SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Understand and apply railway construction methods 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
113976  Understand and apply railway construction methods 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Civil Engineering Construction 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction Civil Engineering Construction 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  10 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Learners who are assessed as competent against this unit standard will understand the railway construction, upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance process, understand the principles and construction methods related to bulk earthworks, layer-works, ballast, drainage, sleepers, rail line installation and maintenance, railway reserve finishing as well as concrete technology.

This competence forms part of the Elective learning and represents a specific context of management, i.e. understanding rail construction methods in a civil engineering construction context.

It contributes to the development of a professional community of Civil Engineering Construction Managers. The contribution to The National Skills Development Strategy is the key developmental interface between learners and new competencies to be achieved.

Its contribution to socio-economic transformation is that learners would be able to undergo RPL-assessment and thereby receive recognition for previous learning and experience. The employability and career prospects of learners can therefore be enhanced by this qualification. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
NQF Level 4 Mathematical Science and NQF Level 4 Literacy.
NQF Level 4 unit standards in the planning, orginisation, delegation and controlling of railway construction, upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance activities. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Construction, upgrade and rehabilitation:
  • Bulk earthworks includes blasting techniques, borrow pit development and rehabilitation, mass hall diagrams, selection and application of appropriate plant and equipment, installation of gabion baskets and reno mattresses.
  • Layer works includes crusher run, dump rock, natural sands and gravels, clay and the selection of appropriate plant and equipment to process this.
  • Drainage works includes but not limited to: the installation of pre-cast concrete pipes, Armco pipes, pre-cast culverts, jacked pipes and jacked culverts, sub-soil drainage, pre-cast or in-situ cast chutes and channels, manholes, catch-pits, in-situ cast v-drains, drainage of track structure.
  • Sleepers: Range - Includes but not limited to Steel, concrete, wood, transition ladder, crossing sleepers.
  • Fastening systems: Range - Includes but not limited to Fist, pendral, fast clip, tubular track, slab track.
  • All Railway turnouts.
  • Crossings.
  • Railway joints: checkrails.
  • Ballast.
  • Rails.
  • Trackside lubrication.
  • The use of concrete includes an understanding of the processes and principles involved with the following: Mixing, Transporting, Placing and compacting, Curing, Testing, Finishing.
  • Railway Finishing processes and elements includes but not limited to: Embankment protection with grass sods, grass planting, hydro seeding, Erection of Sign board, signaling equipment and overhead track equipment .Fencing.

    Routine Maintenance:
  • Railway reserve maintenance: Range - includes but not limited to fencing, embankments, erosion, drainage, sign boards.
  • Trackside lubrication. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the railway construction process and associated technologies. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The railway construction process is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The function of railway construction, elements are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Appropriate railway construction, technologies are identified and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Economic factors that impact on the railway construction, processes are identified and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Environmental factors in construction, are identified and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Methods of environmental control are identified and explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Understand and apply the various railway construction elements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Bulk earth construction technologies are explained and demonstrated in terms of Industry best practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Layer work, ballast and sleeper construction techniques are explained and demonstrated in terms of Industry best practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Railway line installation techniques are explained and demonstrated in terms of Industry best practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Drainage installation techniques are explained and demonstrated in terms of Industry best practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Railway reserve finishing construction techniques are explained and demonstrated in terms of Industry best practice. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Understand and apply concrete technology. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Temporary support work, formwork and shuttering for concrete works are designed and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Reinforcing steel detail is extracted from drawings and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The principles, properties and use of concrete are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The properties and application of concrete materials are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Concrete materials are applied to design concrete mixes in accordance with specifications and job requirements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Understand and apply railway upgrading rehabilitation and rail maintenance work. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance with respect to ballast are explained and demonstrated in terms of Industry best practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance with respect to sleepers are explained and demonstrated in terms of Industry best practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance with respect to rail lines are explained and demonstrated in terms of Industry best practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance with respect to railway reserve are explained and demonstrated in terms of Industry best practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Economic factors that impact on the railway rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance processes are identified and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Environmental factors in rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance are identified and explained. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the CETA - ETQA for "The National Certificate in the Management of Civil Engineering Construction Processes".
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the CETA - ETQA.
  • CETA - ETQA, or other ETQA`s who have a Memorandum of Understanding in place with CETA-ETQA, would be responsible for moderation of learner achievements of learners who meet the requirements of this qualification. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    I can understand and explain:
  • The railway construction process.
  • The function of railway construction elements.
  • Railway Construction, upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance technologies.
  • Economic factors that impact on the railway construction, upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance process.
  • Environmental problems in railway construction, upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance.
  • Methods of environmental control.
  • Bulk earth construction technologies.
  • Drainage construction and installation technologies.
  • Layer works, ballast and sleeper construction and installation technologies.
  • Railway line installation and maintenance technologies.
  • Railway reserve finishing and maintenance: Fencing, grassing, sign erection, guardrails, overhead track and signaling equipment.
  • Properties of concrete and the use of concrete in railway construction, upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance.
  • Workability and segregation in concrete.
  • Concrete materials and their properties, requirements and application.
  • The processes and principles involved with the mixing, transporting, placing and compacting, curing, testing and finishing of concrete.
  • Relevant and current Codes of Practice specification for Railway Construction, upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems.

    Specific Outcome:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the rail way construction process and associated technologies.

    Assessment criteria:
  • Economic factors that impact on the railway construction process are identified and explained.
  • Environmental problems in construction are identified and explained. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Employ self management.

    Specific Outcome:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the railway construction process and associated technologies.

    Assessment Criteria:
  • Economic factors that impact on the railway construction process are identified and explained. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Manage information.

    Specific outcome:
  • Understand and apply concrete technology.

    Assessment criteria:
  • Reinforcing steel detail is extracted from drawings and applied.
  • Concrete materials are applied to design concrete mixes in accordance with specifications and job requirements. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Demonstrate scientific and technological competence.

    Specific Outcome:
  • Understand and apply railway rehabilitation, upgrading and railway maintenance work.

    Assessment Criteria:
  • Rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance with respect to ballast are explained and demonstrated in terms of Industry best practice.
  • Rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance with respect to sleepers are explained and demonstrated in terms. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand Contextual world-systems.

    Specific Outcome:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the railway construction process and associated technologies.

    Assessment Criteria:
  • Environmental problems in railway construction are identified and explained.
  • Methods of environmental control are identified and explained. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  23683   National Diploma: Management of Civil Engineering Construction Processes  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  CETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.