Sorry to hear about your mmi. I failed the MMI for Scotrail two years ago and still not over it. Thought I did enough for a pass but no.
Hey. How did you get on?
I failed. Absolutely gutted is an understatement!! Any hints or tips you could message me about the tests what you did?
I just messaged u lol
They’re separate companies now so I don’t think it’s as easy to move between HH and IM as it once was.
I think the lodging is work and depot dependant. I was never away all week on HH, only ever did a couple of lodging turns. Certainly more weekends so it depends on your home life as to if it suits or doesn’t bother you, but there’s plenty of rest day work so you can earn good money. As mentioned, plenty of drivers liked being sat on T3’s being paid to have a nap, watch a film or eat. IM will work more trains over HH, and the basic pay is around £5K less.
Have you applied for the recent HH at Mendip?
No, you don’t necessarily lodge on T3’s, it just depends where the job is, which depot can or can’t cover it etc. like I said, I’ve only lodged twice in 4yrs, others more, some never. T3 work can be every night, again it depends on NR requirements. You can work a T3 even if you don’t sign the route, by doing a site brief. You just can’t drive on or off the job.
Do you work for HH?
I used to.
Ok cool who you work for now?
As long as all of your test results meet FL standards, there’s no reason why you couldn’t go straight to it. Also, if your actual application is what they’re looking for too! Is it a trainee position at Landor Street?
Thanks for thatHH Driver here, one of nine at our depot, at the moment we're doing a lot more 'running jobs' than T3 work although the latter is kicking in a bit more recently. Our regular work consist of aggregates jobs on the southern halves of the West Coast and Midland Mainlines, the furthest north we go being Crewe and Toton and the furthest south being Battersea at Stewarts Lane, with additional regular work all round the West Mids and down the GW route from Brum to Oxford but I. Some of us also sign from Brum down to Gloucester, and a few also sign Willesden to Thurrock and Leicester to Peterborough which keeps things interesting. As for the shifts, I'm used to it now (I started as a Traction Trainee / Secondman at 17 in January '83) and adjust my sleep patterns accordingly, luckily I have a very understanding partner who comes from a railway family which helps. Everyone reacts differently to this aspect of the job and most find a way to make it work.
The recent split from IM doesn't feel any different in real terms, the work is still there and each week our roster clerk asks if we're available for RDs the following week, I do a few here and there to help out when it suits, everyone else at the depot does the same too so it all balances out quite nicely. For quite a while we also covering IM jobs at Crewe and Lawley Street which I always liked. We have a nice regular job moving HS2 spoil out of London which helps keep the depot going. The 'hardest' part..? Trudging along the ballast on a T3 in the pouring rain at daft o'clock on a Winter's night, or waiting for a taxi to arrive in the middle of nowhere. For a small depot the work is surprisingly varied because of our location and our collective route knowledge is fairly extensive. Even now I still have moments where I'll be gliding along at 60mph enjoying the view and remember I'm being paid a hefty lump for the pleasure - my younger brother is a Driver with XC on more money at Bristol and has far more hassle in his working day than I do.
Hope that helps
Thats brilliant thanks for that. Are u based in bham? Or south West? Are they long shifts? Do u pack well for food n drink whilst out and about?HH Driver here, one of nine at our depot, at the moment we're doing a lot more 'running jobs' than T3 work although the latter is kicking in a bit more recently. Our regular work consist of aggregates jobs on the southern halves of the West Coast and Midland Mainlines, the furthest north we go being Crewe and Toton and the furthest south being Battersea at Stewarts Lane, with additional regular work all round the West Mids and down the GW route from Brum to Oxford but I. Some of us also sign from Brum down to Gloucester, and a few also sign Willesden to Thurrock and Leicester to Peterborough which keeps things interesting. As for the shifts, I'm used to it now (I started as a Traction Trainee / Secondman at 17 in January '83) and adjust my sleep patterns accordingly, luckily I have a very understanding partner who comes from a railway family which helps. Everyone reacts differently to this aspect of the job and most find a way to make it work.
The recent split from IM doesn't feel any different in real terms, the work is still there and each week our roster clerk asks if we're available for RDs the following week, I do a few here and there to help out when it suits, everyone else at the depot does the same too so it all balances out quite nicely. For quite a while we also covering IM jobs at Crewe and Lawley Street which I always liked. We have a nice regular job moving HS2 spoil out of London which helps keep the depot going. The 'hardest' part..? Trudging along the ballast on a T3 in the pouring rain at daft o'clock on a Winter's night, or waiting for a taxi to arrive in the middle of nowhere. For a small depot the work is surprisingly varied because of our location and our collective route knowledge is fairly extensive. Even now I still have moments where I'll be gliding along at 60mph enjoying the view and remember I'm being paid a hefty lump for the pleasure - my younger brother is a Driver with XC on more money at Bristol and has far more hassle in his working day than I do.
Hope that helps