5 September 2025
We recently caught up with Luc, a Bath College student moving into his second year of his T Level in Engineering. As part of his course, Luc has been completing an industry placement with Hitachi Rail, gaining valuable first-hand experience with one of the biggest names in the railway sector.
Hitachi Rail is a global leader in the rail industry, providing transport vehicles, signalling systems, digital technology, service and maintenance, and turnkey solutions worldwide. For Luc, the placement has been a chance to put his classroom learning into practice, working on real engineering challenges across 315 hours with the company.
Learning on the job
Luc’s placement has been varied and hands-on, covering everything from mechanical fixes to inspections and testing. Over the course of ten days, he has been involved in:
- Train checks, flange lubricants, crankcase covers, and wire locking
- Gearbox cap replacements, door mechanism inspections, and Doppler radar cleaning
- Fire suppression, door function, and AWS safety tests
- Luggage rack repairs, LED transformer changes, and safe isolations
- Wheel lathe operations and power unit cleaning
- Shadowing the engineering department and exploring installation processes
This wide range of activity gave Luc an excellent overview of how engineering teams operate within such a large and respected organisation.
Luc’s reflections
Reflecting on his experience, Luc said:
“The placement has been a brilliant opportunity to see how engineering theory is applied in a real environment. Each day has been different, and I’ve been able to work on tasks ranging from mechanical fixes and inspections to shadowing the engineering department. I feel much more confident about moving into my second year now, and I know the skills I’ve gained at Hitachi Rail will really help me in my T Level and beyond.”
Why placements matter
Industry placements like Luc’s are a vital part of T Level Engineering courses. They allow students to:
- Develop practical technical skills
- Gain industry-recognised experience
- Build confidence in applying knowledge
- Connect with employers and professionals
Unlike A Levels, T Levels include an in-depth placement lasting at least 45 days, giving students the chance to learn directly from employers. In subjects such as Engineering, there’s no better way to prepare for the workplace than through hands-on experience.
Luc’s story is a brilliant example of how industry placements complement classroom learning and help students build their careers.
We’d like to thank Luc and the team at Hitachi Rail for making this placement such a success. We look forward to seeing Luc continue to develop and thrive in his engineering journey.
