How to Apply
Your future matters.
Once you’ve made the decision to join us at Network Rail, you’ll want to know more about our application process. It’s very straight-forward and applies to all our Early Careers schemes.
We have summarised the main steps you’ll take as part of the application journey below. If you’d like more detailed information on our application process, click here.
Our Application Process
Application Form
This form collects the information we need to ensure you meet our minimum crietriaOnline Assessment
This is an assessment presenting you with scenarios to assess how you work. As part of this we’ll ask you to complete a video interview designed to help us learn more about you and your interests.Assessment Centre
These will be virtual or in-person, depending on the scheme you apply to. The day consists of some activities that will enable you to demonstrate your suitability for the scheme.Outcome
We'll let you know the outcome of your application as soon as all the assessment centres for your scheme are complete. If you are successful, we’ll move you onto our onboarding experience.Important Information
Here’s some important information to think about before submitting your application to us.
Our graduate opportunities will invite registrations of interest from October 2024 and our Apprenticeship Schemes will follow in February 2025 during National Apprenticeship Week.
Applications will close at different times. This will depend on the number of applications we get for each. Once we’ve reached our expected numbers, we reserve the right to close the schemes for further applications. If you do want to be considered and don’t want to miss out, make sure you complete your application at your earliest opportunity.
The entry criteria for all our Early Careers Schemes vary. More information can be found using the links below.
Please note, we will only make a conditional offer until we’ve been able to verify your qualifications. Please make sure you have the original copies of your certificates to hand or you’re able to provide other evidence.
For all our graduate and apprenticeship schemes, you need to be at least 18 years of age at the start of the scheme (June 2025 for summer placements and September 2025 for all other schemes). There’s no upper age limit.
Network Rail is a national infrastructure company and we have locations across the UK for apprentices and graduates.
When you apply for one of our schemes, you’ll be able to see the locations available to you. Please choose a location that is suitable to you and ensure that you’re within a reasonable commuting distance from the location. This is particularly pertinent for our frontline roles in engineering or operations due to the Working Time Regulations 1998 and the prevention of fatigue.
Once you’ve chosen a location and you’ve been accepted onto our scheme, you should expect to be based at that specific location for the duration of your scheme with some time spent at training centres or other business locations in the UK. We are unable to accept requests for location changes at the point of offer.
We often get asked about working from home and hybrid working options. These cannot be offered contractually and are at the discretion of scheme managers once you’re in the business. Please note, some roles cannot be home-based as they require you to complete manual working on-site.
We welcome applications from international candidates. However, it’s essential that you have the right to work full time in the UK at the start date of the scheme (September 2025). Any offer of employment remains conditional until this your right to work status has been checked and confirmed. We’re unlikely to progress applications where sponsorship is needed to get a Tier 2 (general) visa as we expect to be able to fill all our roles with candidates who have the right to work in place.
We welcome applications from both internal and external candidates for our Early Careers Schemes.
As part of your application process, you’ll be asked if you wish to apply under the Disability Confident Leader scheme and if you need any reasonable adjustments. Please make sure to include as much information as possible so that we can support you across the application process.
Network Rail is an accredited Disability Confident Leader. You can find out more here.
Initially, you’ll be made a conditional offer of employment until we’re satisfied you meet all the entry criteria such as holding the right qualifications, right to work etc. There’ll be quite a few forms to fill in at this stage and you’ll be asked to send in various documents. But please don’t worry about this right now, we’ll give you all the information you’ll need once we’ve made you an offer of employment.
As part of the onboarding process for any role at Network Rail, you will be asked to attend a Medical Appointment and complete Drugs and Alcohol Testing. This is because we are a safety-critical organisation, and we need to ensure everyone is fit and healthy to attend work.
For some front-line roles, there may some pre-excluding medical conditions that may prohibit you from doing your job safely. We are unable to provide a full list of conditions as every situation and individual is different but as an example, certain types of colour-blindness will mean that working in an operational environment may not be deemed safe.
Before submitting your application, if you have any concerns or wish to discuss this confidentially with our recruitment team, please reach out to us on enquiry@networkrail.ambertrack.co.uk or 01635 584137 (9:00am – 5:30pm).
Our graduates receive a £2,000 welcome bonus.
Our apprentices and undergraduate placement students are not eligible for the welcome bonus or relocation expenses.
Anything else?
Please contact us on enquiry@networkrail.ambertrack.co.uk or 01635 584137 (9:00am – 5:30pm) if you need any other support or have a query.