SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Constructor

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
119645	Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Constructor
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner- TETA
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate	Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology		Engineering and Related Design
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	272	Not Applicable	NQF Level 04	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered		EXCO 0710/22	2022-08-04	2027-08-04
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-08-04		2031-08-04

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Railway Track Constructor.

A Railway Track Constructor builds and maintains rail track infrastructure for optimum availability and reliability.

A qualified learner will be able to:

Construct and maintain per-way components and align rails.

Construct and maintain railway lines and turnouts.

Rationale:
The need for this qualification was identified during the development of a qualification for the Railway Track Master which is a recorded Trade (SAQA ID 96355). This qualification relates to a set of skills that forms part of a trade and is recognised in industry as a requirement to perform specific job and certain tasks. It also creates alternative pathways and occupations in relation to becoming an artisan. Currently there is no registered qualification that meets the specific requirements within the context of railway track construction and the unit standards-based qualifications previously used for Railway Track Constructors are to be replaced by the Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Master.

Railway Track Masters have been identified as a scarce skill in the Transport sector. This incorporates the skills sets required by Railway Track Constructors. The development of railway infrastructure is a key driver for economic development. In South Africa, one of the barriers to accelerated economic development is the provisioning of cost effective and reliable mass transport systems for both freight and passenger services. A key strategy in the National Development Plan is the improvement and proper maintenance of infrastructure such as rail. Currently and in the future, there is and there will be a need for skills and abilities to build and maintain an ever-growing railway network. This qualification is targeted at providing the fundamental human resource capabilities required to deliver this strategy and will benefit the sector, society, and economy in these ways.

Typical learners for this qualification are the out of school youth with limited formal qualifications as well as workers in the rail sector interested in working mainly outdoors and aspiring to obtain formal recognition for skills and knowledge. Learners entering this qualification will exit with an NQF Level 4 qualification that will be recognised within the rail sector both nationally and internationally.

This qualification will contribute to the development of the learner by providing recognition, further career mobility, and transportability within the sector. This qualification forms part of a suite of related qualifications to create an occupational pathway with several options to follow, each resulting in employment opportunities in different areas of specialisation. There is presently no professional registration associated with this qualification.

These qualifications include the Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Welder, NQF Level 3, the part-qualification Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Maintenance Supervisor NQF Level 4 and Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Master NQF Level 4 (Trade). The relationship and career path opportunities between the various qualifications are quite complex and are outlined in detail in the various curricula.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification is made up of the compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skills and Work Experience Modules:
Knowledge Modules:

734212-001-00-KM-01, Concepts and Principles of Per-way Construction and Maintenance, Level 3, 21 Credits.

734212-001-00-KM-02, Health and Safety Concepts and Principles of Per-way Construction and Maintenance, Level 4, 21 Credits.

734212-001-00-KM-03, Concepts and Principles of Materials and Components of Per-way Construction and Maintenance, Level 4, 21 Credits.

734212-001-00-KM-04, Railway Track Diagnostics, Level 4, 29 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 92

Practical Skill Modules:

734212-001-00-PM-01, Operate and Care for Engineering Hand and Power Tools within a Railway Maintenance Environment, Level 3, 12 Credits.

734212-001-00-PM-02, Construct and Maintain Basic Per-way Components (clearances, safety devices, lubricators, ballasts, and sleepers), Level 3, 24 Credits.

734212-001-00-PM-03, Destress, Replace, and Align rails, Level 4, 24 Credits.

734212-001-00-PM-04, Build and Construct Rail Turnouts and Related Components, Level 4, 10 Credits.

734212-001-00-PM-05, Build and Construct, Railway Lines and Temporary Track Supports, Leve 4, 6 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 76

Work Experience Modules:

734212-001-00-WM-01, Processes and Procedures for the Routine Maintenance of Per-way Components, Level 3, 24 Credits.

734212-001-00-WM-02, Processes for the Maintenance of Rails, Level 4, 32 Credits.

734212-001-00-WM-03, Processes for the Construction and Repair of Railway Lines and Turnouts, Level 4, 48 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 104

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Identify component maintenance requirements using appropriate equipment and techniques and demonstrating a fundamental understanding of safely principles.
2. Apply civil construction processes and techniques related to track geometry to construct and maintain railway lines and turnouts demonstrating a fundamental understanding of established standards.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Explanations of the actions required to correct sub-standard clearances are according to internationally accepted railway standards and in accordance with local legislation and related codes of practice.

Identify broken block joints/rails and described the different types of breaks indicating the most likely causes for these breaks.

Accurately measure and evaluate the Clearances for a range of railway situations indicating any deviations from standard.

Execute hand screening of railway ballast according to the accepted standard and complete within the time frame and in compliance with all Occupational Health and Safety requirements.

Use the required tools and determine equipment the stress-free temperatures of various sections of railway track lines and describe the most appropriate method for de-stressing the line according to the internationally accepted processes and test the best practices.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Detailed planning of how to replace railway block joints/tracks describe all the required steps, materials that must be used and accurately indicates the potential risks and delineates a feasible timeline for the work.

