TristanGNER

If you keep your nose clean and your sickness/absence record is good and your rules results are consistently excellent then there's a good chance that you can move through the ranks quite quickly. But that all depends on what direction you want to take. There are CTM (Conductor Team Managers roles) but they don't come up that often really. Drivers' comes up now and again and so that's always going to be an option.
I suppose it all depends on what direction you want your career to go. Focus and you'll get there quite quickly. Hardest part is getting your first foot through the door.
Hope that helps
T

Thanks Tristan much appreciated. Another question for you lol is there good chances in internally of getting promotion or moving into other better paid roles quite quickly if I wanted to progress or change roles etc? is it hard to get promotions in this industry?

all the best, stay in touch mate

Paul

Route Learning. A customer approaches you at Station A and asks you where the toilets are and you will have to know exactly where they are and how to direct your customer from that point, When you've done that you're on your way. You will go through Alpha Tunnel and then you'll pass Beta Bridge and then Charlie Junction before you arrive at Station B where a customer has fallen onto the track, you have to know where (at that station) you'd find the Emergency Phone to contact the signaller to stop traffic.

Rules. A group of rowdy football lads get on your train at night and their team have lost! They're in a horrible mood and they're starting to throw objects at other passengers. What should you do? The answer to this is: keep yourself safe, separate the other customers (into another carriage if possible) to keep them safe and then judge the situation to see if you're going to require assistance from BTP at your next station.

Hope that's clear

Tristan

That's great news mate, well done, congratulations and good luck with it. Monday is looming for me looking forward to it...

Can you clear something up for me mate? what is the route learning exactly? is it what it says on the tin just knowing which stops you doing or more to it than that? and is the rules the rules of the job? or the company etc etc??

all the best, thank you

Got news today that I passed medical to Driver Standard. Over the moon doesn't even come close.
Good luck, Paul
Tristan

Thanks Tristan appreciate all the help, let me know how you go on mate

thanks

No Paul, I haven't heard anything yet.

I'm gonna phone Occupational Health tomorrow. I think I've passed it otherwise doctor would ave said otherwise when I was there, surely?

We'll see. I let you know tomorrow

Everything is gonna seem new to you at first but as long as you keep on top of it all, it's not too hard and mostly, it's common sense. If you need anything clarifying when you're on your course, ask away, I'll help

Cheers

Tristan

Hi

Heard anything for def about ya medical yet mate? all the best.

Paul

Thanks a lot Tristan, not doubting myself as such mate just a massive change for me this, been self employed for past 8 years and in my own little bubble so to speak and this is all new, keep hearing really hard intense course too? plus didn't realise could fail course if not suitable etc, will give it my best shot all I can do mate. Thanks for all the advice, stay in touch mate, Paul

Hey Paul,

Medical looks to be ok but they haven't actually said anything about whether I meet the standard or not. I'm going to the training anyway and if they try to chuck me off I'll say "no, I'm staying, you made me jump through all those hoops so I'm going nowhere!" and that will be that haha.
I haven't seen the guy and to be honest, I probably won't see him at all before you're in the roster at SHF. I'd let you know his name so you can ask him yourself but I don't know whether he'd take exception to that lol! I might message him for you on Facebook for you just to see if he still wants permanent lates and let you know what he says. Don't worry I won't mention you until I've spoken to you about it first.
PS - You'll get through the course! What's making you doubt yourself?
Tristan

How did your medical go Tristen ? ok I hope ? don't suppose you have seen guy in link 3 who prefers lates have you? if you do just mention I prefer early starts and would be willing to partner, that's if I get through course? hope all well mate

thank you

Thanks Tristen appreciate advice

yeah I would love mostly early starts as I am morning person/worker so will see. Cant wait to get started just bit nervous and hoping can do it like I say... alos got my pack and contract today, didn't realise you could possibly fail the course, says if not up to conductor standard can terminate contract bit concerned about that but have my business to fall back on if comes to that, hope not. If you know the guy link 3 ? please mention I would do early starts, im on nov 10th training course. good luck again mate and thanks again for all advice..

Paul

Paul, you're gonna love it. Trust me!

