About Network Rail
Join Network Rail - Where your Work Matters Every Day
Looking for a meaningful career? Network Rail is the place to be. As an Operative, you'll embark on a rewarding journey with us, playing a crucial role in running a safe, reliable, and efficient railway that serves communities and connects people and goods.
Our vision is clear - Putting Passengers First. We're committed to being a company that prioritises passengers and freight users, ensuring exceptional engagement, efficiency, and dependability. We strive to be industry leaders, a company that our employees are proud to work for.
At Network Rail people matter. We value diversity and are dedicated to creating an even more inclusive organisation that better reflects the communities we service by 2024. By putting passengers first, our strategy ensures a more accessible and inclusive experience for all.
Brief Description
An introduction to Sussex
Sussex is one of the busiest and most congested routes in the country. It is principally a commuter route to/from London along the Brighton Main Line and its arteries. It also supports high volumes of off-peak leisure travel to Brighton and other south coast resorts, and to Gatwick Airport.
Want to learn more about what it's like working in our maintenance teams, please click here
About the role (External)
Choose Your Specialism
As an operative you can specialise in various disciplines.
Prefer working on the track? Become a specialist in track maintenance. You'll inspect, repair and maintain the rail network, ensuring safety and efficiency. This hands-on-role involves working with rails, sleepers, ballast and associated structures.
Make an Impact, Every Day
As an operative your role is crucial. You'll work outdoors in all conditions, day, or night, alongside a dedicated team. Safety, respect for riles and teamwork are vital as you'll often be working near high- speed trains. Your commitment to self-development is essential and we provide comprehensive training to enhance your technical and non-technical skills.
We Value You
Your dedication matters to us. We rely on you to lead by example, being the first to arrive and the last to leave. You'll ensure the teams equipment is in top shape, driving them safely from site to site. Your role in maintaining equipment and providing lookout duties keeps the entire team safe.
Your Skills Matter
Rail experience is necessary. We're interested in your transferable skills, such as teamwork, effective communication, proactive planning, working under pressure, following instructions and willingness to learn. Show us your potential and we'll provide the training for a rewarding rail career. Your growth path at Network Rail is clear, with opportunities to be a technician or a team leader.
Is This the Right Role for You?
Operative roles involve changing shift patterns, including days, nights and weekends. You'll work outdoors in various weather conditions. Our commitment to safety requires drug and alcohol testing, medical assessments, and relevant examinations. A valid driving licence (category B) is necessary (or working towards) as is living within a 60-minute commute of your chosen location.
Diversity and Inclusion Matter
At Network Rail we value diversity and equal opportunities. We welcome applicants for all backgrounds regardless of age, disability, race, gender, religion or any other irrelevant factor. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, we ensure disabled applicants meeting essential criteria receive interviews.
Join Network Rail Today
At Network Rail we offer competitive salaries within our structure pay framework. When you join us you become part of a dedicated team making a difference every day. Apply now and be part of the future of the rail.
How to apply (External)
Salary £ 31,444
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Closing Date: 19th November 2025
Please get your application in as soon as possible, we may close the advert before the listed closing date if we receive enough applications. Late applications will not be accepted.
Please note the recruitment process for this role is a Competency based interview.
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We're dedicated to creating an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from everyone
Network Rail is a Disability Confident Leader and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. You can visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.
Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information
Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety on your application.
Drugs and Alcohol Standard:
All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced