Roles we supply
Rail roles we supply. Tell us the competencies your work needs.
Track operatives
PTS-holding operatives with a current Sentinel card and track induction, for maintenance, renewals and enhancement work.
COSS
Controllers of Site Safety to plan and set up safe systems of work for trackside teams.
Engineering Supervisors
ES-competent staff to manage worksites within a possession.
Rail civils and structures
Groundworkers, steel fixers and labourers for drainage, embankments, bridges, platforms and other civils packages.
Station and depot construction trades
Electricians, joiners, welders and fabricators for station, depot and building works off the operational railway.
Supervision and HSE
Site supervisors, foremen and HSE advisors for rail construction projects.
Why Rail is different
The railway runs on competencies. Anyone going trackside on Network Rail infrastructure needs a Personal Track Safety (PTS) card on the Sentinel scheme, and roles like COSS and Engineering Supervisor carry their own competence requirements. We record each person's PTS, Sentinel, COSS, ES and track induction details in our PRISM system and check them before anyone is put forward, so you don't get someone whose competence has lapsed.
Trackside workers are deployed under your company's, or a partner's, Sentinel sponsorship, as the rules require. PRL finds and checks the people; sponsorship stays with the organisation that controls the work. For off-track work such as rail civils, stations and depots, we supply and manage the workforce in the usual way.
Our team has a background in construction, rail and administration, so we understand why a missing competency or a late start on a possession matters.
Checked before they reach your site
The same checks apply to every placement, managed through our PRISM workforce system.
- CSCS verified: every operative holds a valid CSCS card, or the right scheme card for their trade (ECS for electricians, CPCS or NPORS for plant).
- Right to work checked: before anyone is placed, with documents held on file.
- Tickets and qualifications checked: coding certificates, SMSTS/SSSTS, NEBOSH, CCNSG and other site tickets, with expiry dates tracked in PRISM.
- Drug and alcohol testing: programme in operation.
- IR35 compliant: across all our contractor engagements.
- ISO 9001:2015 certified: quality management, plus Cyber Essentials for how we handle your data.
How it works
Tell us what you need
Use the form or call 0800 772 3959. Trades, numbers, site, start date and any site-specific tickets.
We put forward checked people
We match from our pool of 320+ active contractors. Everyone is compliance-checked before they go, and in most cases they can be on site within 24 hours.
On site, and we stay involved
We visit our sites regularly to check our workforce are OK and being treated properly. Timesheets and documents run through our PRISM app, and you get one point of contact for the whole placement.
Frequently asked questions
Is PRL a Sentinel sponsor?
No. PRL supplies rail-competent workers who are deployed under the client's, or a partner's, Sentinel sponsorship. We check each worker's PTS, Sentinel card, COSS, Engineering Supervisor and track induction competencies before putting them forward, and work with your sponsorship arrangements.
What rail competencies do you check?
PTS (Personal Track Safety) on a current Sentinel card, COSS, Engineering Supervisor (ES) and track induction, alongside the standard checks: CSCS where relevant, right to work and trade qualifications.
Do you supply off-track rail roles?
Yes. Rail civils (groundworkers, steel fixers, labourers), station and depot construction trades, and site supervision and HSE for rail construction projects.
Can you supply for possessions and night work?
Tell us the shift pattern, location and competencies needed and we'll put forward people who can work it. Night and weekend possession work is common in rail, and we ask about availability up front.
Related services and sectors
Staffing a rail project?
Workers on site within 24 hours in most cases. Prefer to talk? Call or email us directly.
Call 0800 772 3959 info@prlsitesolutions.co.ukLooking for work? Apply online or see live vacancies.