Network Rail plant and distribution

[MechFitter]

I'm hoping to get into the railway industry at some point in the near future, but struggling to see where I fit in with my transferable skills. Up to yet it seems like plant and distribution is my best bet.

I've been a mechanical fitter for 10 years, full mechanical apprenticeship, qualified up to HNC in mechanical engineering. Worked in heavy engineering but mostly in an incredibly varied sugar factory, there's power generation, sugar refinery, water treatment, animal feeds, more chemicals than I can count etc. Consequently, health and safety has been a big part of my career and I'm hoping that will help me in the rail industry.

The biggest gap in my CV is I don't have any formal electrical training/qualifications.

With all this in mind, what's people opinion of where I will fit in within the rail industry.

Thanks

 

[thecrofter]

I'm hoping to get into the railway industry at some point in the near future, but struggling to see where I fit in with my transferable skills. Up to yet it seems like plant and distribution is my best bet.

I've been a mechanical fitter for 10 years, full mechanical apprenticeship, qualified up to HNC in mechanical engineering. Worked in heavy engineering but mostly in an incredibly varied sugar factory, there's power generation, sugar refinery, water treatment, animal feeds, more chemicals than I can count etc. Consequently, health and safety has been a big part of my career and I'm hoping that will help me in the rail industry.

The biggest gap in my CV is I don't have any formal electrical training/qualifications.

With all this in mind, what's people opinion of where I will fit in within the rail industry.

Thanks

I may have read this wrongly, but you seem to be angling for a maintenance role. If that be the case, then in my humble opinion (as a former BR electrical apprentice, Electrification & Plant Project Engineer, WCRM E&P Project Manager and lastly E&P Asset Engineer) you may find that Plant & Distribution (the maintenance sub-division of E&P) being electrically biased, is not quite the right fit for your experience. With your mechanical skills, perhaps OLE (Overhead Line Equipment) may be the discipline best suited to gain entrance into the industry. Despite what some people may think, it has very little to do with electrical engineering. When discussing roles with prospective joiners, I always used the analogy that Distribution concerned Volts & Amps, whereas OLE was more Kilograms and Newtons - other units apply of course! Your Health & Safety experience would obviously stand you in good stead for whatever role you deem suitable. There are many other areas/positions that may suit your skills so don't narrow down your options too much at this stage. Hope that helps.

 

[DerekDingle]

I'm hoping to get into the railway industry at some point in the near future, but struggling to see where I fit in with my transferable skills. Up to yet it seems like plant and distribution is my best bet.

I've been a mechanical fitter for 10 years, full mechanical apprenticeship, qualified up to HNC in mechanical engineering. Worked in heavy engineering but mostly in an incredibly varied sugar factory, there's power generation, sugar refinery, water treatment, animal feeds, more chemicals than I can count etc. Consequently, health and safety has been a big part of my career and I'm hoping that will help me in the rail industry.

The biggest gap in my CV is I don't have any formal electrical training/qualifications.

With all this in mind, what's people opinion of where I will fit in within the rail industry.

Thanks

Hi, go on colas rails website. They’re always on the look out for fitters on their OtMs. I know people with similar experience, who got jobs.