Engineering Apprentice
Ben Shackson
Day to Day tasks
Performing routine maintenance (A and B exams) on class 150,158,165 and 166 trains, including brake tests, inspections, and fluid checks as well as heavy maintenance such as engine, transmission and bogey changes.
Skills needed for this role
e.g., written and verbal communication, research skills, stakeholder relationships, data analysis
To start with you will need a basic understanding of mechanical and electrical systems, an ability to interpret technical drawings and the confidence to communicate and integrate with a team well.
My working environment
Mainly based in Exeter TMD (Train Maintenance Depot) working with machinery, tools and diagnostic equipment sometimes outdoors as well as in the maintenance sheds. As well as this I attend college to get my qualifications.
Pathways into this role
Completing a level 2 engineering apprenticeship, or gaining relevant qualifications through school or college.
Education
e.g., GCSE
Minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above including Maths and English.
Best and worst things about this job
The best is the hands on work including fault finding that can be seen impacting train safety and performance. As well as working with a great team. The most challenging thing is being under time pressure to complete repairs and sometimes working in challenging conditions such as tight spaces.
Depot Manager
Gareth Wilcox
Day to Day tasks
- Analyse trends in train usage, breakdowns, and turnaround times.
- Adjust maintenance schedules or fleet allocations to improve availability.
- Identify underused assets and plan redeployment or retirement.
- Monitor Train availability
- Monitor Maintenance turnaround time
- Measure Incident frequency
- Measure Staff productivity
- Work with engineering leads to refine long-term maintenance strategies (e.g., predictive maintenance vs. time-based).
- Strategically plan major overhauls to reduce service disruption.
- Assess equipment lifecycle and budget for upgrades.
- Identify training needs for depot staff (e.g., safety, technical skills).
- Develop succession plans for key roles.
- Promote cross-functional collaboration and team development
- Forecast future staffing, tools, and infrastructure needs based on service expansion or seasonal patterns.
- Review contractor performance and strategic partnerships.
- Evaluate and redesign inefficient workflows (e.g., inspections, parts management).
- Pilot new technologies or tools (e.g., digital tracking, AI diagnostics).
- Apply lean principles to reduce waste and downtime.
- Strategically assess compliance gaps and plan proactive audits.
- Review risk registers and implement control measures for operational hazards.
- Hold regular briefings with senior leadership on depot performance and strategy alignment.
- Engage with suppliers and OEMs for better contract terms or tech upgrades.
- Coordinate with other depots or operational units to align strategic plans.
- Review feedback related to rolling stock (cleanliness, reliability, delays).
- Strategize improvements that directly impact passenger satisfaction.
- Coordinate with operations to reduce late departures or short-formed trains.
Skills needed for this role
e.g., written and verbal communication, research skills, stakeholder relationships, data analysis
Technical & Industry Knowledge
- Rail operations understanding – Knowledge of rolling stock, train scheduling, depot layouts, and train systems.
- Maintenance processes – Familiarity with preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance practices.
- Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) standards – Strong grasp of railway safety protocols and compliance regulations.
Operational Management
- Fleet and asset management – Ability to oversee vehicle readiness, inspections, and availability
- Logistics and planning – Efficient scheduling and coordination of trains, parts, and teams.
- Crisis and incident management – Quick, calm response to breakdowns, delays, or emergencies
Leadership & People Management
- Team leadership – Managing multi-disciplinary teams including technicians, engineers, and cleaners.
- Performance management – Setting goals, conducting appraisals, handling underperformance.
- Staff development – Identifying training needs and promoting continuous improvement.
Strategic Thinking
- Long-term planning – Aligning depot performance with business goals.
- Process improvement – Applying Lean or Six Sigma principles to streamline operations.
- Budget and resource management – Planning and optimizing manpower, tools, and parts usage
Communication & Coordination
- Stakeholder management – Liaising with senior management, train operators, maintenance teams, and regulators
- Clear reporting – Preparing reports, dashboards, and documentation.
- Conflict resolution – Handling internal disputes or customer complaints professionally.
Digital & Analytical Skills
- Use of depot management systems – (e.g., Maximo, SAP, RailSys, R2).
- Data analysis – Interpreting KPIs, maintenance trends, and cost reports.
