HGV driver considering a career change

[Redrum]

Hello Railforums, I've just signed up and for those of you interested I'm currently a Class 1 HGV driver considering a career change. The possibility of driving a train seems really attractive to me (and undoubtedly thousands of others). I feel like a lot of skills and the experience I use in my current work are quite relevant and I also have experience working the sort of hours I've read are required on the trains.

I currently can't find any driving jobs advertised within the required radius of of my home but there are however trainee conductor jobs advertised which I think would suit me as well as getting a foot in the door and some insight. If I were to successfully apply for a trainee senior conductor position would this work in my favour should a trainee driving job pop up? Or would I be better off just waiting until a trainee driving job position opens up and apply for that?

Thanks in advance

 

[mac]

I left HGV driving to become a signaller best thing I have done, maybe its also something for you to consider.

 

[CatchMeIfUCan]

I left HGV driving to become a signaller best thing I have done, maybe its also something for you to consider.

May I ask for which company do you work for and is HGV driving relevant experience as a signaller?

 

[mac]

May I ask for which company do you work for and is HGV driving relevant experience as a signaller?

There is only one company for signalling Network Rail, a few skills from driving transfer to signalling but they give you all the training needed

 

[Redrum]

The only position I can see close enough to me is is Trainee Senior Conductor, to be honest it's a Trainee Driver position I'd really like to go for but there aren't any right now. Would becoming a Conductor give me an edge/advantage over other applicants should a trainee driver position open up?

 

[Stuart-h]

im an ex hgv 1 as well. I haven't gone down the conductor route but I work on the track instead. Something else to consider.

 

[baz962]

The only position I can see close enough to me is is Trainee Senior Conductor, to be honest it's a Trainee Driver position I'd really like to go for but there aren't any right now. Would becoming a Conductor give me an edge/advantage over other applicants should a trainee driver position open up?

What area do you live.

 

[Redrum]

What area do you live.

The trainee conductor position is in Shrewsbury. I'm based in Telford myself.

 

[baz962]

Ok mate, I don't know of any up that way at the moment. You should go to the career site's of the toc's and then bookmark them and check every few day's, if not daily. Also usually they get posted on here.

 

[RSTurbo50]

I’m a bus driver and I too am looking to get into the Rail Industry. £10.45 an hour with the shifts we work isn’t brilliant plus we don’t get any increase in pay for bank holiday or weekend work. My focus is to put as much effort as possible into a trainee role..

 

[CatchMeIfUCan]

I’m a bus driver and I too am looking to get into the Rail Industry. £10.45 an hour with the shifts we work isn’t brilliant plus we don’t get any increase in pay for bank holiday or weekend work. My focus is to put as much effort as possible into a trainee role..

What area are you based?

Plenty of bus drivers get into train driving. I have bus driving experience but still yet to secure a train driving position. Still waiting on a few TOC’s.

 

[RSTurbo50]

What area are you based?

Plenty of bus drivers get into train driving. I have bus driving experience but still yet to secure a train driving position. Still waiting on a few TOC’s.

I’m based in Warrington, Cheshire. Iv applied for positions but the maths questions I really struggle with. Especially those with graphs, ratios etc etc. To be honest I need to purchase some rest material so I can practise..

 

[Class2ldn]

Train driving assessments don't include maths tests. They are psychometric based.

 

[RSTurbo50]

Train driving assessments don't include maths tests. They are psychometric based.

Sorry I mean the Trainee conductor roles have involved various mathematical reasoning tests. Do the train driver roles differ in regards to the type of testing?

 

[red2005]

Getting into the conductor grade first is a great move! I did it myself and I made it to driver afterwards. Yes you have to apply the same as anyone else but getting through things like paper sifts and interviews it’s very advantageous having done it before.

Definitely the way to go if there’s no driver roles nearby.

 

[Redrum]

Getting into the conductor grade first is a great move! I did it myself and I made it to driver afterwards. Yes you have to apply the same as anyone else but getting through things like paper sifts and interviews it’s very advantageous having done it before.

Definitely the way to go if there’s no driver roles nearby.

Thank-you for all the replies and especially to red2005. This is the response I was hoping for when I'd originally asked the question.

 

[red2005]

Thank-you for all the replies and especially to red2005. This is the response I was hoping for when I'd originally asked the question.

I wish you the very best of luck mate! I can’t be much help with the guard assessments as they’ve probably changed multiple times since I took mine but any help you need with anything else feel free to drop me a message. I’m sure there’s loads on here that will help too!

All the best mate

Red

 

[Azzypaul]

Hi red rum . I’m a lorry driver and have applied for southeastern train driver . Have past the sith . Just waiting for assessment day . Go for it mate