What qualifications do I need to work on the London Underground?
​Looking to work on the London Underground (LU) but unsure of the qualifications you need to do so? Regional Training Manager for Transport for London (TfL) at Morson Training, Sunil Madhavan, gives an insight into what training courses you need to undertake. Sunil has 18 years’ worth of experience working in rail spending 9 years […]
work on the london underground

​Looking to work on the London Underground (LU) but unsure of the qualifications you need to do so? Regional Training Manager for Transport for London (TfL) at Morson Training, Sunil Madhavan, gives an insight into what training courses you need to undertake.

Sunil has 18 years’ worth of experience working in rail spending 9 years working directly for TfL and joining Morson Training in 2017. The key part of his role is leading the London Underground training provision, delivering all track safety competencies. Here Sunil outlines the steps and training you’ll need to be able to work on the London Underground (LU).

To start your railway journey, you need a sponsor. A sponsor is either your employer or a rail recruitment provider. Your sponsor will manage your competencies (such as setting you up with a Sentinel profile) and ensure you meet the requirements for attending training.

Worksite Safety Induction (LU-WSI)

The London Underground Worksite Safety Induction (LU-WSI) is the first course you need to take to work on LU and is a prerequisite to work on the railway. The WSI enables you to access the London Underground infrastructure to carry out your duties. In addition, this training focuses on the safety requirements to keep you and those around you safe whilst working on London Underground premises. Key aspects of the WSI include:

  • Health and safety on the line
  • Fatigue management
  • Knowledge of work locations
  • Understanding the various roles and responsibilities of those around you
  • Signing in and out of London Underground
  • Understanding worksite hazards and fire prevention
  • Information on asbestos on London Underground infrastructure and what to do if you accidentally disturb asbestos
  • Using a lift, escalator, or moving walkway
  • Working at height and lifting equipment
  • Exclusion zones

In addition to the LU-WSI, you may be required to undertake basic track awareness alongside a number of other courses.

To see the latest London Underground Worksite Safety Induction course availability and book your place, click here.

Basic Track Awareness (BTA)

Completing this course will enable you to progress up the competency ladder to progress your skills, knowledge, and capability. This allows a person to work in the track environment both traffic hours, engineering hours, in depots or possessions with train movements and/or live traction current, whilst under protection. Anyone intending to access the track during traffic hours, in an area where there are train movements, or in an area with live traction current must have this certification as a minimum.

To see the latest Basic Track Awareness (BTA) course availability and book your place, click here.


London Underground Individual Working Alone (LU-IWA)

This course is for individuals requiring access to the Track Alone, providing their own protection, during traffic hours and within depots and stabling sidings.

Depot Track Access (DTA)

This is for individuals carrying out their duties on or near the permanent way in a depot and remote stabling sidings, providing their own protection. To enable an individual to access and carry out train inspections and litter picking in a depot track environment or stabling sidings with trains moving and live traction current.


Track Trolley Controller (TTC)

This is for individuals who are required to operate a track trolley safely in the track environment.

To see the latest Track Trolley Controller (TTC) course availability and book your place, click here.


Fire Watchperson (FW)

This is for those carrying out hot work on London premises.


Site Person in Charge (SPC)

Enables an individual who is undertaking the activities of a Site Person in Charge (SPC) to comply with current legislation and London Underground (LU) rules. This also equips delegates with the knowledge and skills required to safely manage worksites on LU infrastructure.


Protecting Workers on the Track-Engineering Hours (PWT-EH)

Enables an individual who is undertaking the activities of protecting workers on the track in engineering hours (PWT-EH) to comply with current legislation and London Underground (LU) rules. This also equips delegates with the knowledge and skills required to provide protection for themselves and others during engineering hours.

Protecting Workers on the Track – Traffic Hours (PWT-TH)

This will enable an individual who is undertaking the activities of Protection of Workers on the Track – Traffic Hours (PWT- TH) to comply with current legislation and LU rules. PWT-TH certification is required for those managing worksites and providing protection during Traffic Hours, depots and stabling sidings where traction current is live.


Protecting Workers on the Track – Depots (PWT-D)

Individuals who are undertaking the activities of Protection of Workers on the Track – Depots (PWT-D) to comply with current legislation and LU rules. This equips delegates with the knowledge and skills required to safely manage worksites and provide protection for themselves and others in depots and stabling sidings where traction current is continuously live.


Protecting Workers on the Track – Train Movements (PWT-TM)

This course will enable an individual who is undertaking the activities of Protecting Workers on the Track–Train Movements (PWT-TM) to comply with current legislation and London Underground (LU) rules. Equips delegates with the knowledge and skills required to manage specified areas and engineer’s current areas and provide protection for themselves and others.


At Morson Training we offer the full suite of Transport for London competencies. We understand that the rail industry is not a regular 9-5 and offer a flexible service to our clients and delegates. In addition to our standard weekday delivery, we also provide training during the evening, nights, and weekends and can also deliver certain courses on client premises.

To book one of our London Underground courses or to find out more information visit our dedicated London Underground training page or email our training consultant Simon Saxby simon.saxby@morson.com. Our highly experienced team can offer advice on the best way to undertake your learning.

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