Network Rail

Welcome to Star Track

The trainee track engineering design scheme for the engineering stars of the future

The future of Britain’s railway is looking better than ever, and your future will too with Network Rail.

With hugely ambitious engineering projects under way across the UK, we've created a brand new scheme to train track design engineers. This is a fantastic moment to join us if you have good technical and maths skills and a real drive to succeed.

You’ll enjoy a varied and challenging training programme which includes producing your own designs for track layouts and seeing them installed on site. There is huge variety to the role, with real scope to develop a rewarding career in the rail industry.

Why are we recruiting now?

Passenger numbers are forecast to grow; by 2020 another 400 million rail journeys will be made each year. The rail network is already operating near to full capacity so we need to expand and develop it to cope with the increasing demand.

Improved track designs are a pivotal part of our strategy to increase capacity, whether it is remodelling existing track layouts or adding completely new routes.

This is why the rail industry needs track design engineers to meet our commitments over the coming years.

A career in track design

We need engineers who can take a brief, work with surveyors on site and talk to project teams and engineers to see their designs developed and implemented.

It’s not just about working in the office and using CAD, its about applying your knowledge, challenging the status quo and creating solutions that will benefit the railways for years to come.

We are currently recruiting for a new and exciting trainee track design engineering scheme which starts in September 2013.

To find out more about a career in track design hear from some who are doing it right now:

• Richard Quigley
• Kelly Dickson
• Joan Heery

Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for the scheme are:

• GCSE English and Maths at grade C or above
• 2 A levels – one of which must be in maths, a science or technology subject at grade E or above

Alternatively

• A BTEC National Diploma (level 3) in an engineering or a technology subject

If you’re completing your A levels or a BTEC National Diploma this year and are due to get your result this August, you can search and apply for this year’s scheme today. Any offer made will be dependant on your results meeting the entry requirements.

What will I learn?

We have worked with Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) to develop a two-year Foundation Degree in Railway Engineering.

The course includes 23 weeks at SHU learning engineering fundamentals in the first year before moving on to the specifics of track design. It will be delivered by lecturers with specialist knowledge and experience.

What you learn at SHU will provide the knowledge of engineering principles that you will rely on throughout your career.

The scheme offers a great blend of on the job training and classroom based learning. Placements in design offices, with Network Rail delivery teams and at Sheffield Hallam University will provide a unique learning opportunity.

What will I be doing?

Your studies will be interspersed with local work placements with design consultancies and with Network Rail. They will be structured to support the learning gained at SHU and will provide the opportunity for you to get involved in real projects. You’ll be supported by a mentor who will guide you through the scheme and make sure that you get the experience needed as you start your career.

During these placements you will gain hands on experience in a design office working on projects for the railway. The end result could be a new design for an existing piece of track or a new piece of track, either way the principles of design and project work will apply.

The placements may mean working out of a maintenance unit at night and at weekends – the times when we can get access to the track to carry out work. You’ll see how we maintain and upgrade the infrastructure, and you’ll see the latest technology and equipment in use. This will help you to understand the challenges faced by the engineers on the ground delivering the designs developed in the office.

Where will I be based?

The scheme is being run in partnership with our track design partners. Except for your time at SHU you will either be based in one of our offices, or in a track design partners’ offices in one of these city centres:

• Birmingham
• Central London
• Glasgow
• Manchester
• Milton Keynes
• Swindon
• York  

How much will I be paid?

You’ll receive a salary of £14,000 in the first year. On successful completion of the first year, your salary will increase to £15,000.

Scheme members who successfully complete the two year programme will receive a £1,000 bonus.

As long as your performance is satisfactory, we’ll pay all your tuition fees. Travel, accommodation and food costs will be covered while you are studying at Sheffield Hallam University.

You will be enrolled into a stakeholder pension scheme and will receive 20 days annual leave plus the statutory bank holidays. As the course is structured around time at Sheffield Hallam University and on placements, some of the holidays will need to fit around your schedule.

At the end of the scheme it will be up to you to secure a position with us or with one of the businesses supporting the scheme. So how you work and what you achieve on the course will go towards improving your future career opportunities.

Typically, assistant track engineers – the first job that scheme members will secure on successful completion of the scheme – receive a salary of around £20,000. Progress from this first job is really dependent on your success and a move upwards and into chartered status is possible

Apply today

We are recruiting for a class of 20 for our 2013 intake starting in September 2013.

Search and apply for this year’s scheme today 

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