THOSE looking to join the rail industry will soon have an academic pathway to such careers.

The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and the SMRT Institute have joined hands to develop a two-year National Institute of Technical Education Certificate (Nitec) course in rapid transit technology.

This is the first rail-related certification here, and will cover areas such as power systems, maintenance works and safety checks. Its start date will be announced later.

The SMRT Institute, a subsidiary of rail operator SMRT focusing on raising the competence of transport workers, also has plans to start rail-related training programmes at diploma and degree levels as well.

Graduates from the Nitec-level course will be mopped up by the rail sector here, as plans have been drawn up to double the rail network by 2020. On average, a new rail line needs about 600 employees.

The SMRT Institute is also working with the Workforce Development Agency to improve the skills of existing rail workers.

The two programmes lined up will be rolled out first to SMRT's 3,000 assistant engineers and technical officers.

One is the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications for Certified Operations Specialists and the other, for Certified Operations Professionals.

These courses will be offered to foreign rail operators eventually.

SMRT's chief executive Saw Phaik Hwa said: 'We have accumulated a wealth of experience in operating and maintaining the rail network. This is knowledge which we can share for the development of a pool of rail industry professionals both locally and overseas.'

SMRT has 100 trainers ready to run these courses, which will take between 80 and 120 hours to complete and will cover topics like safety management, leadership and organisation skills.

The SMRT Institute also tied up with the Land Transport Authority Academy yesterday to offer training for those working in other forms of transport.

MARIA ALMENOAR

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