Rail Career Pathway

Use our Rail Career Pathway to find out which pre-requisites are required for each course

What type of competency are you interested in?

Rail Plant

Track Safety

Coordination & Planning

Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) Engineering

Select a competency to view the relevant pre-requisites

Track Induction

Personal Track Safety

Controller of Site Safety + Conductor Rail Permit + Overhead Line Permit

Working Near or Adjacent to the DC Conductor Rail

Select a competency to view the relevant pre-requisites

Control of Any Line Open (ALO)

OTP Lift Planning Single Lift

OTP Lift Planning Tandem Lift

Select a competency to view the relevant pre-requisites

Access Overhead Lines Construction Sites

Select a sub category to view the relevant pre-requisites

Crane Controller

Crane Operator

Machine Controller

Machine Operator

OTP Operator Attachments

Other

Select a Machine Operator Competency to view the relevant pre-requisites

Machine Operator Clipper

Machine Operator Crawler/Tractor Dozer

Machine Operator Excavator

Machine Operator Highway Permissible Vehicle

Machine Operator MEWP Attachments

Machine Operator Motorised Trolley

Machine Operator Self Propelled MEWP

Select a Machine Operator Attachment Competency to view the relevant pre-requisites

Attachment 03 Auger Driver

Attachment 04 Ballast Brush

Attachment 05 Distribution Unit

Attachment 07 Ballast Plough

Attachment 08 Ballast Profile Blade

Attachment 09 Ballast Undercutter

Attachment 10 Cable Drum Carrier

Attachment 11 Clam Shell Bucket

Attachment 12 Compaction Unit

Attachment 13 Operate Cone Penetration (CPT) Unit

Attachment 14 Drag Clamp

Attachment 15 Fast Clipper

Attachment 16 Flail (Vegetation Control)

Attachment 17 Hydraulic Grab

Attachment 18 Hydraulic Panel & Rail Lifting Beam

Attachment 19 Hydraulic Sleeper Changer / Wetbed Bucket

Attachment 20 Hydraulic Sleeper Placer / Spacer

Attachment 21 Piling Hammer

Attachment 22 Rail Cropper

Attachment 24 Tamper

Attachment 25 Thimble

Attachment 26 Tilt Rotator

Attachment 27 Trailer

Attachment 28 Tree Cutting Head

Attachment 29 Vacuum Excavator Unit

Attachment 30 Vacuum Lifter

Attachment 31 Wood Chipper

Attachment 33 Hydraulic Breaker

Attachment 34 Hydraulic Manipulator

Attachment 36 Piling Vibratory Att

Attachment 37 Piling Torque Head

Attachment 38 Rock Grinder

Attachment 40 Stump Grinder

Select a Crane Operator Competency to view the relevant pre-requisites

Crane Operator - Excavator Crane

Crane Operator - Excavator Crane Tandem Lifting

Crane Operator Lorry Loader

Select a rail plant Competency to view the relevant pre-requisites

On Track Plant (OTP) Core E-Learning

Slinging

Select a Machine Controller Competency to view the relevant pre-requisites

Machine Controller - Demountable Machine

Machine Controller - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Machine Controller - Material Handler

Machine Controller - MEWP

Machine Controller - Attachment Group 1 - Ballast/Track Management

Machine Controller - Attachment Group 2 - Civils

Machine Controller - Attachment Group 3 - Cutterhead

Machine Controller - Attachment Group 4 - Transportation

Machine Controller - Attachment Group 5 - Drainage

Machine Controller - Attachment Group 6 - Chipper

Select a Crane Controller Competency to view the relevant pre-requisites

Crane Controller - Excavator Crane

Crane Controller - Excavator Crane Tandem Lifting

Crane Controller - Lorry Loader

Crane Controller - Attachment Group 2 - Civils

Crane Controller - Attachment Group 3 - Powered Lifting

Crane Controller - Attachment Group 4 - Tree Management

Crane Controller - Attachment Group 6 - Rail Management

Crane Controller - Attachment Group 7 - Cropper

Pre-requisites of your chosen competency:

Personal Track Safety

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 16
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/00120: Drugs & Alcohol
Sufficient command of English Language as detailed in Network Rail Company Specification NR/S/CTM021 Competence and Training in Track Safety
Successfully completed E-Learning Training & Assessment Prior to Attendance
Industry Only: A drugs and alcohol test must have been carried out no more than 3 months prior to attending a PTS initial learning event

