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Plant, Traction & Rolling Stock Engineering
Tom Scarramuzza Plant, Traction & Rolling Stock Graduate Scheme
University of Surrey – Aerospace Engineering
What are you currently working on? >> TOM: I’m currently working on the rollout
of direct rail wheel braking systems for road rail vehicles. I really enjoy this project,
the reason being that it’s not only mechanical engineering, but there’s elements of system
engineering, and electronics as well that all come under one roof. And it’s such a
high profile project within the company.
Why did you decide to stay with an engineering career post-university?
>> TOM: I’ve always had an interest in all thing mechanical, and moving vehicles. The
option came about halfway through my first year, and I looked at the projects that I’d
been involved in, the sort of areas of the company that I’d been working with, and
I felt that it was the natural place to go for me.
Chris Rowley Plant, Traction & Rolling Stock Graduate Scheme
University of Nottingham – Design Engineering
Why should you join Network Rail? >> CHRIS:There’s so much opportunity to
develop you professionally in this company. One of the main tasks that I do every day
is working on my professional development, and looking at where I’m going and how I’m
going to do it. I’m fully supported in that, but again the onus is on me.
I’ve got a lot of freedom, a lot of responsibility on my own head, my own accountability to make
sure I’m developing and working on projects that will improve me, and develop me as an
engineer. Probably moreover, Network Rail is a gigantic company, part of a massive industry
which is only growing, there’s no stopping rail. If you want to get involved in an industry
which has got a future, is going somewhere, and also a history don’t forget, then you’re
not going to find much better than this.
Since joining The Quadrant here, I’ve been working on automatic vehicle identification.
It’s a project that’s going to revolutionise the way that we maintain vehicles in this
country, moving towards condition based maintenance and actually saving money basically, only
spending money when you need to spend it.
Sam Barrett Plant, Traction & Rolling Stock Graduate Scheme
University of Bristol – Mechanical Engineering
>> SAM: Why did you choose the scheme? I chose the traction rolling stock scheme
because I felt it was the best way to apply what I learnt at university. I particularly
enjoyed the technical side of mechanical engineering, and in the projects you work one, and the
different placements you do, you get a lot of opportunity to put that into practice.
I spent four months as a fitter seconded to Northern Rail, so Network Rail still paid
my wages, but I worked for someone else and it was fully focused on my development.
What hints and tips can you pass on? >> SAM: So if you’re really serious about
a career in Network Rail you need a thorough understanding of the industry. Before you
think about applying, you need to do your reading, and more than just the website. You
need to be reading the recent technical strategy that came out. There are also cross- industry
technical strategies that you should be aware of. You need to understand the relationship
between all the different stakeholders in the railway, because there are a lot of them.
You also obviously need some technical understanding and some railway specific technical understanding
will be good. Above all you need to be excelling in your degree.