Providing Qualified Railroad Welders
The European railway industry needs qualified and certified personnel By M. L. Quintino, European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting, Porto Salvo, Portugal. Reprinted with permission: The AWS Welding Journal Many rail travelers view engineering simply as the reason their journeys were delayed. Many are not even aware that rails are welded, let alone recognize the challenges the industry faces in recruiting and developing the next generation of welders, welding technologists, and welding engineers. However, the sector faces significant challenges in filling crucial posts within the rail welding management, supervisory, and delivery structure.- To have trained and certified railway track welders available for companies to ensure the quality and reliability of the railway tracks and thus reduce accidents and downtime caused by welding problems;
- To harmonize education, qualification, and certification by making the exchange of specialized welders for national railway authorities and companies in the European Union possible;
- To ensure the quality of and access to continuing vocational education and certification for life-long competence, and increase employability of railway welders across national borders.