Diplomas in Rail Engineering Knowledge (6497)

Last Updated: 02 May 2022
The UK is facing a shortage of railway engineering and operating skills to deliver the investment in renewing and improving the existing railway, together with exciting projects such as Thameslink, Crossrail 1 & 2, the Intercity Express Programme, High Speed 2 & 3 and Network Rail’s vision for the ‘Digital Railway’.

At the same time the Rail Industry is undergoing considerable technological change including the introduction of remote condition monitoring, ERTMS (European Rail Train Management System), which will impact most areas of engineering across the railway and rolling stock as well as new ways of working such as collaboration, lean methodologies and intelligent maintenance.

There is already an urgent need to recruit, train and develop 10,000 engineering workers during the next 5 years to meet the forecast workload in traction and rolling stock, train control systems, electrification and track.

These qualifications have been developed in collaboration with the industry to ensure that today's and tomorrow's workforce gain the knowledge and skills required to successfully face these challenges and achieve the target set up by the Department for Transport to have 30,000 apprentices started by 2020 in rail, road and maritime sectors.
These qualifications are aimed at learners aged 16 and above who would like to develop the knowledge and skills that are relevant to a Rail Engineering Operative or a Rail Engineering Technician, either as part of their Apprenticeship or as full time students. Through these qualifications, learners will be introduced to the Rail Engineering Industry and will be able to make an informed decision about what discipline they would like to undertake further training on to take their career forward.
Available to deliver in the following:
  • England

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?
The railways are a key part of the UK's transport infrastructure for commuting, leisure and business travel, as well as freight services. Rail Engineers are responsible for the safe construction, installation, maintenance and renewal of the railways to provide a safe and reliable railway for customers.

These qualifications enable learners to undertake core learning across all areas and specialize in their discipline of choice. The main rail engineering areas covered within these qualifications are: track (including minor works), overhead line, electrification, signalling, telecommunications and traction & rolling stock.
What Careers Can This Lead To?
Upon completion of these qualifications learners will have been provided with the self-confidence and motivation to take advantage of the many opportunities for progression and development within the industry, such as:

• Carrying out further training in the following areas: track renewals, track maintenance, traction and rolling stock, electrification construction, electrification maintenance and signal and telecommunications.

• Go into employment by taking up a Rail Engineering Competence qualification as part of an Apprenticeship to become a competent Rail Engineering Operative or Rail Engineering Technician.

• Improve their leadership and management skills by taking higher level qualifications through ILM.
What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?
These qualifications will be taught primarily in the workplace, with appropriate classroom sessions.

Centres devise the assessments for the qualifications and present them to a City & Guilds' Qualification Consultant for approval. Assessments may be: via practical demonstration, assignments and/or written examination.

To find all the resource requirements, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

Level 2

Level 2 Rail Engineering Operative Knowledge (6497-02)
Last Registration Date: 31 Dec 2026

Level 2 Rail Engineering Operative Knowledge

  • Accreditation No: 603/0846/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: VRQ This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 270 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 300 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £129.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3

Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technicians Knowledge (6497-03)
Last Registration Date: 31 Dec 2026

Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Principles (Electrification)

  • Accreditation No: 603/0401/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Data unavailable This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 600 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £148.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Principles (Overhead Line Equipment)

  • Accreditation No: 603/0401/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Data unavailable This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £148.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Principles (Signalling)

  • Accreditation No: 603/0401/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Data unavailable This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 600 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £148.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Principles (Telecommunications)

  • Accreditation No: 603/0401/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Data unavailable This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 600 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £148.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Principles (Track)

  • Accreditation No: 603/0401/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Data unavailable This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 600 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £148.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Principles (Traction & Rolling Stock)

  • Accreditation No: 603/0401/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Data unavailable This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 600 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £148.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

Additional documents

Assessment documents

Centre documents

Purpose and Recognition

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