Transfer from Swindon to Swansea

[Fran Davies]

Hi All, So glad I found this site it is jam-packed with helpful stuff and poeople seem (mostly) very supportive. Just to explain I currently work in Swindon where I care for my elderly Dad, My kids and hubbie live near Swansea. I drive to Swindon weekly to work as a Special Needs teacher. Last year I applied for trainee driver job as a driver friend encouraged me. I never imagined I would get through to Assessments but I have, in Swindon. My problem is the situation is changing, Dad may not last much longer, he's 90 and my kids have started secondary and refuse to move. Over the year since I have applied i have become more and more keen on the job, it ticks all my boxes, but I am worried about taking on a role in swindon and not being able to sustain it. Being away from my kids doesnt get any easier. What Im asking, in a long-winded way is would I be able to transfer to train in Swansea. Or would this put me out of the running? I dont want them to feel I'm a time-waster. I didnt know it would all take soooooo long!

 

[gazthomas]

It cannot do any harm to ask as you are clearly conscientious and motivated. Companies should be more sensitive to issues of work/life balance these days. If not with GWR then you may have opportunities with the new Wales & Borders franchise.

 

[Dieseldriver]

Swindon doesn't have a Train Crew depot. Your initial classroom training will last 4 months at wherever the training centre is (I would have thought Swindon or Reading) After that, you will spend around 9 months doing the rest of your training at your home depot. I'm confused by what you're asking.

 

[TraineeSam]

Not quite sure what you mean but there isn't a GWR driver depot at Swindon. The closest are Bristol and Reading. I'd recommend speaking with Recruitment as ultimately it's down to them. I don't think there are any vacancies at Swansea at the moment so you may end up back in a pool but that said you would have to go for another Depot Interview with that depot

 

[theking]

What depot is the job for? Also you should concentrate on passing the assessments first

 

[Fran Davies]

So I applied in Reading but Assessments are in Swindon so I assumed they'd put me there as I used my Dads address in Swindon, It seems to me it would be better for me and GWR to start in Wales but obviously i dont want to turn down a great opportunity if it comes up. I guess Im asking if it would be best to explain my situation before training. I tend to think its best to be completely honest but I really dont want to mess it up.

 

[Fran Davies]

Swindon doesn't have a Train Crew depot. Your initial classroom training will last 4 months at wherever the training centre is (I would have thought Swindon or Reading) After that, you will spend around 9 months doing the rest of your training at your home depot. I'm confused by what you're asking.

So am I now!

 

[Fran Davies]

What depot is the job for? Also you should concentrate on passing the assessments first

Dont worry I am, but I'm also applying for teaching jobs back in Wales, I hate letting people down. I'm just weighing up options really.

 

[Fran Davies]

I thought Swansea did have a depot. So to clarify I could only work for GWR from Reading, or Bristol?

 

[Fran Davies]

And is training 5 days/week?

 

[TraineeSam]

If you've been applying for Reading that will be the depot they're going put you in. On your application it probably would have asked you for a second and third preference. If you've done all the Depot Interviews you will be in the Reading talent pool and only for that depot. The next course is the 27 August which the first section is classroom based and strangely this is going to be held in Bristol vice Reading. Yes the classroom training is 5 days a week Monday to Friday. I'm starting my trainee course in August

 

[Fran Davies]

No I didnt get options for other preferences, I havent done the Assessments tests yet! So I better just get through that i think! how long is training?

 

[Fran Davies]

Thanks for the replies, folks

 

[theironroad]

No I didnt get options for other preferences, I havent done the Assessments tests yet! So I better just get through that i think! how long is training?

There's no harm in asking if you could transfer your application from reading to Swansea. However, I'd imagine vacancies are a lot more common from reading depot as it currently does metro work to Paddington. To confuse matters, reading depot will be affected when crossrail extends to reading.

Training is generally about a year, but a lot for that is based at your home depot rather than training centre.

Once a fully productive driver (driving on your own) it is usually possible at most companies to apply for an internal transfer after 3 years, but can be longer as a vacancy has to be available at the depot you want to move to.

Alternatively, if you had to start at reading to become a fully productive driver with gwr you could then apply for a job with ATW at a Welsh depot, but that is changing company and not always an option.

 

[tiptoptaff]

If you applied for Reading that's where you will be based after training. You will need to wait a minimum of two years after training before you can apply to transfer to Swansea and there's a long list of Welsh Bristol based drivers who want in. You will not be able to transfer your application to Swansea, as there are no live external vacancies and I'd be highly surprised if there were any to come up in the short to medium term.

 

[swanseabased]

I am a driver in Swansea and this would be my advice to you, keep your future plans to yourself, finish the training and then later on apply for a hardship move to Swansea, this is the only way you can make it into Swansea depot. Good luck

 

[Tom Quinne]

Sounds like you’ve applied for a job at Reading Thames Valley Depot, the chances of you getting a depot transfer from Reading to Swansea in under five years is pretty much zero I’m afraid.

Swansea is a sought after depot as it’s a “HSS” location, Reading is a “LTV” location, HSS has a higher salary, better conditions and much better work especially Swansea.

If I was you, I’d attempt to smash the assessment centre get that under your belt then wait for the new Wales & Bordera operator to recruit, get in at Cardiff then apply for a depot move to Carmarthen again a sought after depot from existing staff but probably quicker than a move from Reading to Swansea with GWR.

