London Rail Academy

Helping Londoners get jobs in the railway industry.

With railways at the heart of every town and city in the UK, the London Railway Academy aims to provide all the technical skills you will need for a career in railway engineering. The academy will train you how to carry out engineering and maintenance jobs in the railway industry and develop a deep understanding of technical procedures.

The academy was awarded ‘Training Provider of the Year‘ by the National Training Academy for Rail (NTAR) for two consecutive years and works with well-known employers including Siemens, Alstom, Thales, and Transport for London.

The London Rail Academy supports rail apprenticeship training at CONEL’s huge engineering workshops at its Enfield Centre. Topics and skills covered include:

• Preparing to undertake duties in the rail industry
• Working safely in the rail industry
• How to use relevant power tools to perform maintenance tasks successfully and safely
• Prepare small plant, measuring equipment and tools for renewal or maintenance

Our Facilities

The London Rail Academy offers a unique opportunity to work on official train carriages, parts and equipment that are used within the rail industry.

Images were taken for Rail Professional Magazine Feb 2021 issue

Learn engineering skills with some of the biggest names in the sector

The Academy Hub training programs are co-designed with some of the biggest names in the engineering sector to give you an accessible and direct career pathway. Your learning includes work experience with our partner employers, so you get real-life experience and skills which you can put into practice immediately. To take part in this academy you must either be enrolled in a relevant course or employed in a relevant apprenticeship role.

Transport for London, an integrated transport authority responsible for transportation in London

Siemens, is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare

Alstom, leading societies to a low-carbon future by developing solutions that provide the sustainable foundations for the future of transportation from high-speed trains, metros, monorails and trams to integrated systems, customised services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility solutions

Thales, a global technology leader investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – Big Data, artificial intelligence, connectivity, cybersecurity and quantum technology

DLR, an automated light metro system serving the redeveloped Docklands area of London, England first opened on 31 August 1987

Hitachi, brings Information Technology & Operational Technology together to develop energy-efficient and reliable power generation, transmission and distribution systems throughout the world

LNER (London North Eastern Railway), is a British train operating company that operates the InterCity East Coast franchise providing long-distance inter-city services on the East Coast Main Line from London

Eurostar, an international high-speed rail service connecting the United Kingdom with France, Belgium and the Netherlands

Coral Communications, a RISQS accredited and NICEIC Approved Contractor within the Railway sector who have developed numerous projects including Crossrail and London Underground

Cleshar, a major supplier to the rail industry delivers a wide range of multi-disciplinary services across the infrastructure

VolkerRail, a multidisciplinary railway infrastructure contractor with over 70 years of experience in both the heavy and light rail infrastructure sector including working on high-profile projects for Network Rail and the London Underground

How to Apply

Interested in joining our London Rail Academy?

To take part in the skills academy you must hold an employment contract where the employer has agreed to take part in an apprenticeship scheme where you can then take your training at our Enfield College facilities to obtain your professional qualification.

Examples of available qualifications include:

For Railway Engineering:

• Rail Operative Level 2 (Requires Apprenticeship employment)
• Rail Technician Level 3 (Requires Apprenticeship employment)
• Engineering Maintenance Level 3 (Requires Apprenticeship employment)

Or be enrolled in the full-time college PEO Performing Engineering Operations Level 2 study program (located at the Enfield Centre).

For Rail Track Engineering:

• Railway Engineering Track Maintenance (Level 2)
• Railway Track Maintenance Level 2 (Pre-Apprenticeship)

If you do not obtain Maths and English GCSEs graded C or above (or equivalent), you will need to complete functional skills either prior to these courses or during.

See our full list of CONEL Railway Engineering courses here. If you are unsure of which study path to take, please check out our level equivalence table. You can also speak to one of our apprenticeship advisors by filling in the form below. We look forward to hearing from you!