Training
Your training will be delivered in stages. These will help you build your knowledge and skills in a structured and supportive environment with a mix of classroom and practical training provided.
Be a Signaller
Keep the railway moving. One decision at a time. Control train movements, manage risk and help keep passengers, freight and colleagues safe.
What is Signalling?
Signalling is how we keep trains moving safely across the railway. As a Signaller, you’ll use specialist equipment and systems to control train movements, protect people working on or near the track, and respond to operational issues as they happen.
Depending on where you work, this may involve traditional signalling equipment, modern computer-based workstations, or a combination of systems. Whatever the environment, the purpose is the same: to help keep the railway safe and moving.
What does a Signaller do?
You’ll manage train movements across your area and respond to what’s happening in real time. Your work could include:
- controlling the safe movement of trains
- communicating with train drivers, controllers and maintenance teams
- arranging safe access to the track for colleagues
- responding to faults, delays, incidents or emergencies
- keeping accurate records, logs and reports
- staying focused during routine operations and high-pressure situations
The role involves shift work, including nights, weekends and bank holidays. Some roles involve lone working, others are based in larger signalling centres or Rail Operating Centres.
Is it right for you?
Signalling is safety-critical work. You don’t need railway experience, but you do need the right mindset: calm, focused, reliable and ready to take responsibility.
Every shift is different. You’ll be trained to make clear decisions, communicate accurately and manage the movement of trains safely when situations change and disruptions happen.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for further information
Age; You need to be 18 or over to apply for all our Operations roles. There is no upper age limit.
Right to work; These roles are not eligible for skilled worker visa sponsorship.
Your eligibility will be checked as part of our onboarding process which consists of right-to-work verification, DBS screening, employment references, medical assessment, drugs and alcohol testing and pre-employment checks.
As this is a safety-critical role, you’ll need to pass a pre-employment medical assessment, drugs and alcohol screening, and any other required checks. Before applying please check these FAQs thoroughly and all relevant areas of the website about the role you are interested in before beginning your application as there are pre-excluding conditions we cannot accommodate in these roles.
You must not have a medical condition, or be undergoing treatment, that is likely to cause:
- Sudden loss of consciousness
- Reduced awareness or concentration
- Sudden incapacity
- Temporary visual impairment
- Impaired balance or coordination
- Significant limitation of mobility
The information above is a guide and every candidate is assessed individually. These risks are assessed in line with industry guidance, including the RSSB standard on managing sudden incapacity in safety-critical roles.
You’ll need to meet the required hearing, eyesight (including colour vision), and fitness standards for the role, and be able to work safely, including lone working at some locations.
For hearing; you’ll need to be able to understand and hear normal conversations, use the telephone and hear alarms above background workplace noise. You must not have any condition that could cause sudden or unpredictable hearing loss.
For eyesight; your colour vision must be recorded as normal. The minimum visual-acuity standard is 6/12 in the better eye and 6/36 in the other eye. You must also have full visual fields in both eyes and no eye condition likely to cause a deterioration in vision. If you wear contact lenses, you must carry prescription glasses as a backup on duty.
For speech; any speech impediment will be assessed to confirm you can communicate clearly and work safely in time-critical and safety-critical situations.
The information above is a guide and every candidate is assessed individually. These risks are assessed in line with industry guidance, including the RSSB standard on managing sudden incapacity in safety-critical roles.
Due to working time regulations and fatigue standards, you will need to currently live within a specified travel time of the signalling location you are applying for. This is typically 50 to 60 minutes.
Applications based on relocation won’t be considered.
Please note, some locations will also require you to have access to your own vehicle due to limited public transportation options.
The railway operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Signaller roles involve shift work, including evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays. Shift patterns vary by location. There are no options for part-time or flexible working as shift patterns are fixed. As the Signalling role must must be carried out on site, this cannot be done remotely or on a hybrid basis.
As a Signaller your role will require a significant training commitment, including 13 weeks of initial signaller training (IST) to learn the rules, regulations and core principles of signalling.
11 weeks of initial signaller training is residential. You’ll need to stay away from home Monday to Friday and successfully complete the training. This will involve a significant amount of self-study, and you will be expected to pass exams to continue the training course.
Following the classroom-based training, you’ll then continue training in role at your allocated signalling location until you’re assessed as competent to work independently. For some higher graded signalling roles, it may take you up to 18 months to be fully competent.
You understand that you must pass Initial Signaller Training to continue in the role. If you do not pass, your employment may be ended.
Roles and salary
We use a grading system (Grades 2-9) to differentiate between our Signaller roles as the operational complexity varies significantly between different signalling locations.
Lower graded roles are typically located in smaller signalling locations with less complexity and frequency of train movements. This could mean working on rural, branch or simpler suburban areas with fewer routes, points and signals. The level of responsibility and core signalling skills remain high, but the pace of work can be less intense with simpler panels and signalling equipment involved.
Higher graded roles tend to look after more complex and fast-paced signalling operations where you’ll work alongside colleagues in Railway Operating Centres (ROCs). You may work on inner city or cross-country lines with multiple points and junctions. The frequency of the trains is likely to be high so multi-tasking becomes essential especially during peak times.
All of our Signallers start on a training salary that is equivalent to the pay of a Grade 2 Signaller. Depending on your grade, your salary may increase once you’ve passed initial signaller training and then again, once you are fully competent in the role and you have successfully met all the training requirements. The salary structure will be outlined in the specific job adverts.
What else do I need to know?
Recruitment journey
The Signaller recruitment journey includes several stages designed to assess your suitability for this safety-critical role, from initial eligibility checks and online assessments through to interview and assessment day. The process takes time and commitment, so we’ve set out each stage clearly to help you understand what to expect and how to prepare.
FAQs
Signalling is challenging, rewarding and vital to keeping the railway running safely. You’ll carry real responsibility and we’ll support you as you build the knowledge, confidence and skills to succeed.
If you still have questions about signalling our quick-fire FAQs are here to help.
Latest Signaller roles
Register your interest
Not found the right role near you? New roles open all the time. Register your interest here and we’ll let you know when new opportunities are available in your area.
