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Not quite right. You have 2 attempts to pass the assessments. You can apply to a company as many times as you like. You will need to check the website of each TOC though, yes. In theory, there is nothing to stop you getting a train driver straight off the street. But i think in your situation...

You would stand a very good chance of getting a trainee driver job* by evidencing your experience i'm sure. *Subject to visa requirements obviously!

No Yes. There is a button the PIS that does this. However, I found this out by accident. We were given no training whatsoever on the PIS (which itself seems surprisingly budget). I asked a trainee today who has just done his 700 course if he was told anything about it but he said not. I...

Same boat as me (a different TOC though). I'll see if it was worth the plunge shortly. It will make family life considerably better which is the basis behind the move. I am very conscious though where I am the company cannot get people to do the role for love nor money but If it doesn't work out...

City Thameslink is where the DC/AC voltage changeover is. This can lead to problems with any stock. The unit that went wibble yesterday morning lost power at Farringdon during the AC/DC changeover. The driver was advised to run it to City Thameslink on AC and try again. Unfortunately it then...

Firstly, I don't work at KGX but work on TL side so this may not be completely accurate. The rest day pattern is a little random on the GN side but they work on average 4 days a week. You work two Saturdays in four, Sundays are up to you. Routes are KGX - Cambridge/Peterbrough, Hertford...

Agree with ComUtoR. At my TOC all driver managers are qualified drivers*. I think on the Southern side they have a split, with CDMs who are all qualified and were originally drivers and then they also have driver managers who work on the line management side of things (so non technical and...

I still don't get the issue with the seats. I spend plenty of time sitting on them as well as the more squidgy one up front and they seem perfectly comfortable to me and way, way better than the horrible 319 seat sinking feeling! Incidentally, i'm not sure how some posters think we can...

While i'm always amazed at the sheer cost of upgrading heavy rail lines (how much for passing loops?! :lol: ) I think a scheme has to be economically viable and do as much as it can for the money. Spending millions and millions on just getting two trains an hour doesn't seem worth it to me...

How did they manage this with the permanent security guards?! :lol: A little snooze maybe...

Problem is even minor overruns at my TOC result in a cancelled service(s), while a driver is sent off for a drugs testing and then they're off track for a day or two. This probably gives the TOC more of a headache.

This is what we were encouraged to do at my TOC. DM's felt you had forgotten to use it if you weren't setting it passing a single yellow on your way in to a red at the end of a platform (subject to gradients etc). This changed when we got the 377s and we were told we shouldn't use it unless...

Regarding West Hampstead UF > US, you never see the single yellow change to green - it's hidden by the lift structure/bridge. So on a non stopper you see your single yellow + no.1, then as you enter the gently curved platform you lose sight of the signal. The first you know about the change (or...

It did change in relation to GSM-R and a train can now run in certain circumstances but it depends on the fault and availability of track side equipment. In reality whatever the specific fault, it probably made most sense to cancel it and try and get the fault repaired!

There's a qualified guy at my depot who has been contacted by their Chiltern recruitment so they obviously are taking on some staff though what percentage will be unqualified I have no idea.

KGX isn't (yet) in the congestion charge zone - it fringes to the south. There is parking for GTR employees so I can't believe there won't be any for VTEC.

Haha most of the questions I get go something like: "Is this train stopping at Hendon?" "No" "Oh. Where's it going then?" "West Hampstead" "So it is stopping at Hendon then." "No. It doesn't go past West Hampstead" "Oh. Are you sure?". "Yes. very sure". "Oh. Well I want to go to...

That roster does look a bit crap tbh. Bit disappointed! How long from link 5 to 4 on average? I see on line 6 it's the same job every day of the week! I suppose it is only 7:55 though... As above, is Preston the same?

At a guess, they maybe gave a not to stop order to get the train back right time as a result of the delay. They said 'door fault' as this was probably what had caused the delay in the first place though.This would be a common stopping pattern of a not to stop order (if that makes sense!!)...

Many a driver at my depot! :lol: I've also had a unit cancelled by Three Bridges due to 'a fault' when it was a minor issue that was in the process of being rectified by Siemens and would have meant leaving only 10 minutes late in the peak. Of course, it's their choice but this would have...