- IT proficiency – MS Office, asset tracking systems, and incident logging platforms.
My working environment
My working environment is based at Depot with a mixture of site visits. I can also be in head office at times.
Pathways into this role
Typically, the pathway into a depot manager role would be the technical route via Fleet Engineer/Fleet Manager. However, A good level of Leadership background will stand in good stead.
Education
e.g., GCSE
- NVQ Level 3, HNC/HND, or BEng in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
- Rail-specific certifications (e.g. vehicle maintenance, safety)
- Level 5 Leadership
Best and worst things about this job
One of the best aspects of the role is working directly with people that are highly skilled and diverse. Having a direct impact on the growth and development of team members. This then transfers into delivering a great service to the customer.
A key challenge in the role is the ever-changing landscape out on the network. The best laid plans can change in a blink of an eye depending on weather, landscape, people, and infrastructure. This makes it very challenging to plan.
Terminal Engineer, Technician A Manager (Freightliner)
Lucy
Day to Day tasks
- Examine and repair rolling stock (carriage and wagon).
- Undertake routine and reactive maintenance on container lifting cranes.
- Daily examination of Hyster container stackers.
- Fleet campaigns (special checks) on arriving locomotives.
- Completed Fluorinated Gas training in preparation for future terminal maintenance on refrigerated containers.
Skills needed for this role
e.g., written and verbal communication, research skills, stakeholder relationships, data analysis
- Situational awareness (safety) when moving terminal equipment and vehicles (rail and road)
- Resilience, especially when fault finding
- Communication and teamwork between terminal operations and engineering teams to ensure safe and efficient train departure Concentration to carry out safe examination, maintenance and repair of equipment and vehicles
My working environment
I work days, afternoons and nights at one of Freightliner's rail and road terminals. I wear Personal Protective Equipment including: full orange hi-visibility clothing, bump cap, safety glasses and safety boots. I am the only woman in the company doing my job role and, currently, the only terminal engineer (male or female) who is Fluorinated Gas trained and qualified to work on refrigerated containers.
Pathways into this role
- Apprenticeship - Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician or
- Level 3 Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician
My career path
- 2024: Terminal Engineer, Technician A at Freightliner Group 2023-2024: Traction and Rolling Stock (Warranty) Technician at CAF Rail UK
- 2019-2023: Traction and Rolling Stock Technician Apprentice at Northern Trains Limited
Education
e.g., GCSE
- 2024: City&Guilds Level 2 F-Gas and ODS Regulations - (Category I) Handling Fluorinated Gases and ODS
- 2023: EAL Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technician Knowledge (Traction and Rolling Stock)
- 2023: EAL Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technician Knowledge (Traction and Rolling Stock)
- 2022: EAL Level 2 NVQ in Performing Engineering Operations (Engineering Practices)
Best and worst things about this job
My colleagues are the best thing about my job, working across different teams gives me the opportunity to build strong, professional relationships with management, operations and engineering members of staff. My least favourite part of the role is clocking out of an environment with 24/7 operations - during rest periods, I feel as though I miss out on challenges which would further develop key skills
Apprentice locomotive Fitter Manager (Freightliner)
Jack
Day to Day tasks
- Fuelling and servicing locomotives.
- Working on scheduled maintenance.
- Solving electrical and mechanical faults.
Skills needed for this role
e.g., written and verbal communication, research skills, stakeholder relationships, data analysis
- Good communication skills
- Problem solving
- Ability to learn and adapt
- Able to work well as part of a team
My working environment
- I work in a workshop with a railway track going through the middle for the locomotives to park on.
- We work inside, underneath and sometimes on top of the locomotives.
- We must always wear the correct Personal Protective Equipment - overalls, boots, bump caps and goggles.
Pathways into this role
- Apprenticeship - Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician or
- Level 3 Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician
My career path
- Apprentice Electromechanical Locomotive Fitter at Freightliner
- Level 3 Engineering at Bath College
Education
e.g., GCSE
Level 3 Engineering qualification
Best and worst things about this job
- The best thing about my job is that you’re not doing the same task every day.
- The worst thing is that you get very dirty most days!
There are also many other rail roles in the Engineering & Design category, such as Electrical Engineer, Construction Manager, Terminal Engineer and Fleet Commercial Engineer.