Trainee Freight Driver (Eastleigh)

Colas Rail UK; Eastleigh; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

34 days annual leave

Pool vehicle & fuel card

Job summary

Colas Rail UK is seeking enthusiastic individuals to train as Freight Train Drivers. The role is UK mobile, based in Eastleigh and covering routes across the south and beyond.

You will complete Colas Rail's Basic Driver training, build route knowledge, and follow a structured competency plan to advance in freight operations. The role demands flexibility for shifts including nights, days, and weekends, and willingness to travel.

Qualifications

• At least 20 years old.
• GCSEs in English and Maths (4-9 or A*-C).
• Full clean UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Train driver rules and regulations.
• Learn route knowledge and traction principles.
• Drive and conduct Colas Rail’s fleet as directed.
• Perform pre-start safety checks and report faults as required.
• Be prepared to travel across the UK and work nights/days/evenings.

Skills

GCSE English & Maths

Full UK driving licence

Microsoft Word

Excel

IT basics (emails)

Good communication

Education

GCSE English & Maths 4-9 or A*-C

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

Make your mark with Colas Rail UKAt Colas Rail, differences matter. Join a team where being your authentic self is respected, encouraged, and vital to our success. At Colas Rail you'll be at home. You'll be welcomed into an inclusive team where there's a role for every talent and a close-knit, familial culture. You will also get the opportunity to help us transform transportation, set new standards, and dare to be different.

At Colas Rail, differences matter. Join a team where being your authentic self is respected, encouraged, and vital to our success. At Colas Rail you'll be at home. You'll be welcomed into an inclusive team where there's a role for every talent and a close-knit, familial culture. You will also get the opportunity to help us transform transportation, set new standards, and dare to be different. This is true because...

• We value everyone as part of the same team.
• We treat everyone as equals - and everyone is approachable, from the CEO down.
• We put you in control of your career to lead and grow in any way you want.
• We have a culture of care, from safe working environments to diversity and inclusion.
• We’re renowned for innovation, adopting new ideas, and daring to be different.
• We are building a more sustainable future and our projects impact infrastructure for generations.

About Us

Step into the world of Colas Rail, where a century of expertise merges with a daring spirit to shape the future of rail infrastructure. At Colas Rail, we deliver transport solutions for sustainable mobility. We are a leading rail infrastructure business with on track plant and freight capabilities. As a subsidiary of the Colas Group, we are part of over a hundred years' experience in delivering major innovations across our sector. Every day, thousands of trains run on tracks built, designed, or maintained by Colas Rail.

Leading by our Values

Our values, Respect, Commitment, Pioneering and Sharing are at the heart of everything we do. These values feed into our main strategies and accompany us daily in realising our ambitions.

We Respect

our employees, celebrate diversity and foster a culture of safety, care and respect for everyone we interact with. We care about our employee’s wellbeing and create an environment of inclusivity and support.

We Commit

by showing up wholeheartedly. When we commit together, we invest in everyone’s success. We invest in our customers, our teams and our colleagues, and we lead with safety, integrity, passion, purpose, ethics and transparency.

We Share

as we all hold knowledge that could and should be shared, enabling us to grow and making us a strong collective. We have a passion for excellence, celebrating achievements and nurturing talent.

We Pioneer

to push boundaries, imagine what does not yet exist and dare to do what others do not. We innovate with ambition, and we find solutions.

Even if you don't meet every requirement, please don't rule yourself out, we still encourage you to apply if your skills, values, and experience align to the role.

Purpose of the Role

We are looking for enthusiastic people to join our team who are interested in training to become a qualified Freight Train Driver to support us in the timely and safe delivery of goods for our customers.

This role will involve attending and completing all aspects of Colas Rail's Basic Driver training and competency assessment. On successful completion the individual will begin to build and maintain their route knowledge and will have an individual competency plan to support their development.

Where is this Role Located?

This is a UK Mobile role. The role will be based in Eastleigh and is a UK mobile role which will operate across the UK, mainly in the south: Kent, Sussex & Wessex.

We operate a variety of shifts covering both day and night, scheduled on a one month roster with 11 rest days in that period.

Additional Benefits

• 34 days annual leave
• Company issued pool vehicle and fuel card

Key Responsibilities

What will I be doing?

You will undergo training in order to obtain the competencies to become a qualified Freight Train Driver.

• Train driver rules and regulations
• Principles of route learning
• Traction training
• Introduction to driving (10 initial drives with a Trainer)
• Practical train handling
• Simulator
• Drive and conduct Colas Rail’s operational fleet as directed
• Undertake all driving duties in accordance with all Driving Standards and the Rulebook
• Ensure any Locomotives you are planned to drive are prepped according to safety standards
• Self-organisation skills – Check and follow weekly orders and rosters and communicate any issues in a timely manner
• Conduct all pre-start safety checks using designated daily and weekly check lists
• Respond to, and if possible, fix service faults and failures
• When Driver cannot personally fix machine, they are responsible to help and assist the "Fitter" to repair and fix the machine
• Report all service faults and failures immediately both in writing and verbally
• Shut down & dispose of locomotives safely

Person Specification

What attributes and skills are we looking for?

Essential

• At least 20 years old
• GCSE's - English and Maths 4-9 or A*to C
• Basic IT skills for emails, basic Microsoft word and Excel knowledge
• Full clean UK driving licence
• Willing to work nights, days, evenings and weekends including bank holidays
• Willing to lodge away from home, as required
• Be prepared to travel across the UK
• Professionalism – when working with others and alone
• Good organisational skills
• Ability to communicate professionally with customers, management and team

Desirable

• Higher education (A-Level, NVQs, National Diploma, Degree etc.)
• Transferable experience from a relevant technical role e.g. Emergency Services & Military Service, etc.

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary
• 34 days Annual Leave
• Industry leading Life Assurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Wellbeing Employee Assistant Programme
• Pension Scheme
• Eye Care Vouchers
• Long Service Award
• Season Ticket Loan

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that diversity drives innovation and creativity, and we actively seek to create an environment where everyone feels welcome, heard, valued and respected. Regardless of background, disability, age, race, religion, or gender, everyone is welcome at Colas Rail. We strive to promote equity and eliminate discrimination, actively seeking to create a workforce reflective of communities we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, offering flexible and inclusive adjustments to the interview process. As part of a positive action drive to address under-representation we encourage applications from women, ethnically diverse individuals and people with disabilities, along with all candidates who identify with protected characteristic groups under the Equality Act 2010. We are proudly part of the Disability Confidence Scheme, and as such we operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme if you meet the minimum requirements. On joining Colas Rail you’ll have access to our growing Employee Network Groups including Railbow (representing the LGBTQ+ community), BeyonDisability (representing those with disabilities) and Cross Culture (representing people from ethnic backgrounds). Everyone is welcome to join our network groups whether you are part of the community or an ally. Work life balance is important to us; flexible working options are available where feasible and dependant on the role. Please discuss this during the interview process. Join us in making a positive impact! Apply and be part of a team that values diversity and embraces unique perspectives.