Network Rail Operatives and Technicians - General Discussion

[adzzman]

Thank you for the reply you’ve given me hope

 

[alxndr]

Good evening guys I recently applied for network rail signalling technician/maintainer roll as I’m really looking for a change of career and looking into getting into the railway industry. I’m in my 30s and currently working as an appliance technician and working in refrigeration. I’m a certified pat tester with experience in electrical and mechanical works. I’ve applied for the roll but I’m feeling like it’s hopeless. Do I have a chance or will they look at my application and think never. Thank you

It is rare for someone off the streets to go into a tech job but not impossible. Depends a lot on the people in your area and whether the operatives there, or even local contractors, have the inclination and experience to go for technician roles.

 

[marjml262]

Got an interview coming up for ohl technician, what sort of things am I expecting to be asked in the interview? It's a competency based interview with safety and technical questions

Thanks

 

[Horizon22]

Got an interview coming up for ohl technician, what sort of things am I expecting to be asked in the interview? It's a competency based interview with safety and technical questions

Thanks

As it is a Network Rail interview, there will be some standard questions about safety and equality and diversity. Otherwise as you say they will want to know technical details and is competency based so think of various scenarios that you could describe.

 

[Newbie97]

Technician (Signalling Maintenance) Upcoming Interview

Hi all,

I have an interview coming up for a technician role for network rail. I really want to give this my best shot so I was wondering if anyone knows what to expect on the day of the assessment.

As per the email I received, it stated the day would consists of the assessment centre, personal assessment, group assessment and interview (Competency based). However on the job description, it stated that I would face competency based interview, practical under observation and a scenario based assessment.

I am not top fussed when it comes to the face to face interviews as I have a lot of scenarios in my pocket from years of work experience, but just want to get a clear understanding of what to expect and what I should do to best prepare (e.g doing some mechanical aptitude tests previous to assessment day).

Really appreciate any help or previous experiences going for this or a similar role for network rail and I will be sure to let you know once I have completed it.

 

[henke7]

Are you internal or external?

 

[Newbie97]

Are you internal or external?

Hi there, I am external coming from the telecoms industry.

 

[henke7]

Hi there, I am external coming from the telecoms industry.

I was an S&T technician before my current role. Internally you would be asked to carry out tests and diagnose faults with equipment.

Practical wise for yourself as an external, I don’t really know what they could have you doing. As you don’t have any experience with S&T equipment. I do know people who were asked to explain Ohms Law, either explain how to wire a plug or physically do it and explain how a DC battery works etc. Ask you to try read and understand technical drawings.

I would 100% nail the HR element of the interview and give your best with the technical side of it as I imagine there will be different parameters for externals in the technical element.

 

[Newbie97]

Much appreciated, thank you!

 

[kisyrpk]

Hi there,

I recently had an interview with Network Rail for a Truck Maintenance Operative role. If someone could please share some information about salaries, benefits, overtime rates, and holidays, that would be great.
On the interview day, I asked plenty of questions, but unfortunately they couldn’t answer all of them.

 

[Newbie97]

Hi there,

I recently had an interview with Network Rail for a Truck Maintenance Operative role. If someone could please share some information about salaries, benefits, overtime rates, and holidays, that would be great.
On the interview day, I asked plenty of questions, but unfortunately they couldn’t answer all of them.

Can I ask what the actual interview was like? I have an assessment centre coming up and practical but just trying to get a heads up on what to expect.

 

[QueerCats]

I've seen some Fast Track Technician schemes in my local area for NWR (specifically in S&T), and I'm curious how it differs from an apprenticeship, or indeed a standard Operative job, if anybody happens to know.

 

[iain88]

On the fast track you get payed a lot more than if you did an apprenticeship and it’s done over 18 months instead of 3 years. A fast track technician starts of as an operative and you get all your competencies very quickly but if you was to be a standard operative it would take a lot longer to get them. I’m on the fast track scheme and it’s very good in my opinion.

 

[QueerCats]

On the fast track you get payed a lot more than if you did an apprenticeship and it’s done over 18 months instead of 3 years. A fast track technician starts of as an operative and you get all your competencies very quickly but if you was to be a standard operative it would take a lot longer to get them. I’m on the fast track scheme and it’s very good in my opinion.

Thanks for the info. What's your weekly schedule like?

 

[iain88]

work 35 hour weeks, mix of nights and days. Lots of weeks away doing courses in York initially on the fast track course. Loads of overtime if you want it also.

 

[AM92]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone could provide some information who may have experience within the industry.

I’ve been offered a position with network rail as an off track operative after a successful interview, however after conducting my medical I failed the colourblind test due to being red-green deficient.

I couldn’t get a definitive answer from the occupational practitioner, so I’m just wondering if this would prevent me from being offered the role as an off track operative ?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks all.

 

[Poonhead83]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone could provide some information who may have experience within the industry.

