Who are we?

ART Providers Skill Centre (ART) is a UK based organization that is committed to provide you with the right skills, learning and career opportunities in your chosen apprenticeship course programme. We exist to produce top quality apprentices and support employers in bridging them to the right apprentice such as yourself.

We are now offering a Rail Infrastructure Operator course programme in Level 2. Inquire now!

What will you learn in this course?

Apprentices on the Rail Infrastructure Operators support and regulate the safe operation of the Rail network through the use of: signalling control systems, electrical control systems, and responding to incidents, where the operational integrity of the UK rail transport network is affected. Rail Infrastructure Operators will be required to work closely with stakeholders e.g. controllers, train drivers, maintenance staff, power companies and specialists e.g. emergency services in order to respond effectively to incidents.

Rail Infrastructure Operators may be required to work in a small control location, a major operations control room or be required to go trackside depending on their discipline and the activity.

This apprenticeship adopts a core and options approach to allow flexibility for employers and enable transferability between roles and employers for apprentices. The core content includes safety, quality and customer service, the apprentice will then follow one of the following specialist options: Signalling Operator, Electrical Controller or Incident Responder.

Signalling Operators are responsible for the movement of rail transport through the safe operation of signalling control systems. Signalling Operators regulate the safe movement and control of rail transport and communicate to rail transport drivers, those working on rail infrastructure as well as members of the public, to enable them to move or work safely across the network.

Electrical Controllers are responsible for maintaining and controlling the electrical supply to the rail network to ensure the smooth operation of passenger services, safe access to the rail network for maintenance and incident response. Electrical supply is required for signalling, traction and other assets, such as tunnel ventilation systems.

Incident Responders are responsible for making the rail infrastructure safe and minimising service disruptions following an incident or event, this can range from low-level situations (e.g. level crossing failure and animals on the line) through to supporting major events (e.g. derailment, fatalities and fire).

Depending on the nature and scale, an Incident Responder will either take direct action or assist in activities with specialists in order to return back to safe operations and minimise service disruptions.

During non-response time Incident Responders will assist colleagues with monitoring the network to identify potential issues and/or incident avoidance activities e.g. weather preparedness, checking of fences and gates or inspecting operational locations.

Knowledge you’ll gain:

• Safe and professional working practices, including legislation, statutory operating regulations e.g. the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) regulations, industry procedures and safety requirements and instructions, as well as the need to understand and adhere to corporate policies on ethics, equality and diversity.
• The importance of maintaining a safe working environment and equipment, including how to secure the work environment, how to take and handover duties and the importance of equipment testing/checks.
• The importance of commercial principles applicable to the rail network and the implications of these regarding timetabling, scheduling and performance, as well as understanding the impact of events and decisions on customer service and reputation.
• The general operating principles required to support the operation of rail transport infrastructure and vehicles, including the network as a system, different roles and responsibilities and underpinning processes including normal and contingency planning processes.
• How to work safely and effectively in routine, non-routine and emergency situations, including awareness of the importance of managing non-routine events and emergency situations and the implications for the safe operation of the rail network.
• The limits of your own authority and the implications of operating outside of this.