Have i missed something here? but are the vast majority of ATW Drivers in the RMT?
I would have thought that a large majority would be in ASLEF, in which case any action by RMT Drivers would have little effect as any ASLEF Driver striking in sympathy would be heading to the Jobcentre for his next trip.
Also, over previous pages there seems to have been a fair bit of sniping at "Overpaid" Drivers, some of it from other traincrew.
Whilst i agree that bus and coach drivers, and indeed everyone, should be paid a fair salary, you cannot compare driving a train to driving a bus, it's a totally different skill. Yes, bus drivers are responsible for the lives of people, and i do not belittle the job in any way. I know that there is a bit more to it than driving a car. One has to have better spacial awareness when making turns for instance.
A train driver is paid for his/her knowledge. They must know the rule book, and know exactly what, sometimes very extensive, procedures must be taken in many different instances, under many different types of working, degraded working, signalling systems etc. In addition he must also know his own, TOC specific instructions for the above, and there could potentially be hundreds of different variations and situations a Driver could encounter, each requiring the correct action. Any mistake could well result in disciplinary action, or worse. In addition, the Driver must also know the routes he drives over, and when i say "know", i mean it. He must know the locations of all signals, what routes he is permitted to take from those signals, which signalbox controls the signals and the block system in use. He must know the locations of all stations and how many coaches each platform may hold, which platforms are permissive and which are not. He must know the speeds he is permitted to travel at along the whole route, including fast and slow lines,through all junctions, and for whatever type of train he is driving, and indeed what traction is permitted over a route and what is not. Total route knowledge may extend to thousands of track miles, of which he must know by day and night, in clear weather and in thick fog - it is rare that we have the luxury of being able to reduce our speed when it's foggy! We must also know the traction we drive over these routes, sometimes many different types, and they all have differences, even within the same class. We have to know how they handle, braking characteristics, in different weather situations and at different times of year. we must also know what has potentially caused a fault or failure, whether it can be repaired by ourselves or whether it needs more specialist attention, and whether the train, or part of the train, is permitted to continue in service with a certain fault.
There is a whole lot more but i am getting bored with typing now. Remember that we are assessed on all the above knowledge every two years to maintain our competancy. In addition we are subject to random monitoring which normally consists of a given number of OTMR downloads, and rides out with a manager, every year. Any shortfall in knowledge or competancy will be picked up very swiftly. There is no blagging it.
I don't think i'm overpaid. I think i'm fairly paid. If anyone resents my salary then my advice is that there is nothing stopping you applying to be a Driver.
, I stand by what I believe in, always have always will. Now if I inconvenience some members of this forum by doing so...so be it
