The role
Tasks include:
• operating and driving plants
• maintaining equipment.
Skills required to be a Rail Track Plant Operator
- Ability to undertake physically demanding work outdoors
- Able to operate road/rail vehicles
- Good teamwork skills
Previous experience
Rail Track Plant Operators often come from a career:
- in the resources, defence or manufacturing sectors
- as a railway track worker or mobile plant operator
Minimum requirements
Generally, Rail Track Plant Operators are required to have six core units from the TLI27121 - Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure as well as:
- Safely Access the Rail Corridor
- Apply track fundamentals
- one or more of the units that identify the principles of self-propelled rail grinder, ballast cleaning, ballast regulator, dynamic track stabiliser or tamping machine operations.
- have units in Operate road/rail vehicle and Access rail track to run track vehicle within defined worksite,
- Propel and operate light on track equipment and/or Travel medium or heavy self-propelled on-track equipment.
They should also:
- have a construction industry white card
- meet specific medical requirements
- hold licences for the vehicles or machines being operated.
Additional qualifications for career progression
TLI37122 - Certificate III in Rail Infrastructure: This will qualify you for jobs such as track welder, rail grinder, turnout constructor and ultrasonic tester.
TLI47121 - Certificate IV in Rail Infrastructure: This qualification prepares workers for leadership, coordination and project management roles.
What a Rail Track Plant Operator's career progression can look like
Rail Track Plant Operators may look to advance their career through roles as Work group or Team Leader, Track Access Coordinator or in logistics or rail infrastructure.
What do I do next?
For more information on becoming a Rail Track Plant Operator:
- talk to your careers adviser
- get in touch with your industry body or union
- contact your local TAFE
- if you already work in rail, talk to your employer.
Meet Jordan
Jordan Ward is an Operator maintainer for Queensland Rail. He was working in a bank before getting the opportunity to join a track team and work along the railway line between Toowoomba and Charleville. He plans to stay in the industry and move on to become a Safety Professional or Electrician. Read more about Jordan journey here.