Been offered an OL apprenticeship with Network Rail

Hi,

I've tried a couple of times to get on their apprenticeship and finally have been offered something subject to medicals etc.

Originally I wanted to do track at a station 20 mins from home but have been offered a place doing overhead lines about an hours drive from home.

Any opinions on what a day in the life of a line engineer involves and the kind of salary after training and working hours?

The potential long commute is a bit of a downer but I'm hoping the job will be more satisfying than track to make up for it.

Thanks for any opinions. Very excited to start a career in engineering.

Does anyone know if I'd have to go to the depot every day or do you go to where you'll be working? Thanks.

M84 said:

Does anyone know if I'd have to go to the depot every day or do you go to where you'll be working? Thanks.

Click to expand...

You have to go to the depot mate usually, to get a van and get a brief for the work that’s on for the day, and also meet up with other team members. Could be different in other depots but doubt it.

Many thanks.

Hello M84,

Congratulations man! OHLE is the future so they say, so definitely a good discipline to get into. See that hour distance as a trade off. Track is not where you want to be lol unless you plan to get into the Tech team/office.

The starting salary if I remember correctly is around £33k excluding London Allowance.

Anyways all the best with your apprenticeship have fun, network with people and stay on top of your work!

BallastMonkey said:

Hello M84,

Congratulations man! OHLE is the future so they say, so definitely a good discipline to get into. See that hour distance as a trade off. Track is not where you want to be lol unless you plan to get into the Tech team/office.

The starting salary if I remember correctly is around £33k excluding London Allowance.

Anyways all the best with your apprenticeship have fun, network with people and stay on top of your work!

Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. I've been looking into OLE and it looks really interesting.

I've spoken to friends on the railway and they've also said track isn't the place to be. What is it about track that's so bad? Is it too labour intense or just a job with no progression?

Thanks

Congratulations, definitely a good choice (but I am biased as a linesman myself, not NWR but a contractor )

Most depot's you'll need to go into the depot before and after the work, but its all allowed for in your overall working time. Depending what your depot is will depend on what you'll actually be doing. In the past its mostly been just maintenance with the occasional upgrade, but I believe NWR are looking for the depots to take on more of the upgrading work (this may depend on the skill set at the depot). You'll also get trained up by them do do COSS, and NOMI duties as well.

One thing I say to every trainee we've had, and is the same across the board really, is get involved and ask questions then people will show you and teach you. If your the type to just turn up and do the bare minimum then you'll not progress, mainly as you'll get easily tarred as a lazy type and people won't waste there time showing you. Reputation and word of mouth goes a long way in getting work on OLE at the minute

There's a lot more scope for progression on OLE than track, especially in the non management areas.

Thanks for the reply. It would be three years at Singlewell then I imagine staying there after.