Posted By james clarke Hello, just wondering if anyone can help me iv been wanting to take a 10 day PTS induction course for about 6 months but I'm finding it hard getting a sponsor, iv been told by a couple of rail companies that they would sponsor me but they've then let me down at the last minute or they've told me that iv definitely been booked onto the next MTR training course in a couple of weeks only to find out that they haven't put me on the course at all. So iv now hit a brick wall I'm willing to pay for the course myself and have even been promised a job as soon as iv got a pts card. I would be grateful of any help. thanks jay

Posted By John Caboche The basic PTS course is two days - you only need to undertake the ten day track induction course (TIC) if you intend to be involved with work that can affect the permanent way (P-way). Recruitment agencies such as McGinleys and Coyles generally sponsor people through the TIC provided that you go to work for them afterwards. If you have the offer of work once you hold the PTS card, can you not ask this organisation to pay for the course for you? You will not be able to get on a course unless the course is paid for by a sponsoring organisation - those are the Network Rail rules.

Posted By james clarke Thanks for your responses. Their is a 2 day course for about 150 pounds but their is a 10 day course which includes a full medical for about 800 pounds and allows you to work on the track. The rail company my mate works for doesn't sponsor people unless they already work for the company. I have googled PTS induction course and phoned every rail company listed on railwaypeople.com, i seriously must have made about 100 phone calls over the last 6 months trying to get a sponsor. Ill just have to keep trying.