Zainab Ali
2026 Saltire Scholar
Glasgow Maintenance Delivery Unit Intern, Network Rail
Forensic Investigation, Glasgow Caledonian University
More Than an Internship: Finding My Direction at Network Rail
My name is Zainab Ali, and I recently graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University with a BSc (Hons) in Forensic Investigation. I applied to the Saltire Scholars Programme because I wanted to challenge myself, build upon the skills I had developed through my degree and gain meaningful experience that could help shape my future. I hoped to learn from experienced professionals, contribute meaningfully and gain a clearer sense of where I wanted my career to go. What I did not expect was to discover that future somewhere I had never discovered.
I spent ten weeks with Network Rail at the Glasgow Maintenance Delivery Unit in Cowlairs, with experience across the Maintenance Delivery Unit (MDU) and West of Scotland Signalling Centre (WSSC). My primary focus during my internship was a shipping container rationalisation project, which involved engaging with different stakeholders, reviewing information, and ensuring documentation was accurate and up to date. The aim was to assess and rationalise shipping containers across the depot, improving their management and visibility while supporting safety, operational efficiency, and effective asset management. The project required communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and attention to detail, particularly when identifying gaps in information and working with different teams to establish an accurate picture of the assets. Being able to contribute to a project with a practical operational purpose showed me how seemingly small improvements in asset management can have a wider impact on how efficiently and safely a site operates.
Alongside my project work, I had the opportunity to shadow and learn from teams including Signalling and Telecoms, Track Maintenance, Off-Track Maintenance, Systems Support, Performance, Operations and many more. I supported ongoing work involving data and asset management, stakeholder engagement and project support, while attending daily briefings, PDRs, Control Room meetings and Track and Points Reliability meetings. I also shadowed a few late-night shifts, giving me a greater appreciation of the planning, communication and commitment required to keep the railway operating safely around the clock.
Another experience I particularly enjoyed was supporting an ongoing Track Geometry project, where I used live imagery software to measure railway assets. Having never used this software before, I had to learn quickly while maintaining a high level of accuracy. The team was managing a busy workload, so being able to provide additional support while developing a new skill myself was particularly rewarding. It reinforced the importance of being adaptable and willing to take on unfamiliar challenges.
Although my degree is in Forensic Investigation, I discovered that many of the skills I had developed were highly transferable. Analytical thinking, accurate data handling, reporting, organisation and problem solving all had a place within Network Rail. At the same time, I was introduced to entirely new areas, including Power BI, AIVR software, and operational performance. More importantly, the experience changed how I view my career. I have realised that a degree does not have to dictate your destination. It can provide the foundation from which you explore opportunities you never expected to pursue.
What I will remember most, however, is the people. Cowlairs became much more than somewhere I went to work. It genuinely felt like a second home. I built relationships with colleagues across different teams and often stayed after hours to play pool and continue conversations, so the hours felt like minutes. Those moments became some of my favourite memories because they allowed me to network and connect with people beyond their roles and understand the community behind the organisation.
For me, this was also a significant personal journey. I have always been naturally shy, yet I found myself approaching people I had never met, contributing to meetings, and becoming increasingly confident in expressing my ideas. Being told by colleagues that I was the right fit for the team and that my friendliness and strong enthusiasm had made a positive impression meant a great deal to me. It showed me how much I had grown in such a short period of time.
The greatest surprise was realising where that growth had led me. If you had asked me a year ago whether I expected to pursue a career in the railway industry, Network Rail would not have been my answer. Today, my career direction is heading somewhere very different, and I can see myself building a future with Network Rail. Cowlairs has given me experiences, relationships, and memories I will carry with me, and I would be incredibly proud to return. Perhaps our paths will cross again.
To anyone considering the Saltire Scholars Programme, I would say do not wait until you have everything figured out before saying yes to an opportunity. I certainly did not have my future mapped out when I started this internship, and that was precisely what made the experience so valuable. Be curious about the people around you, be willing to learn from every opportunity and do not underestimate what you can contribute simply because you are an intern. Most importantly, allow yourself to be surprised. The career you eventually find may not be the one you planned for, and that does not mean you have taken a wrong turn. Sometimes, it means you have found a better direction.
Being a Saltire Scholar has taught me that opportunities are not always about finding the answer to what comes next. Sometimes, they are about discovering the questions you had never thought to ask. I began this internship with an open mind and leave with a clearer sense of purpose, greater confidence, and a future I am genuinely excited about. For that, I will always be grateful.
