signaller

project manager

engineer

rail technician

entry level engineer

Network-Rail

The primary purpose of this position is to produce a cost effective roster to provide 24 hour coverage seven days a week for Network Rail's signalers. This includes liaising with regular and relief men and women to cover the required shifts, managing and monitoring annual leave and providing cover for annual leave whilst working within the National Rostering Principle Guidelines.

The ability to react quickly to sickness and emergency leave absences is essential; this reactive rostering involves knowing relief men, their competencies within the grades and boxes that they can work and has to be completed quickly in order to ensure the signalling box is covered.

Regular and Relief signalers also have to conduct regular Safety Briefings and are assessed every six months. It is the Roster Clerks responsibility to monitor these briefings / assessments and ensure that these are all conducted within the desired timescales.

The hardest part of the job, initially, was getting to know my men and the grades / areas that they were competent within. I manage three areas with involves approximately 100 men and women. This is now the most enjoyable part of the job as I had to learn all this information quickly and be able to utilize it in the roster that I produce. I have established excellent working relationships with the men and women that I only liaise with via telephone and email. Not one day is the same in rostering and different challenges arise every day. I am constantly thinking strategically on whom I can move where to ensure that each box is covered every hour of every day.

I have an excellent manager, who conducts regular reviews and always acknowledges achievements and will discuss any issues thoroughly and in great detail to ensure that a deep understanding of the role can be achieved.

I have learned so much since I started at Network Rail, including how rail tracks / stations / signal boxes work and liaise together, how to roster a weeks worth of shifts for an area for both relief and regular workers and I have taken on board number of new IT Systems (including Shift Logic) work.

A typical day will include the following:
- creating / updating / amending weekly rosters
- ensuring all workers are kept up to date with any amendments with the roster.
- managing annual leave requests / updating annual leave records
- confirming shifts with regular / relief workers via telephone / email
- ensuring correct hours are placed on all reports and
- producing payroll reports to send to HR Shared Services

This is a very varied position, which requires constant attention and the ability to react positively and accurately to any situation.

Varied work day, dealing with all sorts of operating incidents, generally using interesting equipment, often while fitting engineering work round a busy train service. A serious job where mistakes are generally unrecoverable - but in quiet spells you'll get a chance to enjoy some banter.

You'll meet some good experienced managers, but they are a dying breed now thanks to endemic nepotism and a policy of filling management roles with new graduates. For this reason you will often find that internal vacancies are already sewn up before they are even advertised. 

So if you join as a signaller, reckon on staying in this grade long-term; doing a good job and being ambitious likely won't get you anywhere. The pay is good for what the job entails, but don't forget that shiftwork will kill your social life and won't do your health much good either.  A week of nights in your late 50s is no joke.

Another negative is empire building. You won't notice this as a crossing keeper, but in higher signalling grades you will curse it as different depts busily play the blame game - and will draw YOU into it whenever they can.

In addition, since nationalisation in 2014, things have got noticeably more bureaucratic, along with increasing corporate propaganda and pervasive political correctness. None of this helps you do your job.

Best part of the job is sorting out incidents and recovering the service so people get to their destinations safely with minimal delay. This is challenging but rewarding and +most+ colleagues will muck in to get things moving. 

But thanks to its poor leadership and highly opaque recruitment processes, this company just can't be recommended as a career choice.

I work at Stratford international station where most of time it is a very busy environment. I do interact with all different levels of passengers from different cultures. I enjoy assisting and providing professional, high standard customer service to all passengers and public who travels through our stations. I found my job role challenging and entertaining same time. Most enjoyable part of the job is knowing that you helped or assist some body to get to their destination on time and safely. You have tried your best to provide with information and assistant that they may need it. However hardest  part of the job is that seen some body walk  away from you with dissatisfaction not because of you not doing your job but some other uncontrollable outside  factors such as train disruptions etc... However I always tried my best to give our customers some other alternative options to give them a bit of relieve and valued feeling to walk away with. Over 21 years that I have worked in different customer service related jobs I have attained very good communication and conflict management skills where I found it very beneficial even dealing in my daily life.
I have worked with different levels of managements and line managers throughout  my career in railways and security industries, I have seen  many good management skill  and taken on board many good qualities to be added to my knowledge where I do use it to lead my other team members when it is necessary.
My work place culture it is brilliant because I work with people with diversity and different back grounds where I learn about different cultures and different customs every day. This helps me to understand and deal with people with best possible way.

