London Underground Track Operative Engineering Level 2 Apprenticeship

Transport for London; London; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization as a London Underground Track Operative Engineering Apprentice. This exciting 2-year program offers hands-on experience in track maintenance, working alongside skilled engineers to ensure the safety and performance of London’s extensive underground network. You'll rotate through various placements, gaining vital skills and knowledge while contributing to the continuous operation of this essential service. With excellent benefits including free travel and a supportive environment for growth, this apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity to kickstart your career in rail engineering. If you're eager to learn and make a difference, we want to hear from you!

Benefits

Free travel on the TfL network

Discounted national rail and Eurostar travel

Minimum 29 days annual leave

Retail, health, leisure and travel offers

Qualifications

• Candidates must be 18 years old by 8th September 2025.
• Must provide proof of eligibility with original certificates.

Responsibilities

• Assist in essential track maintenance under supervision.
• Conduct Safety Critical Inspections of the track.

Skills

Willingness to Learn

Highly Motivated

Education

Minimum 2 GCSE’s A*-C/ grade 4 or above (or equivalent)

Job description

Job Description - London Underground Track Operative Engineering Level 2 Apprenticeship (047078)

Organisation

HR

Job

LU Track

Position Type - Full Time

Thank you for your interest in applying for this TfL Apprenticeship Scheme.

We’d like to remind you that you must ensure you are eligible for this scheme before applying. Please read through the eligibility criteria below carefully and ensure that you are eligible before applying.

This application will also contain a series of questions to establish whether or not you are eligible. It is important that you take great care in reading and answering these questions as we will not be able to revert your application if an error is made.

Please Note: We only allow one application for any of our Apprenticeship schemes per year. Any subsequent applications will be withdrawn.

London Underground Track Operative Engineering - Level 2

Keeping London Moving isn’t just about trains, and with our trains travelling more than 70 million km per year, the condition of our track is of pivotal importance. London Underground’s track has to carry hundreds of trains over more than 402km across our entire network for 364 days per year.

What we offer

You will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow:

1. Free travel on the TfL network for you and a nominee who lives in the same household
2. Discounted national rail and Eurostar travel
3. Minimum 29 days annual leave (pro rata dependent on role) plus public and bank holidays
4. Retail, health, leisure and travel offers & many more

Location

London

Duration

2 years

Entry requirements

1. You should already hold or be working towards a minimum of 2 GCSE’s A*-C/ grade 4 or above (or equivalent) including Maths and English language.
2. You are not eligible for this scheme if you currently hold or are undertaking the same Apprenticeship Standard.
3. Please note that you will be required to provide original certificates and/or predicted grades as proof for your eligibility checks.
4. You must be 18 years of age by 8th September 2025 to be eligible for this scheme.

Please be advised that should you be successful in getting an offer for this apprenticeship scheme, your offer will be subject to a satisfactory medical which may include but is not limited to: drugs and alcohol screening, hearing test and eyesight tests including Ishihara Plates and Colour Assessment and Diagnosis tests to determine colour deficiency.

Proposed start date

8th September 2025

Job overview

Our Engineers focus on the assets that form the foundation of our transport system. The role of a London Underground engineering apprentice is critical to ensuring the ongoing performance and safety of our tube network. The technological advancements we are seeing in our trains and operating infrastructure mean that we need to adapt the way we maintain our assets to keep them operating at peak performance. You’ll be at the forefront of these developments whilst also keeping a watchful eye on our legacy assets across the network.

As a London Underground Track Apprentice, you will undertake regular placements across the network. Here, you will work alongside our highly skilled track engineers, learning how to maintain a key asset without which London Underground could not operate. London Underground’s track has to carry hundreds of trains over more than 402km across our entire network for 364 days per year. Under constant supervision, and working as part of a team, you will learn and become proficient in the essential track maintenance skillset, enabling you to help contribute to the maintenance and fault repair of this pivotal function ensuring that an effective, efficient service remains continuous for London.

Sustainability

Sustainability is intrinsic to TfL’s work ethos, and we ensure that we operate in a sustainable way to protect and regenerate the natural world.

