the engineering side of things,am I too much of an old fart?

With plenty of experience on the rigs I would imagine you'd slip into the railway quite easily with the right qualifications. A Level 3 diploma is certainly a starting point.

I'm not sure about the age thing but maybe the following is worth taking into consideration before you make any decisions:


Network Rail upgrade delayed by Government

Network Rail statement

I don't think two schemes being postponed is a good enough reason to not get into the industry. There's loads of work in the industry a present, albeit in particularity regions (London, North West, etc). A bit of scaremongering there I think! :roll:.

What kind of work did you do before, rail 'engineering' is a rather broad term and you may already have relevant experience and knowledge for skilled hire at more than a degree grad scheme would ever pay.

This is true. 'Rail engineering' is very broad, does the course specify a particular route (civils, p-way, signalling etc)?

 

[Airline Man]

Hello, I'm Ian. I've spent my entire working life in the airline industry in reservations, customer services and for the past eighteen years in pricing / distribution and revenue management, working for charter, commuter and flag carriers.

I'm now looking at moving on and transferring my skills into the rail industry. I'm interested in a revenue management or business analyst role.

 

[The Snap]

Hello, I'm Ian. I've spent my entire working life in the airline industry in reservations, customer services and for the past eighteen years in pricing / distribution and revenue management, working for charter, commuter and flag carriers.

I'm now looking at moving on and transferring my skills into the rail industry. I'm interested in a revenue management or business analyst role.

Network Rail sounds like the place for you then, in the office. Check their careers site, they have loads of jobs all the time and it is updated regularly.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/

Alternatively one of the TOCs, but they tend to have must less substantial careers websites.

 

[Pinkyflash]

A general reply to all those posters kind enough to answer my thread:

I have 20+ years at sea as a mechanic/motorman,this means that I don't have a qualification relevant to shore based work but have oodles of experience with mechy type stuff.

I went along to an open evening at the local rail academy last night and what I heard sounded a bit like a scheme some colleges have in place for those with no experience but desiring to work offshore,it's called a "Greenhand" course and merely introduces the student to the basics of life offshore,it's generally considered amongst older heads as a complete waste of time and just a money spinner for the college,preying on the younger elements of society wishing to work offshore,having the qualification does not automatically mean you will ever get offshore.

My worry is what some of the older heads in the rail industry think of the Rail academy level 2/3 engineering course.

Is there anybody out there who can either refute or confirm my suspicion?

 

[class 9]

Hi mate, I don't know weather you'd be looking at a loco fitter's job? Freightliner Maintainence are always after mechanical/electrical fitters, these are at the depot in Leeds.

 

[Nym]

On our depots we have several fitters (Train Maintainers and Advanced Train Maintainers) that are former diesel mechanics, bus mechanics etc.

Even though they're electric trains a surprising amount of skills are directly transferable, keep an eye on the websites of train maintainers and I'd think you can get straight in as a Fitter / Train Maintainer.

If you wanted a foot in the door, you could always do some agency work up at Bombardier in Derby...

 

[Pinkyflash]

Thanks for all the replies but guess what?
I've been a noob, I'm actually red and green colour blind,something that I often forget about and it seems that for obvious reasons the medical required for Railway work includes a colour vision test!

So my apologies to all concerned,this will be my last post,thank you.

 

[Nym]

That doesn't prevent you working for the railway...

 

[Pinkyflash]

That doesn't prevent you working for the railway...

But it must preclude certain activities,for instance,LOM or any type of electrical work and obviously train driver!?