Operative Off Track

Build Your Future with us as an Off-Track Maintenance Operative (Tulse Hill Depot).

 

We believe our strength comes from our people – and that means people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. When you join us, you’re not just starting a job – you’re becoming part of a team that connects communities and keeps the country moving.

We know the rail industry hasn’t always reflected the full diversity of society. We’re changing that. Whether you’re looking for a fresh start, a second career, or your first opportunity in a hands-on role, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

 

About the Role:

As an Off-Track Maintenance Operative at Tulse Hill, you will be an essential part of the Southern Region railway family. Your role involves maintaining the lineside environment, our railscape, which includes:

Green Infrastructure: maintaining trees, habitats, and naturally occurring features of the estate to secure safe and reliable rail operations, while protecting and promoting biodiversity and the beneficial functions to the railway of the natural environment.

 

Blue Infrastructure: maintaining both designed and natural drainage systems to ensure effective water management and prevent flooding.

 

Grey Infrastructure: upkeeping access facilities and the boundary measures that safeguard the operational railway and facilitate the work of our colleagues in other railway engineering disciplines.

 

This hands-on, outdoor position therefore encompasses a variety of tasks, from habitat management and water regulation to fencing repairs and minor civil engineering works.

Your contributions directly support the safe and efficient operation of hundreds of trains each day, ensuring passengers and freight reach their destinations on time.

We welcome individuals who are practical, dependable, and take pride in seeing the tangible results of their work. If you are seeking a role where your efforts make a real difference, we encourage you to apply and join our dedicated team.

 

You’ll be doing things like:

You’ll work in a close-knit team, carrying out a wide range of physical and technical tasks, including:

Management interventions to trees, vegetation and habitat along the lineside
Maintenance of the drainage system, including lineside ditches, culverts and outfalls
Repairing fences and boundary structures
Delivery of small-scale construction and groundworks
Learning to use powered tools, machinery and digital technology
Following clear safety protocols and working with pride, consistency, and accuracy.

 

You’ll be part of the team that are acting as stewards of the railscape while keeping passengers, trains and infrastructure safe, every day.

 

Who We’re Looking For:

We are building a Team at Tulse Hill where everyone feels safe, supported and valued – including women and those who have never worked in this kind of role before.

If you are practical, reliable and team-minded we want to hear from you.

 

You’ll need:

A full UK driving licence
Comfort working outdoors, in a physical role
A reliable, safety-first mindset
Willingness to work a mix of day shifts and weekends (some Sunday and occasional night work)
No previous rail experience – just a desire to learn.

 

Closing date: 25th April 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.

We’re dedicated to creating an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from everyone!

 

We’re 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.

 

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.

 

About our people and the recruitment process:

We’re an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone!

We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don’t always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we’ll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

 

We’re also a Disability Confident Leader employer 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.

Tagged as: civil engineering, railway engineer, railway engineering, track maintenance, track maintenance operative