CR TM

Hi CR TM,

Congratulations on getting the job as Train Manager - Well done mate brilliant success

I understand that station staff do get time and half for working Sundays but I'm not sure if that apples for on board staff. Rotas also change so some weeks you do more days but you always get a long weekend each month.

I have my interview for the same role next week and wondered if you could offer any tips for the day?

* Do TMs get any commission on sales made on board the train?

I don't know. There used to be a commission system in place but I don't think there is any longer. TM's are also expected to penalty fare if necessary so I'm not sure they'd want to encourage selling of tickets on the train.

* Are there any pros/cons of working for Chiltern? I have heard some really good feedback about them in general but would like to hear from people directly working for them.

Anything you've hear is probably true. Our HR is rubbish (but which HR isn't?) but we're a small company so you get a good relationships with your colleagues. We try to aim high but on a shoestring budget which has some...not good results but for such a little TOC we've done a lot in our franchise. Everyone complains but our T&Cs are so good nobody really wants to leave. The positions came up mostly because some TMs have become train drivers.

* I understand, with some TOCs, you get incentives for working on RDs, Sundays, Public holidays, with time and half pay, double etc. Is it the same case with Chiltern too? If so, what is the incentive?

Yes we do. I think the incentive changes depending on the day. I get time and a half on Sundays and rest days but I think time and 3/4 on bank holidays. There's also an incentive for working Boxing day but I don't think TMs are used because every year so far it's been MYB - BCS and return. There's also an enhanced rate for the anti social hours you work, I don't know what the enhancement is (7% I think) or when it applies but my earliest shift is 7am start and my latest is 9.30 pm finish so I guess I get it on the first and last hours?

* Can employees swap shifts among themselves, provided we don't contravene the 12 hr rule or does one have to follow the roster as it is?

Yes, we're a pretty easy going company. How easy it is and how willing your fellow TMs will be to swap, I don't know. All I know is we get amendments to the TM roster for the week about 3 times a day XD. Also we have cases where TMs will swap services mid shift, it's very important to call control and let us know when you do that.

* What's the longest diagram a TM is expected to do? 12 hr shift?

I think like the driver's the max is 12 but the diagrams seem to be a max of 10. I'll check today though because I know the Stourbridge guards PM turns are basically - pass to Birmingham, work a train to Marylebone 1 hour 30 min PNB then work a train back to Kidderminster then pass to Stourbridge. To me that always seemed like a long day but I could be wrong about that! (I'll check)

I'm not a TM but I work in Chiltern Railways' control centre.

* What's the current roster like? Is it a sort of 5 on, 2 off or does it vary? I understand that I will be doing an average of 35 hrs week, but does one get rest days consecutively i.e. work 4 days, get 2 off, or is it more like you get a rest here and there. How long in advance does one know what shift they are doing?

Most rosters work so approx. every 4 weeks you get a long weekend (usually thurs-tues off) with other rest days here and there. I get the feeling it changes depot to depot because of the different numbers of staff there. Like it does with our drivers.