Railway Engineer
Designs, constructs and operates rail transport systems, drawing on civil and mechanical engineering.
Overview
Railway Engineering deals with the design, construction, and operation of all types of rail transport systems. Railway Engineering often includes other branches of Engineering such as Civil, Mechanical etc.
Where they work
- Indian Railways
Work environment
As a railway engineer you are likely to work 5 to 6 days a week and 8 to 9 hours every day. Shift system might be applicable.
Opportunities for differently abled exist in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You enjoy figuring out how things work
- You like Science and Maths
- You like to assemble things
- You like working outdoors
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete Class 10 + 2 in the Science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics).
- 2Complete a Bachelor's degree (B.Sc./B.Tech) in Railway Engineering
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Diploma in Railway Engineering/Metro Rail Technology
Alternative route 3
- 1Complete a Bachelor's degree followed by a Master's in the same or allied field.
Forms, exams and applications
For a job in the railway sector, you have to clear exams such as Railway Recruitment Board Senior Section Engineer & Junior Engineer (RRB SSE JE) and the Indian Engineering Services Examination (IES/ESE), in addition to the general engineering exams such as JEE (Main and Advanced). Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Engineering. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Indian Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Jamalpur, Bihar
- Indian Railway Institute of Financial Management, Secunderabad, Telangana
- Indian Railway Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications, Secunderabad, Telangana
- Indian Railways Institute of Civil Engineering, Pune, Maharashtra
- Indian Railways Institute of Electrical Engineering, Nashik, Maharashtra
- Indian Railways Institute of Logistics & Materials Management, New Delhi
- Indian Railways Institute of Transport Management, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Indian Railways Track Machine Training Center, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- MIT College of Railway Engineering and Research, Barshi, Maharashtra
- Railway Academy, Vadodara, Gujarat
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Junior Engineer
- 2Senior Section Engineer
- 3Junior Scale Officer
- 4Senior Scale Officer
- 5Assistant Divisional Engineer
- 6Divisional Engineer
- 7Senior Divisional Engineer
Expected income
₹33,000 – ₹1,41,000 per month or more
The figures are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Civil Engineer/Structural Engineer
Designs, builds and maintains buildings, water systems, airports, roads and bridges.
Mechanical Engineer
Designs, develops, builds and tests mechanical devices, tools, engines and machines.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Science, Maths.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to building.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Alok Kansal — An IRSE officer and a distinguished alumni of IIT Roorkee, he is the first Engineering Assistant Officer associated with introduction of first Shatabdi Express, the high-speed train. He is now the General Manager of Western Railway, India.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 529 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.ambitionbox.com/salaries/indian-railways-salaries/engineer
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
The Indian Railways Track Machine Training Centre is at Prayagraj (printed "Allahabad").
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.