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Yes. Many people enter the rail industry with no prior rail experience. While some roles require existing competencies, there are entry-level opportunities and clear training pathways into rail. Your journey will start with establishing your sponsorship and gaining your PTS, which can be completed at our training centre.

The first and most common requirement is Personal Track Safety (PTS). This qualification allows you to access or work near the railway and is the starting point for most rail roles, reach out to our training team for more information or review our course dates here.

Not always. Some candidates choose to self-fund initial training such as PTS. In other cases, NTS may advise on the most suitable route based on current demand and your background.

To work on or near the railway, you’ll typically need:

• A rail medical
• A Drug & Alcohol (D&A) test
• Sentinel registration and sponsorship
• Proof of Right to Work in the UK

We’ll explain exactly what applies to you, but you can also book your D&A and Medical through our affiliate company to get a discount, click here.

This depends on your availability and how quickly checks are completed. Many candidates can become rail-ready within a few weeks once training, medicals, and documentation are in place.

Yes. Through NTS Training, we support:

• Entry-level training
• Competency renewals
• Progression into higher roles such as COSS or supervisory positions

Our aim is to help you build a long-term career, not just find short-term work.

New entrants often begin in roles such as:

• Track operative / general rail labour
• Site support roles
• Supervised safety-critical positions

As experience grows, further opportunities become available.

Start by:

1. Contacting NTS via the Contact Us page
2. Registering your details and availability
3. Speaking to our team about your goals and next steps

We’ll help you understand the clearest route into rail for you.