I’ve been offered a position with network rail as an off track operative after a successful interview, however after conducting my medical I failed the colourblind test due to being red-green deficient.

I couldn’t get a definitive answer from the occupational practitioner, so I’m just wondering if this would prevent me from being offered the role as an off track operative ?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks all.

Should be fine for off track as long as you don't require a PTS, but even then they used to mark your card to say you should always be working with someone else. Good luck. A friend of mine works for Network Rail on the OHL and he's colour blind.

 

[alxndr]

Should be fine for off track as long as you don't require a PTS, but even then they used to mark your card to say you should always be working with someone else. Good luck. A friend of mine works for Network Rail on the OHL and he's colour blind.

PTS is needed for Off-Track (it’s the discipline relating to things that aren’t track, such as vegetation, fences, and drainage). Being colourblind shouldn’t cause an issue though, it’s mainly a problem for telecoms or S&T where being able to identify colours of wiring and signals is vital.

 

[AM92]

Should be fine for off track as long as you don't require a PTS, but even then they used to mark your card to say you should always be working with someone else. Good luck. A friend of mine works for Network Rail on the OHL and he's colour blind.

Thanks for taking the time to respond it’s much appreciated

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2026 ==

PTS is needed for Off-Track (it’s the discipline relating to things that aren’t track, such as vegetation, fences, and drainage). Being colourblind shouldn’t cause an issue though, it’s mainly a problem for telecoms or S&T where being able to identify colours of wiring and signals is vital.

This was my understanding from online research. I would still require a PTS, but I would just have the “blue circle” on my card that would restrict me from certain duties.

Hopefully it doesn’t cause me any issues!

Thanks for taking the time to respond

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

Don't worry, you will still be able to work and have PTS.

You may not be able to do certain competencies as your Sentinel card will have a blue circle on. It isn't uncommon and also takes into account conditions such as diabetes.

Congratulations on the role.

 

[henke7]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone could provide some information who may have experience within the industry.

I’ve been offered a position with network rail as an off track operative after a successful interview, however after conducting my medical I failed the colourblind test due to being red-green deficient.

I couldn’t get a definitive answer from the occupational practitioner, so I’m just wondering if this would prevent me from being offered the role as an off track operative ?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks all.

Hello, as other people have answered, you should be ok in Off Track and Pway if colourblind. You can definitely hold PTS so don’t worry about that. My old off track team leader was colourblind. However as somebody said it’s a bar from joining S&T or any other job working with signalling equipment.

 

[helpwithinterv]

Hello, I have a job interview for the Fast Track Technician Programme and part of the interview is a group exercise does anyone have any tips of what it’s like or what the exercise may be?

Thank you in advance

 

[AM92]

Hello, as other people have answered, you should be ok in Off Track and Pway if colourblind. You can definitely hold PTS so don’t worry about that. My old off track team leader was colourblind. However as somebody said it’s a bar from joining S&T or any other job working with signalling equipment.

Hi thanks for taking the time to reply. My medical has been passed onto my hiring manager to review, so fingers crossed it’s all ok!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Aug 2026 ==

Don't worry, you will still be able to work and have PTS.

You may not be able to do certain competencies as your Sentinel card will have a blue circle on. It isn't uncommon and also takes into account conditions such as diabetes.

Congratulations on the role.

Thank you very much!!

 

[angleseyfitter]

Hi guys sorry to hijack the thread, I’ve recently applied for an s&t operative with fast track fairly local to me (mega opportunity) it closed 10 days early and a couple of days later I had an email apologising that it was paused due to unforeseen circumstances, have any of you guys had this before and any idea on impact it has on time frame, they couldn’t tell me anything but I’ve also applied for a couple of other vacancies within that depot and kind of wanted an answer from s&t before the outcomes of the others.
Cheers!!!

 

[LCC106]

I would reply to the email thanking them for the update and asking them to keep you on file, since you were particularly interested in the role. That way you might stick in the recruitment team’s or manager’s mind.

 

[angleseyfitter]

I would reply to the email thanking them for the update and asking them to keep you on file, since you were particularly interested in the role. That way you might stick in the recruitment team’s or manager’s mind.

Thanks for that, I ultimately ended up with an email yesterday saying they’ve had to withdraw the opening due to unforeseen circumstances, but opened a position for a technician which I’ve applied for… mostly with the hope of gaining insight into operative positions in the depot, I do have a history of engineering in regulated safety critical industry so really did hope for a shot at operative to build on

 

[LCC106]

Let’s hope this application goes more smoothly for you!

 

[blu54]

Hi,

Can anyone give me any guidance for an upcoming network rail technician interview, I already work in the industry in S&t but not for NR.

Much appreciated

 

[iain88]

Our place has just started putting faults on equipment similar to Sem 2 for the interview with technical and hr questions afterwards. But depends on the depot i think.

Hr questions will be based on safety (10 life saving rules always good to remember), diversity and inclusion and non technical skills all on the website.