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
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)
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.