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I don't look down on any specific grade but I was accused of doing so recently because I didn't want to spend my tea break with people who think it's acceptable to boil eggs and dried fish in a kettle whilst shouting at each other over the noise of the television (and each other). There was a...

It gets on my wick when a load of consultants who've most likely never worked in the industry come up with a report like this, especially when they generalise so much. The comment in the report about airline first officers having a much more difficult job was one which caught my eye. I don't...

It'd be interesting as to why they rate an experienced intercity driver as having a more difficult time than a first-year driver on a DOO suburban stopper. As someone who is poised to make the jump to intercity work, I know the speed-squared law and concentration might be a couple of factors...

Has anyone else noticed the difference between agency and in-house staff? I one had an agency dispatcher who didn't check the signal (which was green but he should have checked nonetheless) and immediately gave me a green on the LED bat. I told him the doors were still open but he gave me a...

I'd agree with that, I think it would be perfectly fair having a split between the two. It allows new people into the industry whilst encouraging free and fair competition between TOCs to retain qualified drivers.

ASLEF really need to get a grip on this. I know that they are in favour of nationalisation and apprenticeships but competition has helped them massively over the years. They need to see the wood from the trees and realise that as long as the government/TOCs are enjoying the best of both worlds...

There are quite a few places outside of London which it's still possible to move to, at my place there's been a good number who have made qualified moves to other TOCs, relocating in the process.

One thing I'd say to the OP is that if you go down the aviation route, make sure you get your Class 1 medical examination booked in the near future. I had no difficulties at all with the train driving medical, however required a GP referral for my Class 2, which I received in due course. A...

I believe it now takes about six years for the RAF to make an off-the-street applicant earmarked for a pilot role a fully-trained and operational pilot. I believe quite a few people are voluntarily leaving along the way because they are fed up of being held in desk jobs whilst they await the...

I'm a train driver instructor who has a PPL and flies recreationally. Don't bother with the degree, as far as I'm concerned, the only aviation-related degrees that are necessary for a specific career are engineering-related ones. Unless you've got an unllimited money pot it's debt you don't...

Agreed, they are there to measure aptitude but I have seen an admittedly fairly small number of trainees who, based on things like knowledge retention and decision making, I could never have envisaged getting through either the tests or management interview. I still thinking aptitude testing is...

Thank you, it can be good fun but certainly is a challenge. I think it might be beneficial for the mechanical comprehension test to be reinstated. I recall when I started a lot of the people came from high pressure roles like the military, the emergency services, or from a practical...

Thank you, there's quite a few it seems who start instructing fairly early in their careers, especially at my depot. I found the DMI process tough because a lot of it is how you sell yourself at the competency-based questions and I'm hopeless at that. I tend to come into my own at proper...

I think there are problems with some of the selection and training at the moment. Firstly, there seem to be a lot of people who read in a tabloid that train drivers have an easy life and they end up totally underestimating how hard it can be. They end up on a training course, then out with an...

As far as I'm aware, XC have been recruiting qualified drivers quite a bit recently, LNER seem to be focused on recruiting trainees. My general understanding is that the basic salary at LNER is slightly higher but that XC have better T&Cs. LNER's passenger numbers have recovered much more...

On London Underground the minimum age to be a driver (or Train Operator as they are known) is 18, however you can only apply internally from within London Underground. The DLR have onboard Passenger Service Assistants who drive in an emergency but are customer facing otherwise, they may recruit...

I don't work for XC but I have some idea of the answers to the questions the OP has asked. Selection is based on an online application form and if you are shortlisted a rules exam and interview. The interview stage is thorough but know your stuff and you shouldn't have too many difficulties...

Really rough location examples would include areas like Wolverhampton, Doncaster, or Gillingham down in Kent. Conversely, generally nice places would include locations like Tunbridge Wells, Nantwich, possibly Edinburgh too. There are of course examples in London where rough/nice areas are...

I've recently been thinking about my relocation options and this is something which has stuck in my mind. I'm currently renting in a commuter/dormitory town on the "gin and Jag belt" and whilst it's generally a nice place to live, if I were to buy a place in a couple of years/when the housing...

When I did my MMI it was with an organisation external to the company I applied for. Given that a candidate is very limited in the number of attempts allowed at the psychometric testing stage including the MMI, that sounds especially bad. There are of course some people on the railway with...