What will I be doing?

As an apprentice, your 2-year development programme will be made up of up to 4 or 5 placement rotations. Our aim is to equip you with the range of skills and experience you need for your successful career. We also understand that everyone’s career is different, so every apprentice’s journey is unique. Here’s an idea of what yours could look like:

The apprenticeship is made up of a mixture of Classroom Training at Acton Training Centre, Placements across the Network and Operational Training.

You will rotate across different lines between Maintenance and Inspections for the duration of your Apprenticeship.

Your roles and responsibilities will include:

1. To work as part of a track team in order to complete essential track maintenance under the supervision of a Site Person in Charge
2. To assist the line inspection staff in undertaking Safety Critical Inspections of the track
3. To work safely at all times adhering to strict Safety Controls and Instructions given.

Where can this career take me?

1. Upon successful completion of this scheme, you could roll-off into A Skilled Track Operative Role which could lead to further career development opportunities such as Track Inspector and Track Technician, as well as Site Person in Charge.
2. You’ll also have opportunities to complete additional training courses. These will vary from soft skills training to technical skills training and Include Protecting Workers on the Track – Engineering Hours (PWT-EH) and T001.

What training and support will you get?

You will be working towards a Level 2 qualification in Rail Engineering Operative. Typically, you will be required to attend Acton Training Centre, to complete the Knowledge part of your apprenticeship and this is typically Block Release.

Whilst on the scheme, we’ll support your technical development through a wide range of on-the-job practical experiences and placements. We’ll also support your professional development through a combination of classroom-led training courses, online training courses, mentoring opportunities and structured networking opportunities. You will receive one-to-one support throughout the programme from your scheme sponsor and your Line Manager. You’ll also be connected to a ‘buddy’ who will be a more experienced apprentice from the scheme.

What do we look for?

Everything we do as an organisation is to ensure that our evolving city remains future-proof for millions of Londoners. Our talented apprentices form a vital part of that vision, so it’s important that we find the best people to help us do this. We’re looking for people who are:

1. Willingness to Learn
2. Highly Motivated

Our core values are extremely important to us, and we desire candidates who are:

1. Caring about our colleagues, our customers and our work
2. Open to each other, to new ideas and to working together
3. Adaptable to diverse needs and willing to innovate

As a member of the team, we’ll give you responsibility and the opportunity to add value. If you are excited by inspiring and influencing the future of London, then this is the career path for you.

Annual Leave is pre-arranged to ensure timely completion of your apprenticeship. These are typically, Two Week Easter Break, Two Week Summer Break, One Week October and One week during the Christmas Period, plus Public Holidays.

This apprenticeship will predominantly consist of night shifts when on placement but will also occasionally include day and weekend shifts.

This role will include manual activity including heavy lifting and pushing equipment.

What Qualifications will I gain?

Level 2 Rail Engineering (Technical Knowledge)

Assessment Process

You will receive support and information around each assessment stage as you progress through your application. Please pay close attention to emails and deadlines provided noting you have 1 week to complete assessments and we cannot re-issue these tests. Assessment centres for apprenticeship roles will take place from February-April, please note that many roles only have 1 assessment day and we are unable to guarantee additional dates. We are conducting assessment centres in person and virtually (role dependent).

Inclusive Recruitment Process

We operate a transparent recruitment process that removes barriers for candidates with a disability. Please let us know if you require reasonable adjustments for any stages of the application process. We're a Disability Confident employer, and we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who apply via the scheme where the minimum criteria for skills, knowledge and experience have been met.

In High Volume campaigns including Graduate, Apprentice and Intern recruitment the minimum criteria we set is achieving a pass mark in our first stage assessments, adopting a proportionate approach as part of the Disability Confident scheme.

Contact us

Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments.

Contact the recruitment team by:

Phone: [phone] (Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 17.30)

Email: [e-mail]

Meet the Apprentice

“The Track Apprenticeship has opened my eyes to the wide range of different jobs within TFL, and the future opportunities I will have to develop my career. I have enjoyed the Apprenticeship so far and have been helped by the advice and support of the wider Track Team.”