The best rail engineering apprenticeships

Whether you’re a university graduate or a school leaver, there are rail engineering opportunities available across the UK that will give you hands-on experience working for some of the UK’s industry-leading organisations.

We’ve detailed some of the best rail engineering apprenticeships available to help you take the first steps of your career.

Network Rail

A three-year apprenticeship scheme with Network Rail sees you living and learning at the company’s specialist training centre in the Midlands for the first 20 weeks, which includes free food, accommodation and paid trips home. The next part of your apprenticeship will take place at an assigned depot near your home.  You can expect hands-on experience and dedicated support, the chance to meet lifelong friends and significant career development. Add to this Network Rail are currently managing more engineering projects than any other company – it’s never been a more exciting time to join!

Thameslink

The Thameslink Programme is looking for apprentices to help with their current project – rebuilding London Bridge. You will have the opportunity to work across signaling, telecoms, track maintenance, business administration and construction. The engineering apprenticeship is based at the National Skills Academy for Rail on HMS Sultan in Portsmouth. Working with Southwark Council, Thameslink are committed to helping more young people enter the engineering and transport industry.

Morson Training

At Morson, we provide apprenticeships across rail track engineering and safety as part of Morson Training; a recognised Network Rail training provider and City and Guilds approved delivery team. The apprenticeships, delivered in partnership with various colleges across the UK, are fully funded and accredited by the National Skills Academy for Railway. Each programme combines classroom learning in conjunction with practical training delivered utilising a fully functioning track layout – including crossings, points and motors. The dynamic and industry accredited learning environment provided by Morson Training, means each apprentice has increased employability, and the skills to begin a successful career in rail. Morson Training are proud to be the only rail trainer in the UK to have been awarded platinum in a recent quality assurance visit by the NSAR and have been named the number one rail training provider in the UK.

Costain

The engineering apprenticeship with Costain offers a structured development programme which leads to a Certificated Apprenticeship. The programme features one day of college study and four days working towards your qualification (NVQ Level 3) by gaining on-the-job experience. Costain provides two pay reviews a year for each apprentice, on-going support and exciting career development with what has been found to be one of the UK’s ‘Most Admired’ companies.

London Underground

Transport for London has an extensive selection of apprenticeships available across a variety of sectors, including track maintenance and engineering for the London Underground. Depending on the programme, you will receive a starting salary of (at least) the London Living Wage, free travel on Transport for London’s networks for you and another member of your household, membership to their pension scheme and a minimum of 29 days’ annual leave.

Crossrail

With over 400 apprenticeships created for the construction of a new railway, Crossrail is big on producing a skills legacy for the industry whilst furthering the careers of its apprentices. A number of opportunities are available across engineering and construction, which will give apprentices high-quality skills training, a paid salary and a relevant qualification upon completion.

What next?

Becoming a rail and transportation engineer offers you a career full of prospects, a great salary and a rewarding, hands-on role. The rail industry has an exciting future ahead with upcoming upgrades, improvements and big projects planned across the UK, making it one of the best times to start your career and a rail engineering apprenticeships can help you get there.

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