Events

Explore Rail Transport Careers

Key Themes – Policy, planning, technology, innovation, services, finance and bespoke engineering.

Tuesday 29th January 2019, 7.00pm to 9.00pm, The Old Kitchens Queens’ College

Free Drinks Reception

Meet a diverse range of rail transport companies from central government to international corporations and see the challenging job/internship opportunities that are available to you!

The drinks reception seeks to promote rail transport as a great place to work in an innovative, inspirational and illustrious employment sector. Rail transport encompasses not only engineering, but: operations, strategic planning, marketing and human relations, maintenance, consultancy, franchising, assets management, business management, leadership, technological innovation, bespoke solutions, IT/software and regulation. With a popular interest in rail transport, a career in the dynamic industry can be highly rewarding and enjoyable.

Come and meet various companies who are offering engaging and challenging careers to graduates. The employers offer bespoke career paths over a diverse range of skills and attributes.

The sector is keen to recruit graduates who shall form the next generation of talented innovators in a rapidly growing and dynamic sector.

Women in Rail are attending who promote diversity in rail through provide networking and support to women to position rail as an attractive career choice for young people.

Check out this video to explore rail transport careers further.

A message from a current CURC member and their experiences of an internship at Greater Anglia:

My name is William (I’m currently a second year engineer at Corpus) and I spent six weeks working at Greater Anglia over the summer vacation 2018.  Most of the time was spent at Ilford Depot in East London and it enabled me to make contacts and assess whether I would want to work further in an industry that continues to grow and develop.  There was a wide range of roles that I experienced including reliability engineering, management, stores, assets and even a day spent alongside technicians on a 317 unit! The entire process gave me an improved awareness of the intricacies of train operations and the ability to see the diversity of roles that the rail industry requires.

Profiles on the Participants

HM Department for Transport

Employer and Graduate Profile
Website for further information: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for transport/about/recruitment

Network Rail

Company and Graduate Profile
Website for further information: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/

High Speed Two Limited

Paragraph on employer – TBC
Graduate profile – TBC
Website for further information: https://www.hs2.org.uk/careers/

Office for Rail & Road

Paragraph on employer – TBC
Graduate profile – TBC
Website for further information: http://orr.gov.uk/careers

Hitachi Europe

Paragraph on employer – TBC
Graduate profile – TBC
Website for further information: http://www.hitachirail-eu.com/graduates

Colas Rail

Company and Graduate Profile
Website for further information: https://www.colasrail.co.uk/careers/

First Group

Company and Graduate Profile
Website for further information: https://uk.firstgroupcareers.com

Arriva Group

Paragraph on employer – TBC
Graduate profile – TBC
Website for further information: https://www.arriva.co.uk/talented-people

Deutsche Bahn (DB Cargo)

Company Profile
Website for further information: https://uk.dbcargo.com/rail-uk-en/ourcompany/careers

Freightliner

Paragraph on employer – TBC
Graduate profile – TBC
Website for further information: https://www.freightliner.co.uk/group/careers/

No need to book for this event, yet we welcome ‘expressions of interest’ purely to gauge catering numbers. Sign up here.

About the CURC:

Founded in 1911 from the Cambridge University branch of The Railway Club, Cambridge University Railway Club (CURC) is the second oldest railway enthusiast club in the world! The CURC arranges an event in Cambridge most weeks during Full Term, most often a presentation by an invited speaker, almost always a key professional from the rail industry, on a specific subject. The club is not just train talk, but about how the railway works. We have a celebrated history of CURC alumni who now work in the railway industry, with some at quite senior levels.

Career Related Events this term:

  • LNER with MD David Horne (BR Degree Graduate): Tuesday 5thFebruary, Robinson College.
  • Network Rail with Chairman Sir Peter Hendy: Wednesday 13thFebruary, Queens’ College.
  • Arriva Cross Country with MD Andy Cooper (Cambridge Graduate): Wednesday 27thFebruary, Queens’ College.
  • Hitachi Rail Europe with Paul Cooper (Oxbridge Graduate): TBC
  • First Open Access Rail with Louise Cheeseman (BR Graduate): TBC

Email railway@cusu.cam.ac.uk for further information.

Events Lent 2019

The term card for Lent 2019 is as follows:

  • Friday 25th January, 6pm prompt, Know-Shaw Room, Sidney Sussex College:
    Geoff Marshall and Vicki Pipe (All the Stations).
  • Wednesday 13th February, 6pm prompt, Queens’ College:
    Sir Peter Hendy, Chairman of Network Rail.
  • Wednesday 27th February, Queens’ College (6pm, room DD48)
    Andy Cooper, MD of Cross Country.
  • Friday 1st March, 18:00, Sidney Sussex (Knox-Shaw)
    Paul Cooper, Hitachi Rail Europe.
  • Tuesday 5th March, Gonville and Caius College, Green room; 20:30:
    David Horne, MD of LNER.
  • Wednesday 13th March, 18:00, Sidney Sussex College (Knox-Shaw room):
    Tim Mulhall, CEO of Hornby

    Here is a selection of past events and activities:
  • Speaker meetings: In the past speakers have, among others, come from Colas Rail, Network Rail, Crossrail, South Western Railway, East West Railway Company (Varsity Line plans),  High Speed Two (HS2), Direct Rail Services, Japan Railways East, GB Railfreight, Virgin Trains East Coast and Project Miller.
  • Visits: To depots, signal boxes, industrial sites and other places of railway interest. Recent visits include Cambridge Signal Box, Brush Traction and London Undersround Ruslip depot,  Plasser UK, Loram and Network Rail’s New Measurement Train.
  • Annual Dinner, including a speech from a notable figure in the railway industry or preservation. The 2017/18 Annual Dinner took place on the Great Western Railway Pullman Dining Train.
  • Termly journal Eagle, which includes news from the club and the local railway scene and offers the opportunity for members to see their articles and photos in print.

Come and try us out for free, as the CURC provides exclusive access to key railway professionals, as well as visits to key sites around the country; you might just want to become a member! Student Membership costs £10 per year or £25 for life membership. You can pay an annual membership now and upgrade to life later. If not, we charge £3 at the door for non-members, upon your third entry to a talk.

We look forward to welcoming you soon. Please follow our events here, or on Talks@Cam, or email to be signed up to our email list.