Recent content by Stigy

It’s often written into local TOC/FOC policies about idling engines. GWR mandate that drivers should switch off engines where possible, if waits are over 10 minutes (as far as I recall). Caveats would include things like excess heat/cold temperatures requiring running engines. Local councils...

Yeah, I mean job security wise, it doesn’t get much more secure than with a TOC I guess. There’s pros and cons to everything, but from a TOC driver point of view, I suppose it would take a lot to warrant moving from the molly coddled culture we’ve come to know and love

It’s generally the same the other way around. At SWR if you come from freight you have to do 50 hrs handling, but if you came from another TOC it’s 25. 1789935071 I think GBRf have Freight Driver vacancies specific for qualified freight drivers, and some ads just say “train driver” (or Train...

A few years ago I recall FOCs actively seeking to recruit drivers from TOCs, but then it kind of all but disappeared overnight, and all FOCs then seemed to only recruit existing freight drivers for their qualified driver vacancies. I’ve noticed recently although FOCs don’t seem to specifically...

They generally don’t want new drivers chasing the test day working as they’re at their most vulnerable to incident as newly qualified drivers. A lot of new drivers see the salary jump from trainee to fully qualified and start hammering the overtime. It’s natural I guess.

It may have been up for a few hours before you saw it, then got taken down? This often happens to regulate applications. It may well be back up soon.

From my experience in interviewing (although not drivers), I’ve always had sight of the application packs for candidates. Recruitment should (in my opinion) just facilitate the assessments and interviews. With drivers it is probably a bit different in that there are far more applications to sift...

Yes, just go with the flow. The course is designed to cater for those with no prior operational railway knowledge.

The 6 months is just for SWR. As long as your psychometrics are current, fill your boots. Bear in mind psychometric assessments remain valid for between 1 and 5 years depending on TOC (usually 3 or 5 though). 1768858738 Sometimes it’s down to who was the best fit on the day. They may have...

I’d say it depends. This would be an offence of strict liability, meaning the prosecution only has to prove that it happened. Everything else is mitigation. The fact that a person has vomited, means that they have soiled the railway. It doesn’t have to be intentional. I’d like to think common...

It’s more than likely local instructions at play, as you say. For stations with no RA indicator, where I am I’d just crack on as long as the signal is clear.

I think they were just talking about a main aspect signal as far as contacting the signaller goes. Edit; I just saw the bit about the RA at the end so scrub that.

Some companies (southern being one), do the DMI before the MMI. There’s no set order it has to be done, just generally more logical to do all psychometrics before the DMI.

From my experience, there’s usually someone who is prepared to swap who doesn’t have kids, as it’s generally cheaper (and quieter!) to go away on holiday during term time. Re the shifts; No intention to come across patronising here, but there’s shifts, then there’s train crew shifts :D You...

Yes, assuming your pass their papersift. Although some companies insist on applicants retaking psychometric assessments, but these are few and far between.