Just started a month ago, on this exact role.
Interview process was straight forward. 
Online test about 12 questions to show how good you are with puzzles and problem solving.

Then 3 hour assessment centre at MK quadrant. 
1 hour interview 1 hour test on the role ( questions where you  read and calculate train journeys on a sheet using diagrams) 1 hour group work with fellow interviewees where you will be observed.
They totall up all 4 processes and highest scores are successful. 

Going through my 18 week training. Training and working at the same time. You get put in a team after you join and that when you’ll know which area you’ll be working in and also it’s your wam that help you feel welcome in a place where everything is just so new to you. 
The actual work is okay once you’ve been shown how to do it, it’s very technical, dealing with time table plans and then offering them to train operation companies. Then validating them. It’s not simple but it’s really interesting.

The office is amazing. Parking is great you get a MK employee permit for free. All day parking is £3 in mk purple bays. The network rail staff carpark is £2.80 per visit. So you have a choice. 

Training team are lovely they help you with your development. But also it’s how you also make sure your developing and take control of the matter. Plenty of promotional opportunities once your competent and in need for a change. 

Smart wear, shirt/ half sleeve shirt and trousers. Most Fridays is dressdown for charity. 

Gym £18 a month with free classes. Every Monday they have a football league which is good fun. 
So far it’s been good at my very short time being here. 

Hours are flexible as long as you get your 35 hours done in a week.

Here at St Pancras International we have two teams - we have the mobility assistant's and the security officers. I am on the security side of things. Firstly I am a here to help customers with there everyday needs such as information about the trains, whats local or tourist information. No two days are alike! Since we are a big station we have a mixture of domestic and international services. My duties (other than helping the customers) are to carry out regular security checks in the area I have been given to patrol. This is done every hour (without fail). We do this to pro-actively ensuring the protection of station property and assets and creating a safe and comfortable working environment for employees and visitors. Other duties are directing emergency vehicles and other traffic if a major incident occurs. Responding to emergency situations as they arise. Accurately reporting all incidents to senior managers.
Preventing and detecting offences on site. Conducting searches of personnel, vehicles and bags etc. Producing written reports. Liaising with the emergency services, police, ambulance and fire service to resolve issues and maintain security and service. This is just some of what is required of me and the team. I would saw pros are that no two days are the same, you are always being challenged to better your knowledge and you get to meet a wide range of different people however cons are being constanly on the move (as in walking non stop) weather can be very cold due to the station being open and long days. Over all not a bad job.

The industry is safety-led and the processes put in place dictated the culture.You were kitted to be self sufficient.You could slip in and out within the bounds of your roster and deployment,and just be you.
Starting shift: You arrive before your rostered shift,sign in and disappear.No don't get me wrong.Everything you need is with you already.Any additional information is in your pigeon hole or on the notice board.Its your responsibility to read them.So, to "disappear" is in not being required to make any contact with anybody to do your work ,so long as you have been certified competent by passing the RULES.But Big Brother is watching over you.Yes,the mangers make sure that all shifts are covered by checking the signing in sheet.And the platform mirrors co-workers relation-ship.It can be fun,it can be "stiff" it can be malleable.Whatever it is,it is those on it on the day.A sully one today could be the chatty one tomorrow,but sure a different pair.
Managing the fallout from an inclement weather,is the hardest part of the job;stemming the tide of frustration from a weary journey which needed home comfort is arrested by a frosty rail track or signal failure.
Oh, the shades of colour.Human appreciation is the most enjoyable part of the job.You see humanity in all its colours.
Talk of what I learnt:All is not as it seems.Not that I am only coming to terms with this cliche' at my age,no,but there is safety in numbers.
I tried and stretched my skills of flexibility and adaptability.It was an experience.

