Railway maintenance: behind the scenes of the job of a mechanic at ETF
At ETF, railway vehicle maintenance is much more than just a technical issue: it is a key lever for ensuring the performance, safety and availability of equipment on all sites. In this new job profile, Vincent, a mechanic at the Equipment Maintenance Agency (AMM), shares his career path, his responsibilities and his vision of a constantly evolving profession.
A career enriched by diverse experiences
Vincent joined AMM five years ago after an initial career in ship maintenance. With a vocational diploma and a professional baccalaureate in mechanics, he quickly found that ETF was the ideal place to develop his skills. The diversity of the machinery, operations and working environments now allows him to take on technically challenging assignments at the heart of ETF’s operational processes.
“What I like here is that every day is different. We can work on a machine after a derailment or breakdown and get it back up and running on time. It’s really satisfying.”
A central role in equipment performance
On the ground, Vincent is involved in every stage of the operation:
- Lifting machines to remove rolling components
- Inspection and verification of mechanical parts
- Reassembly and securing of assemblies
- Diagnostics, repair and continuous improvement as required
Each intervention requires autonomy, technical expertise and precision, but also genuine teamwork. At AMM, operations are coordinated to limit production downtime and ensure continuity of work across the country.
“My goal is to gain autonomy and responsibility so that I can join the national after-sales service team. I want to be able to work anywhere in France, on any machine.” – Vincent
A profession rooted in the reality of the field
Working at AMM means combining technical rigour with a direct impact on operations. It also means working in a close-knit team, where everyone contributes to advancing rail mobility, one project at a time.
Continuous skills development
For Vincent, learning never stops. Thanks to the internal training courses offered by ETF, such as the one on bolt assembly, he is strengthening his skills in safety and reliability.