Rolling stock mechanic
"The best thing in the work of a rolling stock mechanic is the diversity of work tasks and good opportunities to progress in your career. For example, I acted as the supervisor last winter and did not do any mechanic work. I also like that I’m able to influence the course of my working day. For example, if I work outdoors in fault repair tasks, I can decide in which order and how to repair the wagons if the supervisor has not separately decided the repair order."
- Jouni Priha
- Rolling stock mechanic at VR Fleetcare.
- Completed the Further Vocational Qualification in Vehicle Body Repair at Kouvolan Seudun Ammattiopisto.
- Five years of work experience in the field.
Briefly explain what you do for a living.
I work as a rolling stock mechanic at VR Fleetcare. My tasks include the maintenance and repair of train wagons at the depot.
How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?
An acquaintance of mine worked at VR and recommended applying for work here. I decided to apply for the position of a mechanic, and here I am now.
Describe your typical working day or week.
When I come to work, the supervisor distributes our work tasks. At the same time, safety-related matters are discussed and work pairs are decided if they are needed in shift work. The shift is done either indoors in a hall where we do maintenance or outdoors in the railway yard area where technical faults in wagons are repaired. Maintenance and repair work is carried out during train operation, so some trains may have a very precise time window when repairs or maintenance must be completed.
What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?
I work in the railway yard and maintenance halls. Rolling stock mechanics work in three shifts. A typical shift is 11 hours, but there are shifts that adjust working hours, the duration of which vary between 8 and 10 hours. Of course, more days off are accumulated when the shifts are long.
What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession?
Two types of mechanics work in maintenance. The other do mechanical work and the other electrical work. I do mechanical work, and you can manage in this work if you understand something about engineering. When investigating faults, you must also have the courage to try different solutions.
What is the best thing about your profession?
The best thing in the work of a rolling stock mechanic is the diversity of work tasks and good opportunities to progress in your career. For example, I acted as the supervisor last winter and did not do any mechanic work. I also like that I’m able to influence the course of my working day. For example, if I work outdoors in fault repair tasks, I can decide in which order and how to repair the wagons if the supervisor has not separately decided the repair order.
What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?
Shift work is not always a bed of roses. With age, the night shifts and continuously changing sleeping rhythm have started to put more strain on me.
What would you tell a person considering the profession of a rolling stock mechanic?
I recommend to boldly go for the rolling stock mechanic’s profession if it interests you at all. There is no specific training for this profession, but both technical and maintenance competence is very helpful.
How do you see the future of your profession?
I believe that train maintenance will be needed as long as trains are running, so there will be enough work in the future as well.