Network Rail
Operative(Volume)
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Who We Are
Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure. Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We’re an organisation where people matter. When you’re part of our team, you matter to us and you matter to millions.
We’re continuing to build a more diverse and inclusive organisation which is representative of the passengers we serve. To do this, it’s essential we become a more open, diverse and inclusive organisation, harnessing the skills and expertise of all our people and attracting the best talent to help us have a safe, accessible railway for everyone. We’re an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone!
We are Central route. We are the Heart of Britain’s Railway. More than a million people rely on us every week, and we help transport nearly a million tonnes of freight every month. But we are more than just tracks and trains, we are a catalyst for jobs and opportunities, a connection to leisure and time with family and friends, and a foundation for communities and neighbourhoods.
We are a key part of the national network, with Birmingham New Street - the busiest station outside of London and the hub of the railway - connecting England, Scotland and Wales, with hundreds of services arriving and leaving every day.
About The Role
Every day, thousands of passenger and freight trains rely on Britain’s rail network to keep the country moving. As a Signalling and Telecoms Operative, you’ll play a vital role behind the scenes, helping to ensure trains run safely, smoothly and on time for millions of people.
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In this hands-on role, you’ll be responsible for maintaining, inspecting and repairing the railway’s signalling systems - often described as the traffic light system of the railway. You’ll work with a wide range of signalling assets, including signalling control systems, mechanical signalling equipment, track circuits, axle counters, point machines, power supplies, transformers, rectifiers, battery chargers and telecoms infrastructure.
Working alongside your Signalling maintenance colleagues, you’ll investigate and diagnose faults both trackside and remotely, replace electrical components, and carry out planned and reactive maintenance. The role involves physically searching for faults along the railway, using specialist equipment to identify defects, checking signal monitoring systems online, and measuring track distances and heights to ensure assets meet required standards. You’ll also work closely with teams such as Fault Control and Operations, sharing vital information that keeps passengers and colleagues safe. Identifying and reporting hazards, incidents and issues will be key to keeping the network operating reliably.
This role requires flexibility, as you’ll work a varied shift pattern, but rosters are provided in advance so you can plan your time around family, friends and personal commitments. You’ll also be working outdoors throughout the year, so you should be comfortable operating in all weather conditions.
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This is a fantastic opportunity to kick-start or build a long-term career in the railway, particularly if you enjoy problem-solving, technical work and making a real difference every day. We’ll provide full training, recognised qualifications and ongoing development, giving you the skills, confidence and experience to succeed - with clear progression opportunities within Signalling Maintenance.
Please note that you must live within a 60-minute travel time of the location stated in this advert. A full driving licence is essential for this role.
Salary: £38,482
Closing date: 4th August 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
Want to find out more about what fantastic benefits we offer? Click here
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of a range of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information.
We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer and we’ll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.
Your Experience And Skills
In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/ be:
- Able to work as part of a team.
- Able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
- Hold and retain competencies relevant to this post, required by the business need.
- Ideally hold (or be working towards) an NVQ 1 (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
- Able and willing to drive vehicles as required by business need.
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