Training Maintenance Workers

Network Rail maintenance workers inspect the condition of the track, fences, structures, electrification plant & signal equipment on the railway and then make the necessary repairs to maintain its effective operation.

Our 110 trainers who train our maintenance workers are all former maintenance workers themselves. They have completed special courses so that they are skilled as trainers.  

Safety training

All maintenance workers learn how to:

• Work safely (e.g. safe lifting and avoiding slips, trips & falls)
• Stay safe from trains & electrification equipment on the tracks
• Manage other people’s safety on the railway.

The safety courses at the maintenance training centres are also used by our engineers and the Network Rail employees on Major Projects.

Skills training

In addition to the safety training, maintenance workers attend specialist skill training courses for their specific jobs.

Track workers learn how to inspect the track, check the height, width & level of the rail, repair faults and replace components.

Signal workers learn how to find & repair faults in the signals, track circuits & points.

Electrification & plant equipment workers learn how to maintain the overhead & the third rail power supplies, conducting equipment transformers and rectifiers. They also learn how to increase & decrease the transforming current from the National Power Supply and distribute the power along the railway to provide signals & power to the trains.