Transport and logistics
Rail infrastructure operator
Operating the signals and electrical controls needed to keep trains running safely and on time.
Summary
This occupation is found in the rail sector across different types of organisations that together deliver the United Kingdom’s integrated rail system. This includes employers operating mainline and local rail networks, underground networks, and high-speed rail lines. Depending on type of network, rail infrastructure operators can expect to typically be based either in a small control location or a major operations control room. They may at times be required to go trackside. Rail infrastructure operators usually work shift patterns, helping to keep the rail network safe 24 hours a day.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to ensure trains travel on the network safely and efficiently to plan. They do this in a number of ways. They use signalling and train control systems to manage the rail transport network in line with an agreed train plan/timetable. This means making tactical decisions about how to best implement the plan so the network runs smoothly. They also respond to incidents, where the operational integrity of the rail transport network is affected. Particular features of this occupation are being fully aware of everything that might impact rail operations, plus the ability to maintain high levels of concentration and decide complex issues very quickly.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with many other stakeholders who contribute to making rail journeys happen on the network. Depending on the type of line, they typically interact with train drivers, maintenance staff, power suppliers, infrastructure controllers and specialists e.g., emergency services to respond effectively to incidents. They also communicate with other operators in different sectors of the rail industry, such as station staff or train crew. They liaise in order to safely deliver the agreed rail timetable, as well as manage variations caused by short notice changes to demand and circumstances e.g., disruption caused by extreme weather.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for operating the signalling and train control systems that provide access to the rail network for all train service groups running in the specific geographical area. Rail infrastructure operators are responsible for monitoring the progress of all the live rail movements within their area against predetermined train plans/timetables. Rail Infrastructure operators don’t design timetables, but they have the powers to adjust planned services where this will help efficiency or avoid disruption, communicating changes to those affected. They balance the needs of passenger and freight operators within the constraints of the rules, local railway infrastructure, signalling system and rolling stock. Safety is the priority and all decisions taken by the rail infrastructure operator must be complaint with rail regulations. Throughout their shift, a rail infrastructure operator must keep a careful log of all notable events. And they are typically expected to provide reports on network performance, as required by their own organisation. At the start and end of a shift, they provide and receive handovers to colleagues, that ensures continuity of service. They are responsible for proactively identifying incidents and disruptions. When this happens, they are responsible for making the rail infrastructure safe and minimising service disruptions. Such events can range from low-level situations (e.g., level crossing failure and animals on the line) through to supporting major incidents (e.g., derailment, fatalities and fire). Depending on the nature and scale, they will either take direct action or work alongside specialists by communicating what’s needed and sharing information, to return to safe operations and minimise service disruptions. During normal working rail infrastructure operators work within defined areas of responsibility with complete autonomy for the area they control in terms of safety and performance. Decisions are sometimes escalated to a line manager or technical expert in times of disruption when the needs of the whole network need to be considered.
Typical job titles include
- Control room operators | Service controller | Signallers | Station control manager | Traffic controllers | Traffic manager | Train service control manager | Train service manager
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
The component parts of the railway system including different railway organisations, industry bodies and business systems such as planning, performance management and asset management.
K2:
Events that have shaped the evolution of the railway in Great Britain and how these have influenced change in the industry, including significant train accidents, significant timetable and network disruptions, the role of the unions and modernisation programmes.
K3:
The relevant safety legislation and procedures, where applicable, to an operating railway including risk assessments, safety management systems, and safety culture.
K4:
The operating procedures required to support the operation of a railway system, and manage planned, unplanned, and emergency situations that can occur on the network.
K5:
The operational planning and timetabling principles and processes that underpin an effective train plan, resource plan, and engineering works programme.
K6:
Awareness of environment and sustainability regulations, relevance to the occupation and the operator's responsibilities.
K7:
Principles and policies of equality, diversion and inclusion in the workplace.
K8:
The requirements for testing operational equipment, operational work locations and systems including pre-work and in-work testing.
K9:
Handover requirements at the beginning, during and end of a shift.
K10:
The roles and responsibilities of different colleagues and stakeholders that combine to provide an effective network.
K11:
Limits of authority, when to escalate tasks and issues, and to whom.
