A career as a signaller

[DougSouthWest]

Hello,

Ive been invited to an interview at the assessment centre next week. I was wondering if anyone had any tips for the presentation.

 

[trainguy27]

Evening all. Off to my first day of pre ist training in Chester tomorrow. Does anyone have any idea if smart shorts and a collared casual shirt is acceptable dress code? Just wondering given it's 29c tomorrow!

 

[RailwayRookie]

I’d heard rumours a few years ago of a TCB->AB short course for conversions, but also that it was a flop. If I were to apply to the AB boxes, would they put me through a full AB IST? Is it even worth a LOMs time to do so, or would they likely go for someone off the street?

TIA

there is a conversion course.. I think it is currently a four week course. You definitely shouldn't need to do the full AB IST!

Just to add, I know someone that was in the same situation and rather than wait for the conversion they were put on a full AB IST (with their agreement) because doing the full 10 weeks still worked out quicker than waiting for and completing the next conversion.

To paraphrase them though, the benefit of knowing the rules in practice is balanced out by the weight of expectation to do very well on the assessments.

 

[Tram Inn SB]

Evening all. Off to my first day of pre ist training in Chester tomorrow. Does anyone have any idea if smart shorts and a collared casual shirt is acceptable dress code? Just wondering given it's 29c tomorrow!

On your first day id go lightweight smart trousers and a smart short sleeve shirt with shoes.

Your trainer will advise in relation to ongoing dress code, you’ll find out quickly that there are a lot of people who love to create problems over small things like appearance !

Once your on your location, anything goes !

 

[borte]

I applied originally for another location and passed online assesment and interview wasnt processed due to the distance. I applied for Wembley now which is close enough so just waiting for assesment day at the center to be given.

marcho how recent did u go throught the process?

I got my application moved to Wembley too & am still waiting to see if I'll be invited to the assessment centre. Have you heard back from them yet?

 

[Jovis]

No nothing at all besides last email where they stated they are working throughout the applications and apologise for taking so long.

 

[Fjord]

Hey all, I am over the moon. I managed to pass my assessment centre and have been placed in the talent pool.

Has anyone here been in the talent pool before and how long did you wait until the next steps?

Cheers

 

[Jovis]

Congratulations!! Best of luck to you and I don't know about the talent pools but I would say most likely depends on location London would probably be a bit longer than other cities.

 

[SimplyLovely]

Any current signallers know if there is a way to access the internal vacancy list from home? The share point link never loads when I’m at home but filling out applications on the work computer between trains isn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world!

Also a bit unfair as if you are on your fortnight off you could miss available opportunities because you aren’t at work to apply for them…

 

[ZackCulross]

Hey all, I am over the moon. I managed to pass my assessment centre and have been placed in the talent pool.

Has anyone here been in the talent pool before and how long did you wait until the next steps?

Cheers

I waited from march 2025 till late December 2025 before getting call for edinburgh

 

[nom de guerre]

Any current signallers know if there is a way to access the internal vacancy list from home? The share point link never loads when I’m at home but filling out applications on the work computer between trains isn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world!

Also a bit unfair as if you are on your fortnight off you could miss available opportunities because you aren’t at work to apply for them…

Try the tab midway down the right hand side of the MyConnect homepage (I’m off at the moment and my remote access is temporarily disabled awaiting an MFA reset, but from memory, it’s something like ‘A-Z of Tools’ or ‘I need to find…’).

I’m able to log in to eBus via there when accessing remotely.

 

[SimplyLovely]

Try the tab midway down the right hand side of the MyConnect homepage (I’m off at the moment and my remote access is temporarily disabled awaiting an MFA reset, but from memory, it’s something like ‘A-Z of Tools’ or ‘I need to find…’).

I’m able to log in to eBus via there when accessing remotely.

I had tried every link that I could find on MyConnect but kept getting errors, thankfully a very kind forum member sent me a link that works remotely so it is all sorted now!

Interestingly enough I did find an eBus support website that had multiple help requests that also mentioned they couldn't access it but nobody had replied to any of them.

 

[PringlePopper1]

Any current signallers know if there is a way to access the internal vacancy list from home? The share point link never loads when I’m at home but filling out applications on the work computer between trains isn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world!

Also a bit unfair as if you are on your fortnight off you could miss available opportunities because you aren’t at work to apply for them…

Login

Try the above

 

[PluralSpy]

Anyone else having issues contacting the recruitment team? I sat my AC 2 weeks ago yesterday and was told I would have heard back by the end of that week. I've not heard anything and my emails are going unanswered. The pace of comms was great up until I sat my AC!!

 

[marcho]

Hey all, I am over the moon. I managed to pass my assessment centre and have been placed in the talent pool.

Has anyone here been in the talent pool before and how long did you wait until the next steps?

