Track Apprentice Review

I am required to learn the ins and outs of the railway infrastructure. Such as dimensions, clearances and vital tolerances. My role will be to record critical data concerning mostly the movement of track. I will also be responsible for maintenance activities on track such as changing rail and restoring the track formation to its correct state. Safety is also a big aspect and we are required to work around live electricity on a daily basis and a lot of the time we work around the passage of trains at high speed.

I have learned many skills such as how to use a lot of technical equipment like measurement gauges and devices used to measure track geometry. Since being on the railway I have become very aware of my surroundings and adopted a more safe approach to my duties.

I enjoy the programme very much, the first year is very generic and does not teach a lot speciifically about the railway but mostly Engineering principles. These are helpful for entering the second year even though at the time it doesnt feel like it will be. On arriving at the workplace it felt daunting to think I would be patrolling a dangerous worksite for real and undertaking important work. After a while though i was comfortable in my roles and had gained a lot of confidence with my growing knowledge and can hoenstly say I really enjoy my job.

I feel very valued to have the oppurtunity and be chosen to be on this scheme especially when I think how hard it is to get a regular job nowadays. To part take in a job I enjoy and will be rewarded for greatly means a lot to me.

The programme is well organised and structured, the work experience compliements the theory work always and all basic skills are learned first along with health and safety which is the most important step.

We recieve a lot of support whenever we have trouble with assignments our staff are only a phonecall or an email away and have always responded straight away and given me proper support.

My employer gives me a lot of support regarding my work experience to make sure that I am comfortable in the environment and learning properley. My personal work reports are also momnitored to make sure I am doing them on time and without error.

In the first year the salary was not enough I felt, although we had accomodation and food i also had personal outgoings such as insurance and bills which I struggled to keep up with. The second year is a lot easier and overtime and night rate can boost the money so I am more comfortable. The salary in second and third year are more than adequate.

There are certain oppurtunities such as free train travel with south west trains which is one perk and also discounts on certain stores like 02.

Yes

I believe that this is a brilliant job and that Network rail are a very good company that look after their employees well. There is real scope for moving onwards and upwards with hard work and there is a good sense of equality in the workplace.

I would say to relax in the first year, try and pass everything and the time will fly by. If