K12:
Common complaints, their causes and mitigators, for passengers and/or freight and other users of the network, such as staffing issues, onboard train incidents, passenger incidents at stations.
K13:
Communication techniques: verbal and written, including specific protocols for communicating safety critical information.
K14:
Their organisations commercial or operational priorities.
K15:
The type of incidents and events which can occur on a network, the impact they have on passengers, freight, staff, and the associated safety mitigation and recovery procedures.
K16:
Different types of investigations that apply to train running incidents and infrastructure related events and staff accidents, and the associated reporting procedures.
K17:
The internal and external stakeholder roles and responsibilities of those involved in the different stages of an incident including response, recovery and lessons learnt.
K18:
Strategies for collaborative working to manage conflicting aims and objectives, resolve conflict and reach effective consensus.
K19:
Principles of risk-based decision making to support safe network operation including knowledge of different sources of information that inform those decisions, such as drawings, plans, schedules, safe systems of work, permits, relevant stakeholders and experts.
K20:
The principles of personal responsibility in a safety critical work environment.
K21:
When and how to challenge others to ensure compliance with safety regulations and procedures.
K22:
Factors that affect decision making when working under pressure in planned, unplanned and emergency situations
K23:
Strategies for effective decision making, such as informed prioritisation, compliance with procedures, and training.
Technical Educational Products
- ST1378: Rail infrastructure operator (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC1378
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £50,164 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 8234 Rail transport operatives
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 8234/99 Rail transport operatives n.e.c.
- 8234/02 Railway controllers and signallers
S1:
Apply risk-based safety principles to ways of working and decision-making.
S2:
Operate and manage train control and information systems to support the operation of a railway system.
S3:
Apply statutory and company environmental safe working practices during planned, unplanned and emergency situations.
S4:
Operate and manage the train service in accordance with the train plan. Respond and adapt when disruptions occur to the planned service.
S5:
Identify, report and record information, using correct terms, standards, templates, and protocols.
S6:
Produces and manages a train plan, resource plan or engineering works programme.
S7:
Maintain safety and security of own work environment.
S8:
Identify and manage personal mental and physical fitness for duty, and role model mental and physical fitness for duty for others in the context of maintaining safety.
S9:
Negotiate with colleagues or stakeholders, for example to access equipment or arrange system outage.
S10:
Respond to and resolve common complaints.
S11:
Communicate with others, for example internal and external stakeholders, colleagues, and managers.
S12:
Identify, carry out and record role and industry related CPD activities to improve own practice.
S13:
Respond to and act upon information received regarding incidents and delays to manage the disruption to train services and return them to the scheduled timetable.
S14:
Implement initial response and incident management plans to match the scale of the situation and minimise the impact to the wider network, stakeholders and experts.
S15:
Initiate and facilitate investigations into incidents and events. Adhere to reporting procedures for different types of investigations including unplanned and emergency incidents or events.
S16:
Work collaboratively with internal and external parties as appropriate to resolve problems and deliver an efficient train service.
S17:
Explore and gather information from a range of sources needed to support operating activities and decisions.
S18:
Takes responsibility for the safety of themselves and others in a safety critical work environment.
S19:
Challenge others and escalate safety issues to comply with safety regulations and procedures.
S20:
Prioritise workload, for example balancing incident and event recovery with maintaining other services.
Technical Educational Products
- ST1378: Rail infrastructure operator (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC1378
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £50,164 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 8234 Rail transport operatives
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 8234/99 Rail transport operatives n.e.c.
- 8234/02 Railway controllers and signallers
B1:
Puts safety first for themselves and others.
B2:
Takes responsibility for the quality of work and enables others to work to high standards.
B3:
Supports an inclusive workplace, for example respectful of different views.
B4:
Embeds their organisations commercial, operational, ethical, and safety priorities into their own practice over time.
B5:
Willingness and ability to learn.
B6:
Adapt to, and resilient in, challenging or changing situations.
Technical Educational Products
- ST1378: Rail infrastructure operator (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC1378
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £50,164 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 8234 Rail transport operatives
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 8234/99 Rail transport operatives n.e.c.
- 8234/02 Railway controllers and signallers