Cheers

Congratulations! A massive achievement I had an assessment centre on the 24th April 2026 and got the talent pool email on the 5th May 2026. I then received a call on the 18th May 2026 offering a position starting at the end of June so my experience was very quick. I know others have had a longer wait so it does seem to vary. Fingers crossed it works out as quickly for you.

 

[trainguy27]

On your first day id go lightweight smart trousers and a smart short sleeve shirt with shoes.

Your trainer will advise in relation to ongoing dress code, you’ll find out quickly that there are a lot of people who love to create problems over small things like appearance !

Once your on your location, anything goes !

Thankfully for the info. Apologies I've only just picked this up. Went smart casual and they seem pretty chilled about what we wear so all good.

 

[Tram Inn SB]

Thankfully for the info. Apologies I've only just picked this up. Went smart casual and they seem pretty chilled about what we wear so all good.

Excellent, enjoy it.

 

[Andy9gc]

Dont know if this is the right place.

Is there any low traffic grade 9 locations. This would be locations that are grade 9 based on infrastructure/complexity rather than pure train service?

 

[farfromhome]

I have been offered a position with a start date end August but training school suggested to not start until mid September.

Any particular reason for this?
What would I effectively be doing for 2 weeks?

Am very excited though. Got medical to come up (date unknown) so get that out of the way first.

 

[RailwayRookie]

I have been offered a position with a start date end August but training school suggested to not start until mid September.

Any particular reason for this?
What would I effectively be doing for 2 weeks?

Am very excited though. Got medical to come up (date unknown) so get that out of the way first.

There will be some Pre-IST training to complete in that time, mostly generic corporate stuff like Fire safety, asbestos awareness, disability and inclusion etc etc.

You may get to visit some locations and meet colleagues but that varies hugely on how proactive your managers are.

It is possible to be given paper copies of the rule books in that time too and I strongly recommend (as do most here) that you don't try and get a head start on signal school as you will learn all you need to there and anything you try before could lead to you going in with a misinterpretation of the rules.


And of course, congratulations and good luck!

 

[MylesHSG]

Dont know if this is the right place.

Is there any low traffic grade 9 locations. This would be locations that are grade 9 based on infrastructure/complexity rather than pure train service?

I can't say for certain, but I doubt it. Grade 9 locations have high traffic and complex junctions/stations.

 

[Tram Inn SB]

Dont know if this is the right place.

Is there any low traffic grade 9 locations. This would be locations that are grade 9 based on infrastructure/complexity rather than pure train service?

There are many “link Grade 9s” where the actual Worksfation is say a 7 but the link it sits in is 9. Slough on the TVSC London link springs to mind.

The grading system is woefully outdated and in need for total overhaul, but cost and practicality will ensure it never happens.

 

[farfromhome]

I have been offered a position with a start date end August but training school suggested to not start until mid September.

Any particular reason for this?
What would I effectively be doing for 2 weeks?

Am very excited though. Got medical to come up (date unknown) so get that out of the way first.

Medical assessment today.
Think I passed. She said onboarding will be in touch.

 

[ZackCulross]

Medical assessment today.
Think I passed. She said onboarding will be in touch.

congratulations, have you been told where your training is yet ?

 

[CharlieHotel]

So I got a call from recruitment the other day to say I was successful at my assessment centre and I have been offered the job - YAY!!
I will be a G2 trainee. My location is Three Bridges but I don't believe there are any working signal boxes in Crawley. I wondered if anyone has any idea where I would be based? I have asked the Q but no response yet and I am baffled. I assume it would be based in the ASC but unsure as it says I would be in a signal box?

 

[Royal351]

So I got a call from recruitment the other day to say I was successful at my assessment centre and I have been offered the job - YAY!!
I will be a G2 trainee. My location is Three Bridges but I don't believe there are any working signal boxes in Crawley. I wondered if anyone has any idea where I would be based? I have asked the Q but no response yet and I am baffled. I assume it would be based in the ASC but unsure as it says I would be in a signal box?

You'll either be at the TBASC or TBROC which are signal boxes...just great big ones. But if you are at TBROC, then Welcome. Will have no idea what link you'll be one as you're more than likely a pool signaller. i.e you'll have to actually apply for a job at the ROC

 

[CharlieHotel]

You'll either be at the TBASC or TBROC which are signal boxes...just great big ones. But if you are at TBROC, then Welcome. Will have no idea what link you'll be one as you're more than likely a pool signaller. i.e you'll have to actually apply for a job at the ROC

Ahh thank you. Thats helpful.

 

[farfromhome]

congratulations, have you been told where your training is yet ?

Glasgow

 

[godfreycomplex]

I can't say for certain, but I doubt it. Grade 9 locations have high traffic and complex junctions/stations.

There are several “easier” 9s, but the comparison probably only stands for experienced signallers. Learning curve for grade 9s new to the signalling grade varies from “steep, but manageable” to “practically vertical”

 

[ZackCulross]

Glasgow

Nice I start on the 3rd of August with IST shettleston on 18th