Rail Engineering Apprentice

NORTHERN TRAINS LTD

Newcastle (NE6 2XT)

Closes in 24 days (Sunday 1 March 2026)

Posted on 2 February 2026

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Summary

As a Rail Engineering Apprentice, you’d be part of the teams that maintain and repair our trains at our TrainCare Centres. This three-year programme lets you earn while you learn, build hands-on engineering skills, and find your platform in a career that can take you in many directions across the railway.

Wage

£19,885 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Starting salary is £19,885 for the first year and will increase each year.

Training course
Rail engineering technician (level 3)
Hours
Year 1 - Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Year 2 & 3 - Monday to Sunday, various shift patterns of earlies, lates and weekends.

35 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

3 years

Positions available

6

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Over three years, you’ll combine college learning with real-world experience, supported by our Engineering Apprenticeship Manager, our expert trainers and engineers.

You'll be:

  • Learning how to maintain, inspect, and repair trains safely and efficiently
  • Gaining hands-on experience with traction and rolling stock systems
  • Working alongside experienced engineers at your home TrainCare Centre
  • Building your technical knowledge in mechanical and electrical engineering
  • Developing the skills and evidence needed to complete your End Point Assessment
  • Following safety rules and procedures that keep you and others safe
  • You’ll study towards a Level 3 qualification in Rail Engineering Technician, delivered in partnership with Myerscough College in Preston and the National Training Academy for Rail (NTAR) in Northampton

Where you'll work

Heaton TrainCare Centre
Off Benfield Road
Newcastle
NE6 2XT

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE

Training course

Rail engineering technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

Training schedule

  • Year 1, you'll spend the school term living and studying at Myerscough College, working towards your Level 2 qualification. Accommodation is provided and paid for by Northern. When you're not in college, you'll be based at your TrainCare Centre, following a structured learning plan with the Engineering Trainers and Engineering Apprenticeship Manager
  • Years 2 &  3, you'll be fully embedded in your TrainCare Centre team, building hands-on experience and completing your portfolio ready for your End Point Assessment

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade A-C / 5-9)
  • Maths (grade A-C / 5-9)
  • Science (grade A-C / 5-9)
  • Two other subjects (grade A-C / 5-9)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

This role will involve working shifts once competent in elements of the role, working in a team and ensuring a safe working environment.

You must:

  • To live within a 45-minute drive of your home TrainCare Centre
    Normal colour vision
  • To be at least 15 years old when you apply and 16 years old by 01/09/2026. No maximum age
  • You must not be in education after 01/09/2026
  • If you already have any engineering qualifications, let us know the level, key modules, and grades in your application

Because this is a safety-critical role, the selection process includes a medical assessment covering general health, ECG, vision, hearing, colour vision, and drugs and alcohol testing.

About this employer

We’re more than just a train operator. We’re the heartbeat of the North – connecting communities, creating opportunities, and driving sustainable growth. With 2,500 trains running daily, we’re working to improve rail travel, enhance the customer experience, and reduce our environmental impact.

Rail has been shaping lives since 1825, and as we move towards the era of Great British Rail, there’s never been a more important time to be part of it. Your journey could start here.

http://northernrailway.co.uk/careers (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • Unlimited free travel on Northern services
  • Generous Pension Scheme
  • Cycle to Work Scheme
  • Exclusive Discounts
  • 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
  • Training and Career Development.

Disability Confident

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

  • Starting as a Rail Engineering Technician Apprentice, you will have the opportunity to follow a range of different career paths
  • Once qualified, you can apply to work within Northern, perhaps within the production teams employed as a Maintenance Engineer with potential to then move on to be a Team Leader or Technical Engineer. Alternatively, you could move around - from production to safety for example

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000011998.

Apply now

Closes in 24 days (Sunday 1 March 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.