Rail transport operatives
£51,621
Average salary
44 hours
Average weekly hours
-25.2%
Pay growth from 2017 to 2018
3.97%
Unemployment rate
Definition: Rail transport operatives
*SOC Code (Standard Occupational Classification): 8234
Rail transport operatives assist drivers in the operation of passenger and goods trains, drive locomotive engines in coal mines, guide wagons and coaches in marshalling yards and sidings to make up trains, operate signals and points to control the movement of rail traffic, and monitor the operation of surface and underground railways.
Common tasks include:
- provides crews for breakdown trains, allocates relief and replacement crews as necessary, keeps crews informed of any line repairs or restrictions, and checks train running times for punctuality;
- examines schedules and decides priority of movement of trains, monitors movement of trains and issues instructions to drivers, signal operatives and level crossing keepers;
- operates signals and opens and closes barriers at level crossings as required;
- examines shunting instructions, uncouples wagons and coaches, guides movement of carriages using manual points and wagon breaks, links-up carriages, ensures security of couplings and reconnects brake and heating systems;
- assists drivers in the operation of diesel, diesel-electric, electric and steam locomotives;
- checks loading of tubs and carriages, and informs driver of load distribution and any special features of route.
Qualifications
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Candidates may be required to have good hearing, eyesight, and normal colour vision and pass a medical examination for entry to some posts. Training is initially undertaken in training centres, followed by practical experience on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in Rail Transport Operations are available at Level 2.
*Introduced in 1990, SOC is a multi-purpose common classification of occupations in UK. Jobs are defined in terms of skill level and skill content, including qualifications, training and work experience.
Employment status: Rail transport operatives
Regional employment: Rail transport operatives
Future employment: Rail transport operatives
Top 12 industries: Rail transport operatives
Alternative & related job titles: Rail transport operatives
Controller, section (railways) Inspector (transport: railways) Supervisor, transport (railways) Attendant, switch (coal mine) Secondman (railways) Flagman Inspector, goods (railways) Fireman, engine Worker, shed (railways) Controller, train Guard, ballast Latcher, wagon (steelworks) Foreman, parcel (railways) Assistant, movements (railways) Man, locomotive (coal mine) Driver (coal mine: below ground: Inspector, yard Controller, chief, deputy (railways) Driver, engine, diesel (coal mine) Keeper, crossing, level Controller (railways) Inspector, parcels (railways) Gatekeeper (coal mine) Worker, railway Signalman (railways) Inspector, signalman's Foreman, capstan Controller, relief, trainsman's Worker, goods, railways Foreman, parcels (railways) Signalman, relief Inspector, district (transport: railways) Foreman (railways) Inspector, office, head (railways) Gateman (coal mine) Keeper, gate (railways) Foreman, yard (railways) Guard, goods Railwayman Foreman, shed (transport: railways) Sub-inspector (railways) Fireman, locomotive Brakesman (transport: railways) Attendant, shunter Inspector, operating (railways) Railman Guard, loco Latcher, locomotive Inspector, cartage (railways) Inspector, railway Inspector, mineral (railways) Operator, points (railways) Foreman, train Keeper, gate, crossing (railways) Driver (coal mine: above ground) Driver, surface (coal mine) Attendant, crossing Inspector, shunting Shedman (railways) Assistant, movement (railways) Attendant, train (coal mine) Shunter Man, motor (railways) Attendant, point Operator, signal (railways) Sheeter (railways) Fireman, shed Master, protection Keeper, crossing Ferryman (railways) Employee, railway Supervisor, railway, area Attendant, traffic (coal mine) Keeper, switch Inspector, train Lampman (railways) Supervisor, area Keeper and pointsman, gate Supervisor, signalling (railways) Foreman, running (railways) Foreman, locomotive Dropper, fire (railways) Man, surface (railways) Mate, examiner's, cable (railways) Foreman, goods (railways) Assistant, depot Inspector, guards (railways) Controller, locomotive Stoker, engine (railways) Gateman (railways) Man, look-out (railways) Signaller Signalman, railway Foreman, transport (railways) Gatekeeper and pointsman Trainman (railways) Supervisor, movements (railways) Yardsman (blast furnace) Stower (railways) Allocator, traffic Driver, diesel (coal mine) Inspector, traffic (railways) Sheeter, wagon Latcher (railways) Fireman Fireman, loco Pointsman
Equality focus: Rail transport operatives
Breaking down the official government big data sources by gender, age and region. Hours and pay data based on full time equlivalent roles.
Breakdown by gender
£45,364
Female average annual salary
£52,143
Male average annual salary
39
Female average weekly hours
44
Male average weekly hours
Average pay per hour: Rail transport operatives
Workforce gender: Rail transport operatives
Breakdown by region
£64,657
London - highest annual average salary
£33,893
South West (England) - lowest annual average salary
56
Yorkshire and the Humber - Highest average weekly hours
37
East of England - Lowest average weekly hours
Average pay per week (£): Rail transport operatives
Average weekly hours by UK region/nation: Rail transport operatives
Breakdown by age
20 years
Lowest annual salary (£33,893)
49 years
Highest annual salary (£56,314) at this age
40.54%
Unemployment rate for under 25s
1.6%
Unemployment rate for 25s and over