PTS Course London

Get Certified with the Personal Track Safety (PTS) Course

Working on or near the UK’s rail network requires a valid Personal Track Safety certification. Our PTS Course London delivers that over two days in Barking, combining classroom theory with practical assessment.

Rail infrastructure work pays well and runs year-round, but nobody sets foot trackside without this card. So the PTS certificate is not an optional extra. It is the entry requirement.

What a PTS Card Gets You

Once certified, you can work as part of a rail infrastructure team on tasks such as track maintenance and renewals, signalling and telecoms, overhead line work, civils and structures, surveying, and general labouring on rail projects.

Rail work also tends to pay above general construction rates, particularly for night and weekend possessions when most track access happens. Because the sector runs on planned engineering windows, shifts are often long but well compensated.

Many rail workers hold PTS alongside a CSCS card. If you need both, our CSCS Green Card Course covers the construction side, while the CPCS Traffic Marshall A73 adds vehicle marshalling to your ticket.

Before Your Training Can Begin

PTS has compulsory pre-course steps. Please read these carefully, because your training date cannot be confirmed until all four are complete.

1. Drug and Alcohol Test

You must attend in person for a drug and alcohol test, and you must pass it before proceeding to training.

2. Settle Your Outstanding Balance

Your outstanding balance of £600 must be paid in full before enrolment.

3. Complete the Compulsory E-Learning

Once your test and payment are confirmed, we enrol you in the online e-learning module. Completion is mandatory and must be finished before your course start date, since it forms part of your training.

4. Receive Your Training Date

After the above steps are complete, we confirm the exact date you must attend for your PTS training.

Plan for roughly two to three weeks between booking and training, because the D&A results and e-learning both take time. Therefore, if you have a start date on site, book earlier than you think you need to.

What the Two Days Cover

Day one is classroom-based and covers the theory: the rail environment and its hazards, personal responsibilities under the rules, safe walking routes, understanding a safe system of work, and the roles of the people who keep you safe trackside.

Day two moves into practical application and assessment. Here you work through emergency procedures, warning systems and how to react to them, correct use of PPE, and the procedures for safely accessing and leaving the track.

Both days run 08:30 to 16:30, and attendance across both is mandatory. Missing part of the course means you cannot be assessed.

Assessment and Your Card

Your assessment happens during the course rather than on a separate day. Once you pass, your competence is recorded and your Sentinel PTS card follows.

PTS competence requires periodic renewal, so keep track of your expiry date. We will confirm your renewal window when your card is issued.

Book Your PTS Course Today

We run the PTS Course London every week, so you can choose the date that fits your schedule. Secure your place with a £100 deposit and we will contact you to arrange your drug and alcohol test.

Courses fill quickly, particularly ahead of major engineering periods. Call 020 8050 4108 if you need a specific date or want to check availability before booking.