Railway signaller
Railway signallers operate the signals and points on rail tracks to keep trains running safely and on time.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a railway signaller, you could:
- check incident reports at the start of your shift
- monitor train movements on computer systems
- operate controls in a manual signal box or electronic control centre
- speak to drivers for updates, contact maintenance teams to report signal problems and write incident reports
- do training for track regulations and new technology
Working environment
You could work in a control room.
Career path and progression
With experience you could:
- become a signalling supervisor or control room manager
- take further training to work as a signalling designer
- apply for jobs in other parts of the rail system through Network Rail's internal promotion programme
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to operate and control equipment
- the ability to work well with others
- to be flexible and open to change
- physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
- knowledge of public safety and security
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
- be screened for drugs and alcohol
- pass a medical check
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
You could take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you'll need in this job, for example the Level 2 Certificate in Rail Engineering.
Some colleges organise work placements with rail engineering companies as part of the course, so speak with them to get more details.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
More Information
You could do a:
- Rail Engineering Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Rail Infrastructure Operator Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Rail Engineering Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More Information
You can apply directly to become a railway signaller with Network Rail, who operate the rail system. You'll need a good general standard of education, including English and maths GCSEs.
You do not need any specific experience to become a railway signaller. However, it might be useful to have worked in a role:
- that is safety critical
- where you need to concentrate
- that involves communicating with others
Assessment and interview
You'll go through initial checks before being invited to an assessment day and interview.
Non-technical skills are important in railway signalling jobs. During the assessment day, you'll be tested on safety awareness, staying calm under pressure and working with large amounts of information.
You can find out more about the Network Rail recruitment process to become a signaller.
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers for professional development opportunities.
Further information
You can find out more about working in the rail industry from Network Rail and Routes into Rail.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.