driver depos in or around reading?

[lurker]

Hi, this is a two part query.

I'm looking for any information about driver depos in or near reading. (Any direction.)

I know that cross country and FGW operate out of reading. Are the other operators in and around reading? maybe oxford, Banbury, Basingstoke, slough? Anything in that area?

Do southern or southwest have any kind of base near reading?

Also, do you know how long any of these companies require a driver to be fully qualified before they will consider them as a recruit?

 

[A-driver]

FGW have a fairly large depot at reading. They very often recruit trainee drivers for reading, check the first group careers website.

As for qualifides, no real rule how long you need to have a key for. First group have taken on qualified drivers with as little as 9 months productive.

Oxford also has a FGW depot, often recruited for. Not sure about Basingstoke, Woking may have a depot though.

 

[CatfordCat]

SWT have recently advertised for guards at Staines and Farnham - presume drivers are based there as well. In the guards' adverts, they required potential candidates to live within 45 minutes' travel time of their location.

Staines may be classed as a 'stabling point' rather than a proper depot - it's open sidings with minimal facilities.

The former SR emu depot at Reading closed (from memory) in the early 90s although it was largely visible until a few years ago.

 

[Pumbaa]

Staines is a full depot. Also, Basingstoke, Woking, Guildford for SWT. They are currently looking for trainee drivers and guards.

 

[455driver]

SWT have recently advertised for guards at Staines and Farnham - presume drivers are based there as well. In the guards' adverts, they required potential candidates to live within 45 minutes' travel time of their location.

Staines may be classed as a 'stabling point' rather than a proper depot - it's open sidings with minimal facilities.

The former SR emu depot at Reading closed (from memory) in the early 90s although it was largely visible until a few years ago.

SWT have traincrew depots around that area at Staines, Farnham, Woking, Basingstoke, Strawberry Hill (Twickenham) and Guildford.

 

[tlionhart]

SWT have traincrew depots around that area at Staines, Farnham, Woking, Basingstoke, Strawberry Hill (Twickenham) and Guildford.

And Wimbledon!

 

[A-driver]

Staines may be classed as a 'stabling point' rather than a proper depot - it's open sidings with minimal facilities.

The former SR emu depot at Reading closed (from memory) in the early 90s although it was largely visible until a few years ago.

Think you are confusing the meaning of the word 'depot'. Driver/train crew depots are different to rolling stock depots. Train crew arnt always based at rolling stock depots or sidings. Look at the GN route, no crew based at Hornsey, Welwyn, Letchworth or Hertford where there are sidings and depots for trains but train crew based at Hitchin & kings cross where there are no sidings (well except a 1 road yard at Hitchin).

 

[455driver]

And Wimbledon!

I was just mentioning the quality depots!

 

[JB25]

Staines is a full depot. Also, Basingstoke, Woking, Guildford for SWT. They are currently looking for trainee drivers and guards.

Are they? I looked on SWTs website for a friend earlier and I didn't see anything for drivers. hock:

 

[Pumbaa]

Are they? I looked on SWTs website for a friend earlier and I didn't see anything for drivers. hock:

Yes. Drop recruitment a line. Still filling courses for both grades for the foreseeable future.

 

[455driver]

A lot of trainee drivers jobs are going to guards though!
Best bet is to join as a non commercial guard at Staines, Strawberry Hill, Woking or Guildford (okay and Wimbledon if you must ) and then go for driving in the future.

 

[lurker]

Hi, to clarify. What Im looking for are companies that have train drivers working out of stations. Such as FGW and Xcontry both have a driver base in reading.

Who else is based locally and how long do you need to be qualified before they will show nay interest in you as a driver?

Are any drivers based at Didcott? Anything near around reading is of interest to me. Chiltern maybe?

Many thanks.

 

[A-driver]

Hi, to clarify. What Im looking for are companies that have train drivers working out of stations. Such as FGW and Xcontry both have a driver base in reading.



Who else is based locally and how long do you need to be qualified before they will show nay interest in you as a driver?



Are any drivers based at Didcott? Anything near around reading is of interest to me. Chiltern maybe?



Many thanks.

I don't understand, are you currently a qualified driver.. You seem very confused about driver depots...what difference does it make if they are based at a station or a siding? Pretty much all driver depots are a short walk from a station if not directly in the buildings themselves...

If not qualified then why does it make a difference how long you need to have driving? And I have already posted here that FGW will take qualifieds on with minimum experience.

Your posts seem very confused about what you are asking for, almost like you don't understand what a driver depot actually is...

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Hi, to clarify. What Im looking for are companies that have train drivers working out of stations. Such as FGW and Xcontry both have a driver base in reading.

Who else is based locally and how long do you need to be qualified before they will show nay interest in you as a driver?

Are any drivers based at Didcott? Anything near around reading is of interest to me. Chiltern maybe?

Many thanks.

XC only have guards at Reading I think. The nearest drivers are at Bournemouth and Birmingham. Chiltern have drivers depots at Banbury and Aylesbury and of course, there are more drivers depots than you can shake a stick at in Zone 1 of London.

Most companies will at least keep your details on file if you are a qualified driver with a clean record, if you not qualified then it's worth mentioning that competition for jobs is fierce, there are usually several hundred applications for every vacancy when the job of trainee train driver is advertised externally. This forum is as good a place as any to keep tabs on where the vacancies are.