Written by Megan
Railways are a massive part of today’s society and have been part of our lives for over 200 years. With so many people using railways to travel to see family, friends, for university or commuting to work, and also for transporting goods across the UK and mainland Europe, thousands of jobs have been created and there will only become more as time goes on. Some of these include the obvious, such as train drivers, ticket inspectors, conductors, and so on. But others are not so obvious. Today’s blog will focus on the endless possibilities that a career in the rail sector may be able to offer you.
So is a career in rail one that will remain stable in years to come?
The answer is a big yes! We are in a new era of railway expansion with High Speed 2, which will connect London to the Midlands, and later on to the North and Scotland. There is also the Crossrail which will connect 40 stations in London and the South East in a high frequency and high capacity manner.
If helping to build and develop new railways isn’t your thing, don’t worry. There are plenty of other opportunities in other areas.
Which degree would aid me in securing a role?
The answer to this of course depends on your area of interest. However, in some cases the answer may be any degree. Roles in finance, marketing, project management, interior design, etc., may not require any form of specific degree. There are many companies that offer graduate schemes or accept graduates for roles regardless of their educational background. Other roles may require subject specific degrees though. Some of these include Architecture, engineering, computer science, software/web development, archaeology and environmental sciences.
What will my job role consist of?
Again, this of course depends on your subject area. Should you wish to work in engineering, you may be designing, upgrading and maintaining lines and infrastructure such as platforms, stations, bridges etc. Electrical, mechanical, and civil engineers are all used in the rail sector. If you are more interested in architecture, then designing stations, tunnels and bridges to go along the lines will be the main focus of your role. You will also work alongside engineers to ensure the safety and eco-friendliness of your designs. Archaeology is also required as all the digging from making new tracks can often uncover historical artefacts below the ground. Maintenance engineers ensure that track and infrastructure work reliably and safely. Art and marketing roles will consist of creating memorable advertisement campaigns to promote rail companies. This may also tie in with a software development role, as companies release apps for buying tickets, passes, and also to keep track of trains running to update staff and travelers of expected arrival and departure times. Environmental sciences are also vital to ensure that any new projects have minimal impact on wildlife and surrounding nature, relocating trees and animals if necessary.
Who will be my employer?
Network Rail own and manage the track, whilst rail operators such as Virgin, Crosscountry rail, and so on run train services. There are also specific companies that are set up to manage projects such as High Speed 2 and Crossrail. Other contractors are brought in to carry out projects such as software consultancy/development or design engineering too, so the chance to work in companies who may not be directly related to rail is also there.
How do I find the job for me?
A lot of employers offer graduate schemes (whether that is for direct rail employers or contractors who are brought in). if you are to complete a placement year during your degree and this is something you are interested in, it may be worth looking into completing a sandwich year with one of these companies too, and sometimes they may go on to offer you a graduate role once you finish.
But overall, the real question is… is a career in the rail sector for me?
From reading above, you can see there may be an opportunity for almost anyone, so the answer is more than likely yes. There are also benefits such as UK and world travel depending on your role, job security in an ever-growing sector, and even if you never travel by train, we rely on this method to transport goods and around the country so it is also beneficial in ways we may not initially think.
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