Looking to start career ~ Advice request

[Niveus92]

Afternoon,

I am looking to start a career in the train industry as it's about time I started my life after a series of mistakes and regrets. I can't change what I have done or rather a lack of and too long have I sat in my bedroom contemplating and wishing I did different rather than doing something. With what I know now, I've learnt from my mistakes and I guess what you could call maturing (better late then never).

I'm a hands on person and I work well in physical working environments and ideally I would like to go into track maintenance or engineering however they're a few problems. Education wise, being 23 I would have to pay for tuition and I believe the nearest college for mechanical engineering course is in Bangor (under 30 miles) with not so convenient transport.

University wise I have used two years of Student Finance and would need to fund a year myself.

I appreciate and understand I would start at the bottom and if anything, working my way up is what I want to be able to achieve and be proud of I just have no idea how to start.

My other half's friend works in the industry for an agency along with his brothers and father and I've only briefly talked to him and he simply said that he had gotten a Network Rail approved company to sponsor him for a PTS certificate and shortly after began working for an agency in track maintenance. That's about everything he had said seemed too easy.

He's a difficult person to get hold of and as such I'm not at all sure on how to achieve this unless I'm missing the obvious. I've researched but I fall on dead ends and would highly appreciate advice or to be pointed in the right direction.

Thanks for your time and effort!

Regards,
Niveus92

 

[Simon11]

Assuming your location is correct, then have you considered volunteering and or working on a heritage railway?

Assuming that you are willing to relocate, why not apply for this http://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/jobs001.htm- Its not too far way.

Or if you are willing to give up your time to volunteer at a nearby heritage railway, there is a scheme for young people which will cover expenses (i.e. travel, accommodation if required) if you would be prepared to spend several weeks volunteering.

 

[Saltire]

Hi Niveus92, welcome to the forum!
First of all well done for recognising mistakes and failings in the past and taking the bull by the horns and deciding to make a difference. Only you can decide to do this for yourself.
At 24 I'd hardly think it's too late, if your set on track maintenance here's the link to network rails careers site http://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/ fill in the spaces and see what pops up near you. Have you considered carriage or station cleaning? (Title usually poshed up to "Train Presentation Operative"). Don't think this below you, it often leads to much better things if your looking to move on - much easier to get a job if you've already got one! Lots of TOC's like to recruit from within their own companies and also the wider Railway family. To find these jobs you'll need to look at the individual companies websites - google is a godsend!
As was said above it would be advantageous to volunteer, and that could be done on a heritage railway all the better
Good Luck!

 

[RBSN]

Afternoon,

I am looking to start a career in the train industry as it's about time I started my life after a series of mistakes and regrets. I can't change what I have done or rather a lack of and too long have I sat in my bedroom contemplating and wishing I did different rather than doing something. With what I know now, I've learnt from my mistakes and I guess what you could call maturing (better late then never).

I'm a hands on person and I work well in physical working environments and ideally I would like to go into track maintenance or engineering however they're a few problems. Education wise, being 24 I would have to pay for tuition and I believe the nearest college for mechanical engineering course is in Bangor (under 30 miles) with not so convenient transport.

University wise I have used two years of Student Finance and would need to fund a year myself.

I appreciate and understand I would start at the bottom and if anything, working my way up is what I want to be able to achieve and be proud of I just have no idea how to start.

My other half's friend works in the industry for an agency along with his brothers and father and I've only briefly talked to him and he simply said that he had gotten a Network Rail approved company to sponsor him for a PTS certificate and shortly after began working for an agency in track maintenance. That's about everything he had said seemed too easy.

He's a difficult person to get hold of and as such I'm not at all sure on how to achieve this unless I'm missing the obvious. I've researched but I fall on dead ends and would highly appreciate advice or to be pointed in the right direction.

Thanks for your time and effort!

Regards,
Niveus92

At 24 you can still be an apprentice in Engineering. You wouldn't have to pay anything. I'd start there, once you pass that, then I would apply for a rail company.

 

[TomBoyd]

I'd also (obviously) recommend Signalling as a career. It's an entry level position, and fantastically rewarding.

 

[Freddie]

Hi Niveus92,

Speaking as a 23-year-old apprentice, you're never too old for one

Depending on your location, you might be a little late for this year, but Network Rail's Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme is still recruiting for September. Disciplines include Track, Signalling, Overhead Lines, Telecoms, and Electrification & Plant.

Absolutely loads of information about the scheme on the website, and there's a Facebook page as well.

Its a 3-year course, with the first year spent residential in Gosport (all expenses paid), and the second two working out of a depot nearer home. NR pay for all of your training & PTS, as well as expenses and salary.

Obviously no such thing as a guaranteed job these days, but they invest a huge amount of money into the scheme, and try and hire as many people as they can at the end of it!

I'm a first-year on the scheme at the moment, so feel free to drop me a PM if you have any questions.