Apprentices are given chance to get on track (From York Press)

Apprentices are given chance to get on track

9:00am Saturday 24th November 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

Business Press you ran a feature on the Vital Rail apprentice scheme at the Yorkshire Rail Academy in partnership with National Railway Museum.

What wasn’t mentioned was that 15 trainees from Vital came to the Derwent Valley Light Railway at Murton, near York.

This was to give them handson experience to train on an actual railway, rather than a mock set up.

During the week, on non-running days, the students were given the opportunity to carry out various tasks on the DVLR’s tracks, such as checking track alignment, balasting, greasing and oiling, moving components plus various other tasks.

At the end of their 26-week course, under close supervision, the apprentices demonstrated their new skills by laying 40 metres of new track into a new siding being built at the railway station.

Apprentice Gavin Redshaw enjoyed the time spent on the historic historic railway so much that he has joined as a volunteer. Gavin has also gained his Level 2 Track Engineering, Track Competency and Personal Track Safety diploma.

We are pleased to have given the lads a step up towards their adult working life and thank them for their time and effort.

David J Wilde, Chairman, Derwent Valley Light Railway