Accurately measure calculate track geometry to determine the relevant railway track standard and classification.

Evaluate constructed railway turnouts, identify and replace all defective components according to the internationally accepted railway standards and in compliance with all occupational health and safety standards and related legal determinations.

Integrated Assessment:
Integrated Formative Assessment
The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment together with work experience leads to entrance in the integrated external summative assessment.

Integrated Summative Assessment
An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the exit level outcomes and associated assessment criteria.

The assessment will be conducted through written assessment and the evaluation of practical tasks at decentralised approved assessment sites by a panel of assessors evaluated by assessor(s) registered with the AQP within a period of 1 day.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The countries selected for international comparability include the United Kingdom and Australia. These countries were selected as both have well-defined career paths for the railway sector that include training related to rail construction and maintenance which also include railway track constructing.

Australia
Centre of Excellence in Rail Training, Sydney Australia offers the qualification TL127120 Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure (Track Work) as a 1-year apprenticeship with no specified entry requirements and the qualification TL137120 Certificate III in Rail Infrastructure as a two-year apprenticeship with Certificate II as entry requirement. The content of these two Certificates is outlined below.

The TL127120 Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure (Track Work) requires completion of all generic core units as well as all the units from one of the specialist elective groups.

The content of this certificate is:
Generic Core

Maintain and use hand tools.

Shift materials safely using manual handling methods.

Participate in basic workplace communication.

Follow work health and safety procedures.

Apply fatigue management strategies.

Safely access the rail corridor.

Track specific

Apply track fundamentals.

Operate minor mechanical equipment.

Safely access the rail corridor.

Carry out track ballasting.

Install railway sleepers.

Install and repair rail fastening systems.

Carry out rail installation.

The Certificate III in Rail Infrastructure requires completion of all generic core units as well as all the units from one of the specialist elective groups, i.e. track maintenance and construction; turnout installation; track welding; track examination; rail testing; turnout construction; rail track surfacing and track drainage maintenance. As the Occupational Certificate: Rail Track Constructor covers elective groups, track maintenance and construction; turnout installation; track examination; turnout construction and rail track surfacing, all these units are also listed below.

Generic Core

Use communications systems.

Conduct workplace information briefings.

Implement and monitor work health and safety procedures.

Apply quality systems.

Track maintenance and construction

Carry out measurements and calculations.

Read and interpret plans and job specifications.

Check and repair track geometry.

Implement track maintenance and construction.

Turnout installation

Install turnouts.

Track examination

Examine track infrastructure.

Visually inspect track infrastructure.

Turnout construction

Construct and assemble points and crossings.

Rail track surfacing

Measure and mark track for resurfacing.

Similarities and differences:
The structure of the Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Constructor is different from the Australian Certificates as it is one qualification and not two. Furthermore, it has more than one specialisation area provided for in the Level III Certificate and requires learners to complete several the units thereof. The Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Constructor does not require the generic core component of the Level 3 Certificate which focus more on supervision.

The Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Constructor is however broadly similar to the two Australian Certificates combined in terms of duration and approximate level and most of the related specialisation content.

United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom apprenticeship standards and several associated qualifications, under the City and Guilds, have been developed in the field of rail engineering for the disciplines track, overhead line, electrification, traction and rolling stock, signalling and telecoms.

An entry level apprenticeship for a Rail Engineering Operative can be completed over a period of one year. This will require the learner to achieve two qualifications, i.e., 6497-02 Level 2 Diploma in Rail Engineering Operative Knowledge and 6499-02 Level 2 Diploma in Rail Engineering Operative Competence. Entry requirements are not specified.

The knowledge qualification is currently being offered by Fast Line Training Services with branches across the UK. All modules of this qualification are covered by the Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Constructor.

The Level 2 Diploma in Rail Engineering Operative Knowledge (Duration 300 hours)

Engineering Operative Knowledge.

Working in the rail engineering industry 90.

Engineering technology principles 90.

Rail Engineering.

Similarities and differences
The structure of the Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Constructor is different from the UK Diplomas as it is one qualification and not two sets.

The Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Constructor covers all the knowledge of the UK Diploma but is much broader and will take longer to complete.
Conclusion
The Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Constructor (a one-and-a-half-year qualification) compares well with both the Australian Certificates and the UK's railway qualification combined in terms of duration level and content related to the applicable specialisation areas.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Occupational Certificate: Railway Track Master, NQF Level 4.

Vertical Articulation:

National Certificate: N5: Engineering Studies, NQF Level 5.

NOTES

Qualifying for External Assessment:
To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of a statement of results and statement of work experience as well as proof of successful completion of the following subjects and modules or alternative programmes.

Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements:

None.

Criteria for the Accreditation of Providers:
Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website.

The curriculum title and code are: Railway Track Constructor: 734212-001-00-00.

Encompassed Trades:

None.

Assessment Quality Partner:

Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA).

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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