Requirements

Rail and rolling stock builder or repairer - requirements

As a rail and rolling stock builder or repairer, often called a rail engineer, you’ll build, test, fit and repair a range of rail vehicles, rolling stock parts and train engines. Read on to find out more about what this role involves, what you’ll need to do to get a job and how your career might develop.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be a rail and rolling stock builder or repairer?

Getting a degree in an engineering discipline will be useful in this field. Subjects to consider include:

A college course will give you some of the knowledge and skills you’ll need for this job. Subjects to consider include Level 2 and Level 3 diplomas in rail engineering operative competence and rail engineering track maintenance.

You’ll also need to pass a medical check for this job, as you’ll be working in a safety critical environment around train tracks and locomotives.

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Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a rail and rolling stock builder or repairer?

Most employers don’t ask for postgraduate qualifications for roles in this field, but an engineering postgraduate degree could help you move into specialised or management positions.

Examples of postgraduate level degrees you might consider include:

Rail systems engineering
Railway engineering with project management
Engineering (civil: railway infrastructure)
Project management

What skills do you need to be a rail and rolling stock builder or repairer?

As well as a good knowledge of rail machinery, you’ll need a strong attention to detail and a good level of physical fitness for working outdoors with heavy equipment.

Hard skills usually include:

Knowledge of machinery
IT
Recording
Technical diagrams and schemes

Soft skills include:

Attention to detail
Patience
Physical fitness
Problem solving
Teamwork

Do you need work experience to be a rail and rolling stock builder or repairer?

You’ll be able to get your first role in this industry without directly relevant work experience, but being able to show employers that you’ve worked in an engineering, maintenance or project management environment will be useful. You might get experience through shadowing or a placement in the railway sector, or through other engineering or repair roles.