What you’ll do

During the scheme you’ll work across a number of areas to learn about the different facets of our network and become skilled in various disciplines.

Contact Systems

There are various tasks here. You could be measuring the height and stagger of Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) to make sure it’s aligned properly. If there's an incident, you may be called upon to help get the line re-opened. All the time we carry out lineside inspections and repairs to check equipment is always working correctly. We also have to check and fix the bonding cables (connected to the rails). And when engineering work is scheduled, we carry out the isolations and earthings to make sure work can be done safely.

Distribution

This involves everything from installing and maintaining electrical supplies (mainly for overhead lines or conductor rails) and testing high-voltage protection systems, to inspecting and maintaining high and low-voltage power supply equipment – like transformers, switchgear and cables. With the electrical supply operating in so many different areas, you could be working in any number of locations that include swing bridges and signal boxes.

Plant

We also operate a large range of electrical and mechanical line-side equipment to support the network. This includes electrical point heating to check that points don’t freeze in winter; standby generators providing back-up power for signalling equipment and control centres, track and tunnel drainage pumping systems; and electrical supplies to equipment rooms and signal boxes.