 

[irish_rail]

Once the separate driver grade starts from next month Reading drivers will be GWR drivers along with all other ex LTV and West drivers and will no longer be able to transfer to High speed depots so I would think carefully about joining the company if a move to Swansea is essential.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Once the separate driver grade starts from next month Reading drivers will be GWR drivers along with all other ex LTV and West drivers and will no longer be able to transfer to High speed depots so I would think carefully about joining the company if a move to Swansea is essential.

Two things:

1) It's not coming in next month. Don't event hink the ballot has been closed yet.

2) PTR moves will be allowed under GWR Driver conditions - current HSS will be ring fenced, but the depots will not be closed to transfers.

 

[theironroad]

Once the separate driver grade starts from next month Reading drivers will be GWR drivers along with all other ex LTV and West drivers and will no longer be able to transfer to High speed depots so I would think carefully about joining the company if a move to Swansea is essential.

Two things:

1) It's not coming in next month. Don't event hink the ballot has been closed yet.

2) PTR moves will be allowed under GWR Driver conditions - current HSS will be ring fenced, but the depots will not be closed to transfers.

So, reading and Swansea will both be gwr depots?

What is the new driver grade?

Only thing I can guess is this has something to do with crossrail and tupeing most gwr reading drivers to crossrail eventually.

 

[tiptoptaff]

So, reading and Swansea will both be gwr depots?

What is the new driver grade?

Only thing I can guess is this has something to do with crossrail and tupeing most gwr reading drivers to crossrail eventually.

1) Yes eventually.

2) Harmonised conditions combing LTV and West. Will encompass HSS when all of the ring-fenced HSS drivers leave, retire, or opt in to the new GWR Driver grade.

3) Absolutely nothing to do with Crossrail. There will not be some mass exodus from GWR to XR, some will be TUPEd I assume but there will still be a lot of ex-LTV work for GWR at RDG, OXD and PAD

 

[theironroad]

1) Yes eventually.

2) Harmonised conditions combing LTV and West. Will encompass HSS when all of the ring-fenced HSS drivers leave, retire, or opt in to the new GWR Driver grade.

3) Absolutely nothing to do with Crossrail.

Thanks.

So how many years has the LTV and west harmonisation taken?

Does this mean new HSS drivers are on inferior pay or t&c to the ring fenced ones?

All a bit ironic as there was a big article in a recent railnews paper that the gwr franchise was possibly too big and maybe should be sub divided....

 

[tiptoptaff]

Thanks.

So how many years has the LTV and west harmonisation taken?

Does this mean new HSS drivers are on inferior pay or t&c to the ring fenced ones?

All a bit ironic as there was a big article in a recent railnews paper that the gwr franchise was possibly too big and maybe should be sub divided....

1) Well, how many years in to the franchise are we....

2) Current HSS will retain current HSS Ts+Cs, new GWR Drivers and therefore HSS will have GWR Ts+Cs, which are broadly similar to current West/LTV currently with some changes. I've not yet read the full 140odd pages - all I know is it will only sightly alter the way I resource. AS to whether they are worse Ts+Cs is a matter of opinion. There will be pay parity between GWR Driver and HSS

3) I really don't think it'll happen. IT's not in the interests of the area as a whole.

 

[TraineeSam]

HSS drivers can opt in to becoming a "GWR Driver" but as with LTV and West they will have the vote on whether to replace their existing local agreements with this blanket one. It's an interesting read, especially with sections (as LTV here) where we are better off than West and then again West better off than LTV. Whether it'll get through DDC is something to see but my vote has been cast!

 

[Fran Davies]

Thanks All for your replies. Lots of food for thought. Most of it seems to be in a language unknown to me! More Acronyms than my current job, teaching! Anyway good news is I passed the first stage of assessments so Im going to keep going. Kids will probably be grown up before I actually start anyway!

 

[Emily Jane]

Hi All, So glad I found this site it is jam-packed with helpful stuff and poeople seem (mostly) very supportive. Just to explain I currently work in Swindon where I care for my elderly Dad, My kids and hubbie live near Swansea. I drive to Swindon weekly to work as a Special Needs teacher. Last year I applied for trainee driver job as a driver friend encouraged me. I never imagined I would get through to Assessments but I have, in Swindon. My problem is the situation is changing, Dad may not last much longer, he's 90 and my kids have started secondary and refuse to move. Over the year since I have applied i have become more and more keen on the job, it ticks all my boxes, but I am worried about taking on a role in swindon and not being able to sustain it. Being away from my kids doesnt get any easier. What Im asking, in a long-winded way is would I be able to transfer to train in Swansea. Or would this put me out of the running? I dont want them to feel I'm a time-waster. I didnt know it would all take soooooo long!

I had an assessment day for Customer host in August passed got invited to a final interview which was cancelled at the last minute due to staff requirement changes at Swansea, there are no vacancies for hosts or drivers at Swansea now, I have no idea when my interview will be

 

[tiptoptaff]

I had an assessment day for Customer host in August passed got invited to a final interview which was cancelled at the last minute due to staff requirement changes at Swansea, there are no vacancies for hosts or drivers at Swansea now, I have no idea when my interview will be

Drivers are all but a closed shop at Swansea, filled with qualified internals on a PTR move and some internal trainees.

Customer Hosts conversely have a high turnover, so there will be vacancies before too long.