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A career as a signaller
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RailUK Forums
CodysWorld
New Member
Hey folks
Currently been a signaller for nearly a year, and im about to potentially make a move from outskirts of London to Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Would appreciate it if someone could help with the following:
Any advice or knowledge on what the future holds with the GBR transition?
Is Glasgow/Edinburgh a tough location to be a signaller, with many problems that arise due to infrastructure?
Many thanks
Currently been a signaller for nearly a year, and im about to potentially make a move from outskirts of London to Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Would appreciate it if someone could help with the following:
Any advice or knowledge on what the future holds with the GBR transition?
Is Glasgow/Edinburgh a tough location to be a signaller, with many problems that arise due to infrastructure?
Many thanks
godfreycomplex
Established Member
- Joined
- 23 Jun 2016
- Messages
- 1,751
Haven’t the foggiest but signalling as a job is here to stay
Not infrastructure problems as such (no better or worse than anywhere else really), but most failures in Scotland are due, in one form or another, to the climate crisis and resultant weather. So expect to deal with quite a few of those kind of things, particularly in the autumn/winter. Other than that standard urban signalling stuff.
How does this work in terms of getting employed and paid?
Did you get employed in July or does that not happen until February?
No news is good news! First to hear back are usually the unsuccessful applicants.
Similar situation here, is it worth shooting them an email and asking if there is any alternative assesment centers (like what happend to you) or opportunities or will I just have to wait for one to come up and they will let me know.
Thanks.
Hi,
Not until February, it's s long process( medicals etc) after a successful job offer, but looking forward to an exciting new challenge
JHSM
Member
Hello everyone. I have applied for post in Hastings and waiting to hear regarding assessment centre. If I am lucky enough to get the post, am I right in thinking that I could never work in another box? I live 40 minutes from Hastings but apart from that, I don't think there are any other boxes within my 50 minute commute. I live in Eastbourne so Three Bridges for example is 60 minutes or more away. Three Bridges ROC seems to control most of my part of sussex. I would actually re-locate for the right position but I don't think they allow that. Thanks in advance.
I can tell you at TBROC there are multiple people that come from Eastbourne, Polegate, Seaford area.
JHSM
Member
Oh that's good to hear. Many thanks
Sunset route
Established Member
- Joined
- 27 Oct 2015
- Messages
- 1,223
And the same goes for TBASC next door with many staff travelling from points from Hastings, Bognor Regis along the coast as well as North Kent and beyond although many of them got jobs before NR got stricter on travel distance.
Hello everyone,
I currently work in a station control room and I’m hoping to progress into a signalling role. I live in London, but at the moment there aren’t any suitable vacancies close to where I’m based. I’m unsure how strict the distance or travel-time requirements are for signaller roles.
For example, there is currently a Basingstoke opportunity and it is saying 1hr and 10 minutes travelling time for me, would this mean that i am not suitable for the role and would have to wait for something closer? Relocating isn’t an option for me right now, otherwise I would have explored that route, so I’m hoping for something within or near London—but I’m not sure how likely that is.
I currently work in a station control room and I’m hoping to progress into a signalling role. I live in London, but at the moment there aren’t any suitable vacancies close to where I’m based. I’m unsure how strict the distance or travel-time requirements are for signaller roles.
For example, there is currently a Basingstoke opportunity and it is saying 1hr and 10 minutes travelling time for me, would this mean that i am not suitable for the role and would have to wait for something closer? Relocating isn’t an option for me right now, otherwise I would have explored that route, so I’m hoping for something within or near London—but I’m not sure how likely that is.
railman675
New Member
Hey everyone, after being a long time lurker on this forum, i have a query. I have been told that i have completed all my pre employment checks with NR and will be contacted to arrange a start date. This was told to me on the 28/11/2025. Any idea how long it will take for a start date to be given? Many thanks
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SR01
New Member
Just got the same email and also curious
JHSM
Member
Hi there. I just got the same email, for the Hastings position. Also wondering the same.
SR01
New Member
Hey. Same position for me
High Dyke
Established Member
Difficult to say. It may depend on local opportunities. It may be a few weeks, or a few months. Keep an eye on further communication from the recruitment team or manager.
mhurrell95
New Member
First time applicant here, I’ve been waiting over a month to see if I’ve made a slot on the assessment day after passing all the online tests, is this kind of timeline normal?
CarryOnThrough
Member
Congratulations!
It was a similar process for me. Applied in July, had my interview and was offered the job in November. I was meant to start signalling school in January the following year, then it kept getting postponed and postponed until I finally started my employment early September and started signalling school in October. It took so long my medical expired and I needed a new one.
Also went to Preston! The Holiday Inn is pretty decent, they let us use their conference rooms in the evenings for revision and the staff were lovely. Living in a hotel and eating hotel food for ten weeks does become monotonous though. I found signalling school tough but if you go through your notes each evening and make good use of your time on the simulator and you'll be fine.
motherwell1980
Member
Where you put in talent pool at any stage?
Very much so, I believe railway recruiting can take a while in general. I was not shortlisted for an assessment day, but heard about that decision almost an exact month after being told I was being progressed to the assessment centre stage.
carwyn006
Member
Did you get any updates during that month of waiting?
rollerball
New Member
Can someone confirm if a CV is required for a signaller application? As far as I can see it’s an online application, but wasn’t sure if the CV needs uploading there, as I need to update mine if so. Thanks in advance.
I got a few emails about 'we are still working on it', but that was about it, from what I can remember. The wait is the most dreadful part
I didn’t need one for my G6 application
rjb2025
Member
Hi all
Quick question why can’t you have your method of transport as a motobike and it has got to be a car ? I live 2.7 miles from my location. I have got all the way 3 times now and since obtained my license for a motorbike to get from A + B (car next )
Yet they can’t offer me the role as they said it can only be a driving licence? I can get to work a lot quicker on my bike only 12 mins from my home address to the location. I’m so confused why I’ve been refused and a motorbike isn’t acceptable?
Anybody who works in this industry know there reasoning as I’ve not been told why
thanks
Quick question why can’t you have your method of transport as a motobike and it has got to be a car ? I live 2.7 miles from my location. I have got all the way 3 times now and since obtained my license for a motorbike to get from A + B (car next )
Yet they can’t offer me the role as they said it can only be a driving licence? I can get to work a lot quicker on my bike only 12 mins from my home address to the location. I’m so confused why I’ve been refused and a motorbike isn’t acceptable?
Anybody who works in this industry know there reasoning as I’ve not been told why
thanks
Free day worked on a Christmat?Boxing day attracts one of the following if in England and Wales.
3.25 times Basic Rate - No Lieu Day
2.25 times basic rate - Plus comp day in lieu
So say for a Grade 5 doing a 12 hour day turn its going to be either £971.49 or £672.57 and a day in lieu.
Bear in mind if it is a night it will be slightly less because the enhancement is only paid on the part of the shift that is Boxing day.
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