I was processing both external and internal job offers for Network Rail vacancies using the in-house recruitment system. Preparing all offers of employment and complex terms and conditions (contracts) for candidates, which was completely new to me and I enjoyed learning about it. Liaising with Resourcers in a professional and courteous manner resolving potential and/or existing issues both verbally and in writing. Keeping process trackers (MS Excel) up to date, booking medicals both for face to face and online assessment and always maintaining high levels of attention to detail, which required a high level of concentration. Again this was something entirely new to me and at times very taxing and definitely tiring. Dealing with accepted offers and start dates in order to assist the on-boarding process. Being a team player, helping out the team wherever necessary to keep on top of all required jobs i.e. uploading medical fit slips, filing medical online reports, processing revised offers and/or forwarding requests from candidates to the relevant Resourcer and retaining ownership of any issues to ensure their speedy resolution. The team was really lovely and they welcomed me warmly. It was really lovely working with them. My team manager was very helpful and supportive and it was great working under him.

A typical day as a Trainer varies, but could include getting up at around 6am to prep for training. Delivering to classes of up to 8 or more people and then finishing in time to avoid the afternoon rush. Other days there is flexibility with the emphasis on you taking responsibility for your own output, which in my mind is rewarding as you choose how your working week should be measured.

I started at the bottom in a Customer Service position and grew all my working knowledge of the industry from it, where I later went into track and operations and from there became a Trainer. There is a huge variety of internal development opportunities as well as career progression.

Workplace culture is generally good, we are all in it to make the railway run, doesn't matter what part you play, you all believe in making it work and that's inspiring to be part of something important that attracts like minded individuals.

The hardest part of my job can be the time it takes to prep and train with the dependency being on technology which often or little lets you down occasionally.

The best part of my working day is knowing that I have shared knowledge and helped people within in the business to use the tools they need to complete their jobs, its a real job satisfaction when you can see the results of your hard work.

Worked for Clapham and Waterloo, money started off great but gradually dropped off due to cutting overtime left right and centre. They tried to take  high grade pay off people whichever way they could, and will try relentlessly even if you’re job responsibility requires you to get the higher grade of pay as outlined in the company contract matrix. Rosters get changed last minute and gradually adjusted to the point that you’ll work every weekend and have no life at the end of it. Basically permanent nightshift if you can hack it. Management have no idea how the railway is run and have a total disconnect from reality when their demands are outlaid

Sounds all negative but on the plus side, you will work hard but only for 2-4 hours a night, the rest of the shift or lack of…will be very light and a good amount of downtime to recoup and socialise. It would take a while before you’d get bored of the type of work because the work is diverse in the sense that no 2 days are the same for the most part. For someone who doesn’t mind grinding to earn good money for 5-10 years it’s a good job with some great personalities and interesting challenges if you can put up with the fact it’s a poorly managed public sector leech company. If you have a family or relationship you care about or if you value weekends, daylight or any form of social life then maybe think before applying for any maintenance position 

At Network Rail we focus on being adept and to ensure that everything we do in the work place adds value.
We learn how to undertake our jobs productively, and we attend many courses on managing ourselves and and our time better.
It is a very friendly work place, everyone is there to help each other and to get the best out of each other, if there is an issue it is discussed in detail and the correct way forward will be the output of the discussions.
I worked within a Project Team and I was very much a team player, that is how Network Rail like us to be - to feel part of something and to know that everybody who contributes is valued and I very much felt that within the Company.
I worked for the Company for 18 years and I enjoyed all aspects of my roles and I had a lot of friends.
Everyone has tedious tasks to do, so I could say that these were parts of the job that I did not like, however these tasks are part of your everyday routine and it is best to embrace them and do them, knowing that you are contributing to the bigger picture of Network Rail, and that is how I was able to undertake them. The social side of Network Rail was very good, lots of social events and fun around the office.
I really enjoyed my time with the Company.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Signaller 92 salaries reported	£38,597 per year
Project manager 24 salaries reported	£42,857 per year
Engineer 13 salaries reported	£44,910 per year
Rail technician 93 salaries reported	£21,476 per year
Entry level engineer 14 salaries reported	£21,477 per year

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