Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician Apprenticeship (England & Wales)

Entry Requirement

You must be aged 18 or older by the start of the programme to apply. There is no upper age limit for the programme.

You’ll need grades 9-4 in GCSE English, Science, and at least one other subject, and grade 9-5 in GCSE Maths, or equivalent.

Apprenticeships

Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician Apprenticeship (England & Wales)

Start an exciting career with our 3-year Rail Engineering Technician Apprenticeship and you’ll help shape national projects, embrace the latest tech, and get hands-on with our railway network. Working alongside some of our most experienced engineers, you’ll specialise in one of six possible disciplines that are integral to the successful running of the railway.

If new technology and real-world experience matters to you.
You matter to us.

Appleby-in-Westmorland, Westmorland and Furness, England.

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Ashford, Kent, England.

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Banbury, Oxfordshire, England.

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Barnetby, North Lincolnshire, England.

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Basingstoke, Hampshire, England.

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Bedford, Bedford, England.

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Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom.

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Brighton, England, United Kingdom.

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Broxbourne, England, United Kingdom.

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Carlisle, Cumberland, England.

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Cheshunt, England, United Kingdom.

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West Sussex, England, United Kingdom.

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Croydon, England, United Kingdom.

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Derby, Derby, England.

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Didcot, Oxfordshire, England.

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Kent, England, United Kingdom.

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Eastleigh, Hampshire, England.

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Exeter, Devon, England.

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Leicester, England, LE8, United Kingdom.

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Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England.

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Guildford, Surrey, England.

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Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England.

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Hereford, Herefordshire, England.

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Hitchin, England, United Kingdom.

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Horsham, West Sussex, England.

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London, England, United Kingdom.

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Manchester, Greater Manchester, England.

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Newton Abbot, England, TQ12, United Kingdom.

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Northampton, West Northamptonshire, England.

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Oakham, Rutland, England.

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Orpington, England, United Kingdom.

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Par, England, PL24, United Kingdom.

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Penrith, Westmorland and Furness, England.

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Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.

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Sleaford, England, NG34, United Kingdom.

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Swindon, Swindon, England.

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Crawley, West Sussex, England.

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Westbury, England, United Kingdom.

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Surrey, England, United Kingdom.

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York, York, England.

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  • Appleby-in-Westmorland, Westmorland and Furness, England
  • Ashford, Kent, England
  • Banbury, Oxfordshire, England
  • Barnetby, North Lincolnshire, England
  • Basingstoke, Hampshire, England
  • Bedford, Bedford, England
  • Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom
  • Brighton, England, United Kingdom
  • Broxbourne, England, United Kingdom
  • Carlisle, Cumberland, England
  • Cheshunt, England, United Kingdom
  • West Sussex, England, United Kingdom
  • Croydon, England, United Kingdom
  • Derby, Derby, England
  • Didcot, Oxfordshire, England
  • Kent, England, United Kingdom
  • Eastleigh, Hampshire, England
  • Exeter, Devon, England
  • Leicester, England, LE8, United Kingdom
  • Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England
  • Guildford, Surrey, England
  • Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England
  • Hereford, Herefordshire, England
  • Hitchin, England, United Kingdom
  • Horsham, West Sussex, England
  • London, England, United Kingdom
  • Manchester, Greater Manchester, England
  • Newton Abbot, England, TQ12, United Kingdom
  • Northampton, West Northamptonshire, England
  • Oakham, Rutland, England
  • Orpington, England, United Kingdom
  • Par, England, PL24, United Kingdom
  • Penrith, Westmorland and Furness, England
  • Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
  • Sleaford, England, NG34, United Kingdom
  • Swindon, Swindon, England
  • Crawley, West Sussex, England
  • Westbury, England, United Kingdom
  • Surrey, England, United Kingdom
  • York, York, England

An exciting career matters.

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Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician Apprenticeship (England & Wales)

Locations: Appleby-in-Westmorland, Ashford, Banbury, Barnetby, Basingstoke, Bedford, Bletchley, Brighton, Broxbourne, Carlisle, Cheshunt, Crawley, Croydon, Derby, Didcot, Dover, Eastleigh, Exeter, Fleckney, Gloucester, Guildford, Hayward's Heath, Hereford, Hitchin, Horsham, London, Manchester, Newton Abbot, Northampton, Oakham, Orpington, Par, Penrith, Salisbury, Singlewell (Gravesend), Sleaford, Swindon, Three Bridges, Westbury, Woking, York

Salary: £21,477

Start date: November 2026

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What you’ll be doing

Work alongside experienced engineers in depots across the UK and learn what goes into keeping thousands of miles of power lines and tracks running and fit for us. As part of our team, you’ll help shape national projects, embrace the latest technology and develop the skills you need to succeed.

Each of our apprentices will specialise in a pathway relevant to the depot they’re based at. The pathways are Track, Signalling, Telecommunications, Overhead Lines, Locking Fitter, and Distribution and Plant. These disciplines will see you getting hands-on and repairing our tracks, working with high voltage systems, heights and specialist tools, repairing major signalling failures, supporting our telecommunications systems, or keeping our power flowing safely and efficiently.

Please note that your discipline will be allocated to you according to your geography and what the need is at your local depot.

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Who you are matters

You’ll need grades 9-4 in GCSE English, Science, and at least one other subject, and grade 9-5 in GCSE Maths, or equivalent.

We look for driven individuals who have a keen eye for detail and the ability to solve difficult problems. You should love working in a team but be comfortable making your own judgements once settled in the role.

Our railway runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This means that as a Rail Engineering Technician Apprentice it is likely that you will follow a shift pattern that will mean working nights and/or weekends and there will be times where you need to stay away from home for training. You’ll find yourself out in all weathers, around the clock, seven days a week, so you’ll need to be flexible about travelling and working shifts and be up for working in all conditions.

Due to the nature of the railway environment we operate certain safety checks when joining, as part of this we require all candidates to be 18 years old.

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What you’ll get out of it

Once you’ve completed the scheme, you’ll have two Level 3 Diplomas in Railway Engineering Technician Knowledge & Competence, as well as leadership and management skills. We offer further support and sponsorship if you choose to attend university or achieve professional qualifications, following the completion of your Level 3 Apprenticeship.

Many of our Apprentices go on to hold senior positions within Network Rail, such as Programme Management, Principal Engineers, and Maintenance Delivery Engineers.

We matter to millions. You could too.

We matter to millions. You could too.

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