Join our Wigan depot as a Rail Fitter, carrying out inspection, maintenance, fault-finding and repair activities on rail fleet assets and associated equipment, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently and to the required quality standards.
The role is suited to an experienced fitter, technician or maintenance engineer from a rail, plant, HGV, agricultural, military, utilities, heavy engineering, specialist vehicle or similar maintenance background. Previous rail or OTM experience is beneficial but not essential, provided the individual has strong practical maintenance skills, a good safety mindset and the ability to work to controlled maintenance instructions and documentation requirements.
The salary on offer is £40,000 -£52,000 depending on experience
Closing date: 22nd June – please apply at the earliest opportunity. We may close this role early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Main Responsibilities
- Conduct scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, repairs and inspections on rail fleet assets, ancillary equipment and associated systems.
- Carry out fault-finding and defect rectification across mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic and control-related systems, within the limits of competence and training.
- Inspect, maintain and repair core asset systems, including but not limited to braking, suspension, structural components, power/auxiliary systems and seasonal fleet modules.
- Diagnose faults using technical manuals, maintenance instructions, drawings, diagnostic equipment, inspection methods and practical engineering judgement.
- Disassemble, repair, replace, align and reassemble mechanical parts, components and assemblies to the required standards.
- Complete maintenance tasks in line with planned maintenance schedules, defect requirements, company procedures and applicable engineering standards.
- Maintain accurate records of work carried out, including defects found, actions taken, parts used, measurements recorded and work completed.
- Ensure all maintenance documentation is completed accurately and in line with company, customer and regulatory requirements.
- Follow health and safety procedures to ensure safe working practices within the depot and any associated on-site working environments.
- Use tools, equipment, lifting equipment and depot facilities safely and correctly, reporting any defects or concerns promptly.
- Support the implementation of maintenance plans, depot procedures and reliability improvements.
- Work closely with supervisors, managers, fitters, stores, planning and operational teams to support safe and efficient fleet availability.
- Contribute to continuous improvement by reporting recurring defects, identifying reliability trends and suggesting practical maintenance improvements.
- Comply with relevant safety, environmental, quality and rail compliance requirements, with training and support provided for rail-specific standards where required.
- Maintain a clean, safe and organised working environment.
- Work effectively with other departments within GBRf to support safe, reliable and efficient delivery of the seasonal maintenance function.
Skills and Experience
- Practical experience in mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic maintenance within a rail, plant, HGV, agricultural, military, utilities, heavy engineering, specialist vehicle or similar environment.
- Strong mechanical aptitude and practical fault-finding ability.
- Electrical fault-finding experience or basic electrical understanding is desirable.
- Able to inspect, diagnose, repair and test components or systems using technical information and practical engineering judgement.
- Experience working with complex vehicles, plant, machinery, powered equipment or specialist assets.
- Good understanding of safe systems of work, isolation requirements, manual handling, lifting operations and general workshop safety.
- Excellent attention to detail and consistent adherence to procedures.
- Able to complete maintenance records, defect reports, job cards and digital maintenance system updates accurately.
- Ability to work independently within competence, while knowing when to escalate technical, safety or quality concerns.
- Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a maintenance team.
- Flexible approach to working patterns, including shifts, weekends, unsociable hours or on-call arrangements where required, particularly during seasonal delivery periods.
- Previous experience within rail, rolling stock, OTM or seasonal fleet maintenance is desirable.
- Familiarity with hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, mechanical or control systems is desirable.
- Experience with spraying equipment, water systems, pumps, tanks, filters, hoses, valves, flow control or similar ancillary systems is desirable.
- Good understanding of health and safety regulations within the railway industry is desirable.
- Knowledge of RISQS, Sentinel, Railway Group Standards, Network Rail requirements or rail maintenance documentation is desirable. Training and familiarisation will be provided where required.
Personal Profile
- A practical, reliable and safety-conscious fitter who takes pride in completing maintenance work to a high standard.
- Comfortable working in a depot maintenance environment on vehicles, plant, machinery or specialist equipment.
- Able to follow maintenance instructions, technical drawings, specifications and procedures accurately.
- Confident using hand tools, power tools, diagnostic equipment and workshop equipment safely and effectively.
- Strong attention to detail, with a clear understanding that accurate maintenance records are an important part of the job.
- Able to identify defects, investigate causes and support practical solutions.
- Calm and methodical when fault-finding or working under operational pressure.
- Works well as part of a team and communicates clearly with supervisors, managers and other maintenance staff.
- Willing to learn rail-specific standards, systems and working practices.
- Takes ownership of assigned work and escalates issues early when safety, quality, parts, competence or timescales may be affected.
- Relevant engineering qualification, such as NVQ Level 3 in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, City & Guilds, HNC, HND or equivalent experience, is desirable.
- Experience working on rail vehicles, rolling stock, plant, HGVs, agricultural equipment, military vehicles, specialist machinery or similar assets is desirable.
- Knowledge of hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical and mechanical systems is desirable.
- Familiarity with maintenance management systems and diagnostic tools is desirable.
GB Railfreight are proud to be one of the UK's fastest-growing rail freight companies, recognised for our reliability, growth, and commitment to delivering high-quality service. For over 20 years, we've been so much more than just trains — we're a dedicated team, committed to working together to deliver reliable, sustainable freight services and build strong partnerships across industries nationwide.
When you join GBRf, you become part of a team that truly values its people, works collaboratively, and takes pride in what we do — keeping goods moving through smarter, greener, and more efficient freight solutions.
We pride ourselves on being genuinely value-driven. Our core values guide everything we do, shaping our culture and actions:
Our Values
- Professionalism – Safety and security are paramount in our business, and we believe this forms the foundation of a high-achieving safety culture.
- Support – We look after our people, and they in turn are encouraged to look after each other.
- Communication – Transparency in our business is valued by both colleagues and customers.
- Trust and Empowerment – We believe openness and honesty create the best relationships, building trust and confidence.
- Enjoyment – Taking pleasure in coming to work at GBRf is actively encouraged, right from the top.
Key Benefits of Working With Us
As well as a competitive salary, annual leave package of 25 days plus bank holidays (or equivalent for Operational staff where bank holidays are worked) and enrolment into our Industry-Wide Defined Contribution Pension Scheme, we offer:
- A generous healthcare package
- An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - providing confidential support including counselling support, wellbeing resources and access to a 24/7 GP service
- An online benefits portal offering hundreds of discounts at nationwide retailers
- An electric vehicle scheme (available after your first 12 months)
- Regular social events, including days out for you and your family
- Training and development opportunities, including internal courses and external certifications through our industry-renowned development programs. We prioritise your growth in line with our people-centric culture.
Inclusion Without Exclusion
At GB Railfreight, we recognise that a more diverse range of people leads to greater innovation. We recruit and develop people best suited to the role requirements, regardless of background.
Our aim is to create a diverse workforce that reflects wider society. We champion diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing in the workplace, in alignment with our values.
If you're as passionate about Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) as we are, we invite new employees to join our People and Culture working group and contribute to the ongoing work in this area.