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 16
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/00120: Drugs & Alcohol
Sufficient command of English Language as detailed in Network Rail Company Specification NR/S/CTM021 Competence and Training in Track Safety

AND

Working Near or Adjacent to the DC Conductor Rail (PTS DCCR)

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Note: You must hold the COSS initial competence to continue to Conductor Rail Permit and Overhead Line Permit

Pre-requisites of your chosen competency:

Minimum Age Requirement: 16
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/00120: Drugs & Alcohol
Sufficient command of English Language as detailed in Network Rail Company Specification NR/S/CTM021 Competence and Training in Track Safety
Successfully completed E-Learning Training & Assessment Prior to Attendance
Industry Only: A drugs and alcohol test must have been carried out no more than 3 months prior to attending a PTS initial learning event

Pre-requisites of your chosen competency:

Minimum Age Requirement: 16
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/00120: Drugs & Alcohol
Sufficient command of English Language as detailed in Network Rail Company Specification NR/S/CTM021 Competence and Training in Track Safety

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Lift Planning Single Lift

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 4
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy
A Good Understanding of Mathematical Skill (Equivalent to Basic GCSE Level)
Good Working Knowledge of Excel and Word
For OTP Lift Planning Single Lift: Successfully completed Pre-Course Assessment

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
Meet the British Standard of Literacy and Numeracy

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: For the 2-day course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: For the 2-day course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Note: You must also hold a full driving licence appropriate to the host machine

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: You must hold a working at height competence

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: You must hold a full driving licence appropriate to the host machine

Note: You must also hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Operator - Excavator

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Operator - Excavator

AND

Crane Operator - Excavator Crane

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Note: You must hold a compatible Host Machine/Crane Operator Competence. The above pathway is specific to Crane Operator - Excavator Crane. Other Host Machine/Crane Operator Competencies may require a different pathway.

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

And a compatible Host Machine/Crane Operator Competence, for example;

Machine Operator - Excavator

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

And a compatible Host Machine/Crane Operator Competence, for example;

Machine Operator - Excavator

Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Note: For Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle, you must hold a full driving licence appropriate to the host machine

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

And a compatible Host Machine/Crane Operator Competence, for example;

Machine Operator - Excavator

Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Machine Operator - Motorised Trolley

Machine Operator - Self Propelled MEWP

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course and the 2-day Machine Operator Highway Permissible Vehicle course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Note: For Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle and Machine Operator - Self Propelled MEWP, you must hold a full driving licence appropriate to the host machine

Note: For Machine Operator - Self Propelled MEWP, you must also hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

And a compatible Host Machine/Crane Operator Competence pathway, for example;

Machine Operator - Excavator

AND

Crane Operator - Excavator Crane

Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle

AND

Crane Operator - Lorry Loader

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Note: For Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle, you must hold a full driving licence appropriate to the host machine

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Operator - Excavator

AND

Crane Operator - Excavator Crane

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

And a valid Machine Operator Competence, for example;

Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle Competence, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme. You must also hold a full driving licence appropriate to the host machine.

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: Upon completing the Machine Controller Material Handler competency; Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle is awarded by the training provider without attending further training. Individuals only attending Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle and/or Machine Controller Demountable Machine cannot progress onto Crane Controller without attending Machine Controller Material Handler.

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Controller - Material Handler

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING;

Machine Controller - Material Handler

Machine Controller - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING;

Machine Controller - Material Handler

Machine Controller - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Machine Controller - Demountable Machine

Machine Controller - MEWP

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

And a relevant host machine Machine Controller Competence, for example;

Machine Controller - Material Handler

Machine Controller - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Must meet medical requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124 Medical Fitness Level 2
Meet requiremtne of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051 (Drugs & Alcohol)
Good Level of Literacy

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Controller - Material Handler

AND

Slinger

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Controller - Material Handler

AND

Slinger

AND

Crane Controller - Excavator Crane

You also need to be able to demonstrate 120 hours of Crane Controller Excavator Crane Experience

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING PATHS;

Machine Controller - Material Handler

AND

Slinger

AND

Crane Controller - Excavator Crane

Machine Controller - Highway Permissible Vehicle

AND

Slinger

AND

Crane Controller - Lorry Loader

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Controller - Material Handler

AND

Slinger

AND

Crane Controller - Excavator Crane

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Controller - Highway Permissible Vehicle

AND

Slinger

Other Requirements Include:

Minimum Age Requirement: 18
Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
A Good Level of Literacy