Crossing keeper online tests: what applicants report

By Signaller Tests · Updated 12 October 2026 · 7 min read

The online tests are the second of the five stages in Network Rail's crossing keeper recruitment, and the one that filters out the most applicants. This guide covers what Network Rail says about them, what applicants have reported, and how each reported test lines up with the practice on this site.

What Network Rail says

Network Rail's recruitment journey page describes crossing keeper online testing as “psychometric assessments which involve aptitude testing and behavioural questionnaires”. Its earlier crossing keeper page described “online testing, including an aptitude test and a safety & risk questionnaire”. Its FAQs add three useful facts:

You are offered practice questions before each test.
The tests are remotely invigilated, so Network Rail can confirm who is sitting them.
You must not use AI for any online testing component.

The FAQs also say your results may be considered for other suitable vacancies for up to six months.

What applicants report

The clearest applicant account we found is a 2021 discussion on RailUK Forums. That makes it more than four years old, so treat it as a guide to the kind of test rather than the exact list. One poster there also said the tests differ by grade. Check your invitation, which should name the tests you will sit.

Risk and safety behavioural questionnaire

A Grade 2 crossing keeper applicant described a risk and safety behavioural questionnaire made up of statements answered on an agreement scale, and complained that there was no neutral option. Like most personality-style questionnaires, it has no right answers in the usual sense. What helps is knowing the behaviours the job needs, so you answer as yourself without second-guessing. Network Rail's earlier crossing keeper page listed eight non-technical skills, the same eight it lists for signallers, and those are the obvious frame.

Practise with: our questionnaire briefing, which teaches the eight skills and why extreme or inconsistent answers stand out, and our level crossing scenarios, which put the safety judgement the job needs into crossing situations.

Concentration test

The same crossing keeper applicant mentioned a concentration test and called it easy. Signaller applicants in the thread named it “Ability to Concentrate”. Crossing keeper work is largely sustained attention, and the Ingatestone advert lists maintaining focus throughout your shift as a duty. That fits a test of staying accurate over a long run of similar checks.

Practise with: our concentration exercise, a timed run of quick checks against a rule.

Reaction test

The crossing keeper applicant also mentioned a reaction test. We do not have a separate reaction-speed exercise, and we will not pretend otherwise. The nearest thing on this site is the steering task inside the multi-tasking exercise, which rewards fast, accurate responses.

Multi-tasking and memory grid

Signaller applicants in the same thread (Grades 6 and 8) also reported a multi-tasking test and a memory grid called gridChallenge. The crossing keeper applicant did not mention either. They may or may not appear for your post, so check your invitation before spending much time on them.

Practise with: our multi-tasking exercise and memory grid.

Is it the same as the signaller assessment?

Partly. Both roles are recruited by Network Rail's operations team, and the 2021 reports overlap. But Network Rail now describes a different journey for each. Signallers sit a short reasoning assessment first and a second round of online assessments later. Crossing keepers have a single online testing stage. Do not assume the batteries are identical.

If you do not pass

A poster in the 2021 discussion said a fail normally means waiting six months before you can retake. That is a forum report, not an official rule, so check the outcome email for the actual wait. It is one more reason to do the practice questions Network Rail offers before each test, and to sit the tests somewhere quiet where you will not be interrupted.

Quick checklist

Read your invitation for the list of tests, the deadline and the technical requirements.
Do every practice question Network Rail offers before the real test.
Answer the questionnaire honestly and consistently, as yourself.
Use a quiet room and a reliable connection. The tests are remotely invigilated.
No AI help of any kind during the tests.

Sources

Network Rail publishes its crossing keeper recruitment stages but not the exercises in its online assessment. Where this guide describes the format, it relies on what applicants report and says so; facts below are from the sources listed.

Recruitment journey and application process (Crossing Keepers) — Network Rail (operations careers), checked 12 October 2026. Sets out a separate five-stage journey for crossing keepers: eligibility check; online testing (“psychometric assessments which involve aptitude testing and behavioural questionnaires”); a video interview about motivation, experience and approach to the role; an assessment day with activities that assess the behaviours and abilities needed; and a conditional offer, followed by DBS, medical, drugs and alcohol testing, right-to-work checks and references.
Crossing Keepers (archived 13 June 2026, before Network Rail rebuilt the site) — Network Rail, via the Internet Archive, checked 12 October 2026. The previous crossing keeper page listed the same eight non-technical skills as the signaller page (communication, willingness and ability to learn, working with others, decision making, conscientious, attention management, workload management, controlled under pressure), said keepers must be “comfortable challenging unsafe behaviour”, and described the application stages as application, “online testing, including an aptitude test and a safety & risk questionnaire”, application questions, a video interview and an interview. It gave starting salaries of £31,790 (Grade 1) and £34,871 (Grade 2); the current site states pay in each advert instead.
FAQs — Network Rail (operations careers), checked 12 October 2026. Practice questions are offered before each online test; the online tests are remotely invigilated; AI must not be used for any online testing component; results may be considered for other suitable vacancies for up to six months; a positive drugs and alcohol test brings a 5-year suspension from applying for safety critical roles; some crossing keeper roles involve lone working at individual crossings, others are based in a signalling centre or rail operating centre.
Grade 2 Crossing Keeper - Ingatestone (job specification) — Network Rail (operations careers), checked 12 October 2026. A live Anglia Route advert: Grade 2, from £31,790; crossing keeper roles are aligned to signaller Grades 1 and 2; duties listed include monitoring crossing activity, closing and reopening crossings, operating barriers and warning systems, using CCTV, communicating with signallers, colleagues and the public, making safety-critical decisions, identifying faults, hazards or unsafe behaviours, following procedures and maintaining focus through the shift; a 60-minute commute limit “to help manage fatigue”; initial theoretical training followed by on-the-job practical training.
Any tips for Network Rail psychometric assessment, crossing keeper role — RailUK Forums (applicant discussion), checked 12 October 2026. June 2021 to January 2022. A Grade 2 crossing keeper applicant describes a “Risk & Safety behavioural questionnaire” answered on an agreement scale with no neutral option, and concentration and reaction tests. Signaller applicants (Grades 6 and 8) in the same thread list Risk & Safety Behavioural Questionnaire, Ability to Concentrate, Reaction Speed, Multi-tasking Capability and gridChallenge; one poster says practice examples come before each test, another that a fail normally means waiting six months to retake, and another that the tests differ by grade. Forum reports, not official information.

Frequently asked questions

What online tests do crossing keepers take?

Network Rail describes aptitude testing and behavioural questionnaires. A 2021 crossing keeper applicant reported a risk and safety questionnaire, a concentration test and a reaction test. Signaller applicants also reported multi-tasking and a memory grid. Check your invitation for your own list.

Can I practise the crossing keeper online tests?

Network Rail says you are offered practice questions before each test. This site adds independent practice for the exercises applicants describe, plus level crossing scenarios.

Is the risk and safety questionnaire pass or fail?

Network Rail does not publish how it is scored. Applicants describe agreement-scale statements. Answer honestly and consistently rather than trying to guess the ideal profile.

Are the crossing keeper tests the same as the signaller tests?

They overlapped in 2021 reports, but Network Rail now describes a separate recruitment journey for each role, and one applicant said tests vary by grade. Do not assume they are identical.

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