At Northern there are 3 links. And you will start in link 3 then you'll move up to link 2 and then eventually link 1. Link 3 have the worst shifts, they're all over the place to be honest but I know someone in link 3 who found a partner who prefers contact earlies and she likes lates so that might be an option. You'll move up to link 2 when there is room, the shifts are better and you sign Nottingham from Sheffield. Then in link 1, your shifts are better again and you'll sign Cleethorpes. Here's a tip : There is currently a guy in link 3 who is looking for a partner. He prefers lates and so your luck might be in.
Glad you get to start your dream job soon. Might get to meet you but I'll be driving at the Nottingham Depot. Got medical on Tuesday (28th) and then my course is 24th November. Only found out today. Really excited.
Anyway, keep in touch and let me know how you get on.
Tristan

PS I know my roe is for shifts but do you know if conductors can request preferred shifts or swap etc as I have always been an early morning person (used to be a postman lol) and not that great in late evening etc, only thing slightly concerning me but sure I can deal with it for this career etc, thanks again , good luck

regards

Paul

Thanks Tristen and well done to you too mate, so you going to be a train driver then mate or is depot driver different role??? big money ?

really pleased for you, I will be based at Sheffield start my training in Leeds on 10th November passed my medical so all systems go... cant wait just hope it all goes well and I have made right descision after all this?? lol

May meet sometime mate? keep in touch, all the best

Paul

Paul,

I'm really chuffed for you! Well done, you're gonna love it. Don't be nervous, you'll be just fine. Trust me.

I have since had a change of direction and I applied for the Depot Drivers positions at my own company and I have been successful. I'm just waiting for a training course and start date. Only found out yesterday so I'm really excited.

What depot will you be based at?

Glad to hear you got your dream job in the end. Well done!

Tristan

HI Tristen

sorry late reply not been on too much was all getting to me abit but finally had some good news retook the tests with northern rail for conductor and passed and they rang to offer me a trainee role in November, over the moon, cant believe it, really excited but very nervous, sorry you didn't get the job, any recent news mate? keep at it

thanks again, stay in touch

Paul

Hello Paul,

I didn't get the guard's job at Leeds. I was gutted but I hear that they are opening a super depot at Doncaster in about a year so I'm gonna apply for those when they come up.

Have you heard how you got on at your interview? I hope you got it!

Not been on here much but I will keep in touch

Cheers

Tristan

Hi again mate hows it going? you heard from train guard job yet? hope you get It pal..

just had my interview for customer service and revenue protection at Hudds went ok I think but you never know with these phone interviews, see what happens..

please stay in touch and let me know if any roles come up mate? cheers

Paul

I don't know who the best company is. I prefer the intercity operators to the local services. September isn't too far away. Also, people tend to do much better on the tests second time around. I'll keep in touch. Good luck

PS

Who would you say the best company to work for is? or are they all the same really? cheers

Thanks a lot, hope you get the guards job, ive got interview coming up for tpe for customer service role at Huddersfield station, foot in the door I suppose but really want to be a conductor, don't suppose your friends at northern can help me out at all getting on ? or offer advice? I can go straight to assesments been told by northern from September, don't have to reapply, just hoping I can do it if a job comes up that is? got on really well with both managers at the interview, but I hate tests... good luck mate, yes please keep me informed if hear of anything coming up, really want this, killing me at moment, all I can think of, thanks again, all the best, keep in touch

Hiya Paul. I'll keep my ear to the ground for you and I'll check our internal vacancy list when I get to work. Railway life is brilliant and you'll love it. It's hard to get in when you come off the street but it does happen. Mostly, your best way in is to start as a first class host (with RMT anyway) they hardly ever tak on Train Managers from the street and they never take drivers from the street. Other companies take on conductors and drivers from the street. I know how you feel about wanting to get in though. I REALLY want this East Coast guard's job. My friends at Northern love the job it's a young depot and they only recruit when their conductors move to driving which is surprisingly often. BTW, just to clear up the assessment thing. You cant't do the conductor assessments for 6 months but assessments for another job on the railway is fine. You would be able to do the driver/dispatcher/host assessments within your 6 month period. Hope that helps

PS did you get through application with Eastcoast ? good luck with that, if you get it try and get me a job lol

is it a good life in the rail industry then? its all I want to do.... cheers

Thanks for reply and advice mate really appreciate it, no I wasn't aware of the higher pass score, typical may have got on then if gone to another company first. Hoping for a role to come up from September for Sheffield straight to assessments then, really want to get this job, you? your conductor friends enjoy it?

If you here anything or any roles coming up any chance you can let me know? be grateful.

Will I have to do all the tests again you think? was told only have to do one I failed but getting mixed replies/answers on this one?

all the best, thanks

Paul