Physical Planning and Construction Civil Engineering Construction

Build A Standard Rail Turnout Training

SAQA US 119984 | NQF 3 | Credits 9 | Duration 6 Days
From $1,382 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the skills and knowledge required to construct a standard rail turnout in accordance with railway industry specifications and safety standards. Participants will learn to interpret technical drawings, prepare the work area, assemble components, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. The training emphasizes safe work practices and quality control to prevent derailments and ensure operational reliability.

Learning Outcomes

  • Interpret technical drawings and specifications for a standard rail turnout.
  • Prepare the work site and ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
  • Assemble and install turnout components including switches, crossings, and fastenings.
  • Apply quality control procedures to verify alignment, gauge, and geometry of the turnout.
  • Demonstrate safe work practices and use of personal protective equipment during turnout construction.
  • Evaluate completed turnout for conformity to operational standards and rectify defects.

Target Audience

This course is designed for track maintenance workers, rail construction technicians, and supervisors involved in the construction or maintenance of railway infrastructure in South Africa.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Railway Turnouts and Safety

Objectives:
• Understand the purpose and components of a standard rail turnout
• Identify safety protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE) required
• Explain the basic terminology used in turnout construction
• Recognise the importance of compliance with SAQA and industry standards

Topics:
• Overview of railway infrastructure and turnouts
• Key components: switch rails, stock rails, frog, guard rails, and check rails
• Safety regulations and site-specific hazard identification
• Introduction to tools and equipment for turnout construction
• Basic terminology: gauge, cant, crossing angle, lead

Day 2: Planning and Site Preparation

Objectives:
• Interpret turnout design drawings and specifications
• Conduct site surveys and set out datum points
• Prepare the subgrade and ballast bed for turnout installation
• Apply quality control measures for material inspection

Topics:
• Reading and understanding turnout layout drawings
• Setting out centre lines, switch points, and frog positions
• Subgrade preparation: drainage, compaction, and tolerance
• Ballast selection and spreading techniques
• Material inspection: rails, sleepers, fastenings, and fittings

Day 3: Assembling the Turnout Components

Objectives:
• Assemble switch and stock rail assemblies to specification
• Install the frog and guard rails correctly
• Fit and adjust fastenings and baseplates
• Ensure correct gauge and alignment during assembly

Topics:
• Assembly sequence for switch rails and stock rails
• Installing the frog: types (spring, rigid, movable) and alignment
• Guard rail placement and clearance checks
• Fastening systems: clips, bolts, and insulators
• Gauge and alignment verification using templates and gauges

Day 4: Laying and Aligning the Turnout

Objectives:
• Position the assembled turnout onto the prepared ballast bed
• Achieve correct vertical and horizontal alignment
• Adjust cant and cross-level as per design
• Conduct initial geometry checks

Topics:
• Laying the turnout: handling and placement techniques
• Sighting and lining methods: string line, optical instruments
• Vertical alignment: cross-level and twist tolerance
• Cant adjustment and superelevation
• Initial geometry measurement: gauge, alignment, and profile

Day 5: Ballasting, Tamping, and Final Adjustment

Objectives:
• Apply ballasting and tamping to secure the turnout
• Perform final alignment and geometry corrections
• Test switch operation and locking mechanisms
• Verify compliance with acceptance criteria

Topics:
• Ballast distribution and compaction methods
• Tamping techniques for turnout zones
• Final lining, levelling, and gauging adjustments
• Switch operation testing: throw, clearance, and locking
• Acceptance testing: geometry standards and documentation

Day 6: Quality Assurance, Maintenance, and Assessment

Objectives:
• Conduct comprehensive quality assurance inspections
• Identify common defects and remedial actions
• Understand routine maintenance requirements for turnouts
• Complete practical assessment and unit standard requirements

Topics:
• QA/QC inspection: checklist and reporting
• Defect identification: worn components, gauge variation, surface irregularities
• Maintenance planning: lubrication, adjustment, and replacement
• Record keeping and compliance documentation
• Practical assessment: construct a turnout section to standard

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Mon 14 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,382 Register
Fri 02 Oct 2026 Fri 09 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,382 Register
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Thu 10 Dec 2026 Thu 17 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,382 Register
Wed 13 Jan 2027 Wed 20 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,382 Register
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Wed 20 Oct 2027 Wed 27 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,382 Register
Thu 09 Dec 2027 Thu 16 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,382 Register
Wed 29 Dec 2027 Wed 05 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,382 Register
Tue 18 Jan 2028 Tue 25 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,382 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 499 sessions across 26 venues
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Fri 31 Jul 2026 Fri 07 Aug 2026 Johannesburg, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,938 Register
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Tue 15 Sep 2026 Tue 22 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,798 Register
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Fri 26 Mar 2027 Fri 02 Apr 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,798 Register
Thu 17 Jun 2027 Thu 24 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,798 Register
Wed 07 Jul 2027 Wed 14 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,798 Register
Tue 27 Jul 2027 Tue 03 Aug 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,798 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Mon 20 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,798 Register
Fri 08 Oct 2027 Fri 15 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,798 Register
Thu 28 Oct 2027 Thu 04 Nov 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,798 Register
Fri 17 Dec 2027 Fri 24 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,798 Register
Thu 06 Jan 2028 Thu 13 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,798 Register
Wed 26 Jan 2028 Wed 02 Feb 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,798 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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