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 important projects. Working alongside some of our most experienced engineers, you’ll specialise in one of five 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.

An exciting career matters.

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Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician Apprenticeship (England & Wales)

Applications for our 2024 Apprenticeships have now closed. You can register your interest to be notified when applications open for this programme in 2025.

Salary: £19,838

Start date: November 2025

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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 available are Track, Signalling, Telecommunications, Overhead Lines, and Distribution and Plant. This could 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. If you have a preference in what discipline you would like to specialise in, please make this clear as part of the application process.

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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 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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Graduation Mortarboard

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’ll even offer further support and sponsorship if you choose to attend university or achieve professional qualifications.

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.

Register Interest