Rail Engineering


Due to a high demand in the rail sector, we’re working with employers across the industry to recruit and train new team members, giving people the opportunity to start an exciting new career.

The course will provide you with:

  • Industry relevant skills
  • Engineering qualifications – City & Guilds NVQ Level 2 in Rail Engineering (Track Maintenance & Repair) and City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Rail Engineering (Underpinning Knowledge)
  • Track induction
  • Personal Track Safety Card (PTS)
  • OLEC 1 – Overhead Lines Electrification Current
  • Manual Handling training
  • Emergency First Aid
  • Rail Competencies including Rail Saw, Cobra TT, Impact Wrench and Iron Man

If you’d like more details about this course please call Derrin Atkins on 0191 4902349.

Assessment

The City & Guilds qualifications are assessed by completing a portfolio of work including written tasks and write ups of practical tasks.

The industry qualifications are a mixture of written tasks, practical assessments and exams.

You will be sponsored by a rail company and receive a paid work trial upon successful completion of the course.

Past students have gone on to work with well known companies including McGinley, ISS, Coyles, Vital Rail, and GBR Solutions.

Full set of PPE is supplied free of charge to each student and practical sessions are completed at Bowes Railway Museum.

Classroom sessions are held at a variety of community venues around the North East.

Students must be 19+ as of 31st of August 2024 and be either unemployed and claiming benefits, or working and earning below £25000.

English and maths at entry 3 or above would be desirable to be able to complete the course.

This course is free (fully funded) for independent learners (those not taking the course through their employer).

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be aged 19 or older
  • Live in the North East Combined Authority area (Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland or County Durham)
  • Have the right to work in the UK and meets residency requirements

Employers using bootcamps to upskill their workforce will be required to pay a contribution (10% for SME and 30% for large Employers).

Next course start dates will be:

Tuesday 6th May at Chester Le Street Community Association DH3 3TS.

If you are interested in attending this course, please come along to the Information & Enrolment Session on 29th April at 10am.

Monday 9th June at Nucastle Foundation NE4 6BQ.

If you are interested in attending this course, please come along to the Information & Enrolment Session on 3rd June at 10am.

Monday 23rd June at Gateshead College Skills Academy for Automotive and Engineering NE11 OSH.

If you are interested in attending this course, please come along to the Information & Enrolment Session on 17th June at 10am.

School Leaver Course Guide 2025/2026

View or download our course guide for 16-18 year olds.

Gateshead College School Leavers guide for 2025 - 2026