Sentinel & Sponsorship

 Sponsorship FAQs

If you’ve decided you’re interested in working on the railway, establishing your Sentinel Primary Sponsor will be your first step. As Sentinel cards are not available to the general public, you’ll need a Sponsor to purchase one for you on your behalf. A Sponsor is usually your new employer or you can be sponsored by a rail recruitment provider.

Some recruitment agencies may charge you an up-front fee to cover this initial cost as the process includes checking your ID and a formal railway medical.

Your Sponsor will require you to provide proof of ID and your right to work in the UK. You will then be required to attend – and pass – a formal railway medical, which includes a D&A test (not be confused with DNA).

  • A Sentinel Primary Sponsor is an approved organisation (like TES 2000!) that takes responsibility for an individual's safety and compliance within the rail industry's Sentinel Scheme. Essentially, they are your gateway to working on the railway. Sentinel cards are not available to the general public; you must have a Sponsor to obtain one

  • You need a Sentinel Primary Sponsor because:

    • Authority to Work: They are required to purchase your Sentinel card, which acts as your official "Authority to Work" on Network Rail's infrastructure. Without a valid Sentinel card, you cannot work on the railway.

    • Safety and Compliance: Your Sponsor is accountable for ensuring you meet all the necessary safety and medical requirements to work safely in a high-risk environment.

    • Training & Certification: They ensure you complete the mandatory safety training courses, such as Personal Track Safety (PTS), before you can receive your Sentinel card.

  • Your Sentinel Primary Sponsor (e.g., TES) is responsible for:

    • Purchasing your Sentinel card: They facilitate the acquisition of your official Sentinel card.

    • ID & Right to Work Checks: Verifying your identity and confirming your legal right to work in the UK.

    • Medical & Drug & Alcohol Testing: Arranging and ensuring you pass a formal railway-approved medical examination, which includes mandatory drug and alcohol tests. These must be completed before you attend any railway-specific safety training.

    • Ensuring Required Training: Confirming you successfully complete all necessary safety training, such as PTS.

    • Providing PPE: Ensuring you have the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required for working on the railway (e.g., high-visibility clothing, safety boots, hard hat).

    • Ongoing Safety Oversight: Maintaining your records in the Sentinel system, monitoring your fitness for duty, and investigating any safety-related concerns or breaches of Sentinel Scheme Rules.

    • "Learning Support" Status: For new starters, your Sponsor monitors your initial progress and determines when you have gained sufficient experience to remove the "Learning Support" status from your Sentinel record (indicated by a green square and requiring a blue hard hat).

  • No. Sentinel cards are strictly managed and issued only through approved Primary Sponsors. You cannot apply for one directly as an individual.

  • To get sponsored, you will typically need to:

    • Provide proof of your ID and right to work in the UK.

    • Attend and pass a railway-approved medical and drug & alcohol test.

    • Successfully complete all required safety training courses.

    • Maintain accurate personal information with your Sponsor.

    • Adhere to all safety rules and regulations on the railway.

  • As an approved Sentinel Primary Sponsor, TES guides you through every step of the process. From arranging your medical and D&A tests to facilitating your essential safety training and ultimately securing your Sentinel smartcard, we provide the comprehensive support you need to begin and develop your career in the railway industry.

 Medical FAQs

Your Sponsor will require you to provide proof of ID and your right to work in the UK. You will then be required to attend – and pass – a formal railway medical, which includes a D&A test (not be confused with DNA).

The medical is designed to provide some evidence as to your overall health, but also to highlight other issues such as vision and hearing impairment that might bar you from being on the railway at all, or colour vison deficiencies or other medical conditions that may restrict your ability to be out on track.

To ensure the highest levels of safety on the railway, Network Rail has stringent medical and drug & alcohol testing requirements for all individuals working on or near their infrastructure. As your Sentinel Primary Sponsor, TES will guide you through this essential process.

  • A Network Rail Approved Medical (often referred to as a "PTS Medical" or "Competence-Specific Medical") is a comprehensive health assessment required for anyone working in a "safety-critical" role on the railway. It's designed to ensure you are medically fit to perform your duties without posing a risk to yourself, colleagues, or the public. This medical is a prerequisite for obtaining your Sentinel card.

  • The medical assessment is carried out by an independent, RISQS-accredited occupational health provider and typically includes:

    • Detailed Medical Questionnaire: Covering your medical history, mental health, lifestyle, and wellbeing.

    • Physical Examination: Including height, weight, BMI calculation, blood pressure, and pulse checks.

    • Vision Assessment: Checking your distance vision, peripheral vision, and crucially, your colour vision (using tests like Ishihara plates).

    • Hearing Test (Audiometry): To assess your hearing levels, important for responding to warnings and communications on the railway.

    • Urinalysis: A urine sample will be taken to check for general health indicators like protein and glucose.

    • Mobility & Balance Assessment: To ensure you have the physical agility and coordination required for working in a railway environment.

    • Alertness Tests: To assess cognitive function.

  • A Network Rail medical certificate is generally valid for up to 10 years, although this can vary depending on your age and any specific medical conditions. Your Sentinel record will always show your current medical status and expiry date.

  • Network Rail operates a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs and alcohol for all safety-critical workers. The D&A test is a mandatory screening to ensure you are not under the influence of prohibited substances. This test is conducted by an independent, RISQS-accredited provide

  • Breath Alcohol Test: A breathalyser (intoximeter) is used to check for alcohol. A reading of 14 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath (14μg/100ml) or above is considered a fail.

    Drug Test (POCT): A Point-of-Care Test (POCT) is now used to screen for drugs. This involves collecting a sample (typically urine or oral fluid) and testing it on-site using a rapid testing device. The current panel includes:

    • Amphetamines (including Methamphetamines)

    • Benzodiazepines

    • Cannabis

    • Cocaine

    • MDMA (Ecstasy)

    • Methadone (and its metabolite, EDDP)

    • Opiates

    • Propoxyphene

    • Tramadol

    • Ketamine

  • Network Rail has a strict policy. If you fail a drug or alcohol test, or refuse to provide a sample, it will be treated as a positive result. This will lead to a 5-year suspension from working on any Network Rail or London Underground infrastructure, and your Sentinel profile will be updated accordingly.

  • You will typically need to bring:

    • Valid Photo ID: Such as a current Passport or Photocard Driving Licence. Your existing Sentinel card (if applicable).

    • Proof of National Insurance Number: e.g., NI Card, payslip, or P60.

    • List of any prescribed or over-the-counter medications you are currently taking or have taken in the last 14 days (including dosage). This is crucial for the medical review officer.

    • Glasses or hearing aids if you normally wear them.

  • No. Network Rail approved medicals and D&A tests must be conducted by independent, RISQS-accredited occupational health providers who adhere to specific Network Rail standards. Your local GP is not qualified to carry out these specific industry-mandated assessments.

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