Mechanic cross train into the rail sector in Royal Tunbridge Wells

Working as a rail mechanical fitter on mobile maintenance trains, which are on track advanced repair trains that operate to fix problems with tracks

£43,000 Starting Salary, move to £48,500 after passing probationProgression to £53,000Company Van and fuel card34 Days Holiday

Salary & Benefits

• £43,000 starting salary
• Progression to approximately£48,500after successful completion of initial technical competency training (typically around 6 months)
• Further progression to approximately£53,000once fully qualified
• Company van provided
• Fuel card included
• 34 days annual leave
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Healthcare cash plan
• Eye care scheme
• Employee wellbeing programme
• Fully funded hotels, meals and travel when working away
• Full rail engineering training provided
• Long-term career progression with structured competency-based salary increases
• Opportunity to work on highly specialised engineering equipment rarely seen outside the rail industry
• The Mobile Maintenance Train is effectively a fully equipped engineering workshop built onto a train.

These specialist trains operate overnight across the UK rail network supporting railway infrastructure maintenance and carrying sophisticated engineering equipment worth millions of pounds.

As a Mechanical Fitter, your role is to ensure the train remains safe, reliable and operational through planned maintenance, inspections and fault finding.

The role combines:

• Mechanical maintenance
• Preventative servicing
• Fault diagnosis
• Hydraulic repairs
• Pneumatic repairs
• Diesel engine maintenance
• Mechanical drive systems
• Electrical fault finding
• Depot-based servicing
• Night-time engineering support

You will receive full training from experienced rail engineers through a structured development programme.

What You'll Be Working On

• Diesel engines
• Mechanical transmission systems
• Hydraulic equipment
• Pneumatic systems
• Compressors
• Electrical systems
• Onboard computer diagnostics
• Specialist railway engineering equipment

If you've worked on trains, cars, vans, HGVs, buses, military vehicles, agricultural machinery or heavy plant equipment, many of your existing skills will transfer directly into this role.

Working Pattern

The role operates on a balanced five-week roster:

• 200 hours over a five-week period
• Average 40 hours per week
• Fully compliant with rail industry fatigue management standards

The railway operates 24 seven days a week, so weekend and bank holiday working forms part of the rota with rest days allocated elsewhere.

Day Shifts

Most day shifts are completed at your local depot.

Typical hours are: 8:00am – 4:00pm (this can vary)

Daytime duties include:

• Planned maintenance
• Mechanical servicing
• Repairs
• Fault finding
• Inspections
• Replacing worn components
• Preparing trains for overnight operation

Approximately 90% of daytime work is completed at your home depot.

Night Shifts

Typical examples include: (Please note this can sometimes vary)

• 10:00pm – 6:00am
• 12:00am – 8:00am

Start and finish times vary depending on engineering requirements.

At the start of the night shift you report to depot before travelling onboard the Mobile Maintenance Train to its overnight worksite.

As the designated onboard engineer, you provide technical support should the train suffer a significant mechanical issue whilst supporting railway maintenance operations.

Minor faults are generally dealt with by train operators, meaning your role is often standby engineering support until required.

The trains contain welfare facilities including seating areas, kitchen facilities and workspaces, ensuring engineers remain comfortable throughout the shift.

Travel

Your home depot will be base location, although occasional travel to other depots may be required for annual leave cover, sickness cover or operational requirements.

Where overnight stays are required, accommodation, parking and meals are fully funded by the company.

Annual Overhaul Programme at certain times in the year means engineers take part in a three-week overhaul programme in York currently, but the location could change, where the Mobile Maintenance Trains are stripped down, serviced and rebuilt.

All travel, accommodation and meals are paid for by the company.

Full Training Provided

No previous rail experience is necessary.

Your first six months will include:

• Classroom-based technical training
• Foundation engineering modules
• Practical depot experience
• Working alongside experienced engineers
• Technical competency assessments
• Safety training
• Hands-on servicing and maintenance

Essential Requirements

• Mechanical engineering experience
• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent practical experience (flexibility for strong candidates)
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Good fault-finding ability
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn
• Ability to pass medical, DBS and drug & alcohol screening