Operative (Track Maintenance) progression

[zakbruce12]

I've recently applied for the role of an Operative (Track maintenance) for network rail, just wanting to know how well you can progress through the company? I'm a fully qualified mechanic so would be interested in becoming a technician for the company further down the line if I was to get the job

 

[TSG]

Sorry, but if you were more specific about your aspirations the people here might be able to give you a useful answer. I don't understand the question. Track Maintenance Operatives are most definitely in the 'engineering side of things'. Do you have a level of salary, qualification or responsibility in mind?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Oct 2020 ==

****The forum auto merged this here*****
Only just realised you edited the question, don't think anybody gets a notification if you do it that way. First thing to say is that I haven't done what you're proposing to do, I've never been in track, and I'm on a completely different area, but.... First thing to understand is the different engineering disciplines (sorry if you know all this already but its probably pretty important to what you're trying to do). Along with track there is E&P (electrification and plant) and S&T (Signal and telecom). Track has a lot more operatives than technicians I think, but there are track techs who do things like surveying and overseeing more complicated jobs like rail stressing. E&P and S&T are pretty much all technicians. Generally speaking E&P is paid more than track and S&T is paid more than E&P. I suspect your background aligns with E&P most closely but as you're going to have to learn new stuff anyway it probably isn't important.

The advantage of becoming a track operative is that you're in the company getting to understand the business and procedures for carrying out work at the track side. If you want to become a track technician you will be learning about track maintenance. Understand though, your boss will be a track manager. They are responsible for recruiting and training track staff, and have a finite budget to do this. If you let on in the interview that what you really want to do is join the E&P or S&T I doubt it will help chances. They are most unlikely to let you do any training specific to other disciplines to help you get a job there.

That said, if you get the track operative and you don't fancy staying in track my advice would be bone up on electrical principles/fault finding as this will help with E&P or S&T. For S&T learn what can about how the signalling system works too. Hopefully there may somebody on here with E&P experience who may have more idea what would help you with them.

Best of luck

 

[zakbruce12]

Thank you for that, that explains a lot and gives me a better understanding on what I could get into! Was hunting through the forums for a response like that but thankfully you provided me with what I was looking for, cheers!

 

[Yzerman]

I’d go for it they will put you on courses to learn the job there will be opertunities to progress