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Connected: The Network Rail Virtual Work Experience

Ready to discover how thousands of people — and miles of track — come together? This is your chance to go behind the scenes at Network Rail — from our North West & Central control rooms to the tracks, from engineering to corporate functions.

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Enrol immediately

You can start the course straight away

Age range

Students aged 13+ are welcome to take part in this programme

Boost your CV

Get a certificate upon completion

Complete at your own pace

Over 6 hours’ worth of content

Programme overview

Learn how Network Rail keeps Britain moving, as you discover the ins and outs of running the railway. Whether you're fascinated by engineering, interested in operations, or curious about how stations are managed, this programme offers a behind-the-scenes look at the teams that make the railway faster, safer and more reliable. What’s more, by completing this programme, you could be fast-tracked to an exclusive in-person work experience at Network Rail’s key locations in 2026!

What's included

This experience gives you a unique insight into how the UK’s rail network operates and the roles involved in keeping it moving. Through interactive, video, and text-based content, you’ll explore real projects and meet the regional teams that keep us on track. Test your knowledge throughout this programme, with a series of interactive activities and quizzes.

All Aboard!

Start your journey by getting to know Network Rail and the railway network. You’ll explore the company structure, mission and values – and understand how different teams come together to run a safe and reliable service.

Railway Maintenance

Dive into the world of railway maintenance. From track inspections to emergency repairs, you’ll learn how teams keep the infrastructure running smoothly – and the importance of innovation in everything they do.

Railway Operations

Explore the control rooms, systems, and teams that keep trains on time and incidents well-managed. This module examines signalling and staying safe under pressure.

Behind the Scenes: Regional Functions

Discover the unsung heroes working in communications, property, HR, and more. These regional support functions play a vital role in keeping the railway moving all across the country.

Project Management and Capital Delivery

Go behind the scenes of major railway projects and improvements. You’ll hear from project planners and project and construction managers on how Network Rail manages budgets, timelines, and teams to deliver change on a large scale.

Skills, Development and Opportunities

Round off your experience by learning about the skills a rail career demands, the development opportunities available, and how you can make your own way at Network Rail.

What is Virtual Work Experience?

Interactive Online Learning

Virtual Work Experience provides an engaging platform for you to explore different industries and careers remotely.

Practical Skills Development

You can complete real-world tasks and projects designed with top employers, helping you gain practical insights and workplace skills.

Flexible and Accessible

Programmes can be completed at your own pace and includes pre-recorded Springpod Sessions.

A simple sign-up process

1

Sign-up

Quick and free registration

2

Start learning

Access expert-led modules

3

Get certified

Gain a completion certificate

Start now

FAQs

Here we can answer any questions about the experiences you may have. If your question isn’t on the list - please contact support here.

When will I hear back if I have been successful with my application?

Once you have applied for your programme, you will receive a confirmation email. You will be notified about the outcome of your application via email at least 3 days before the programme start date. Good luck!

Can I apply to multiple programmes?

Yes, you can sign up to multiple programmes with us.

Who can take part in the programme?

Most of our programmes require students to be in school/college. Some programmes require students to be based in specific regions of the UK, this is stipulated by the organisations themselves, and is not defined by Springpod.

However, the ages mentioned on our programmes are more of a guideline than a strict limit. As such, we more than welcome older students to apply as well!

Will I receive a certificate on completion of the programme?

You will receive a certificate on completion of your programme. It will be made available to download whenever your programme is marked as complete.

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