A career as a signaller

[PTGRail]

Oh, that's interesting, How does it work regarding an 'official start date' and actually starting signalling school? As my start date is 10th of June, however, I was advised spots could be available as late as august. And I'm hoping for less stress levels! I'm starting to lose the will to live in SWAST...

In my case after the official start date of the 19th December, I’ve had a lot of paid time at home with little to do. Not that I’m complaining!

I can totally relate, I worked for LAS for almost 4 years and was losing the will to live too. Good luck for the future!

 

[willpilbeam]

Evening guys.. Had an email for a face to face interview next week, and complete the scenario before hand. Made up to get this far just the last hurdle now.

Any advice with the scenario.. I have been looking through the thread, and i will read the brief etc, but anything else i should think about before hand. Any help is much appreciated

 

[SuperS16v]

Applicants who just interviewed for WMSC keep your phones close! Just had the offer! Over the moon.

 

[red2512]

Applicants who just interviewed for WMSC keep your phones close! Just had the offer! Over the moon.

Thanks for the heads up! Fingers crossed. Congratulations on the offer!

 

[covscot]

Hi. I have applied for Rugby, Marston vale & Willesden position. Please could someone share any information about these boxes such as grades/shifts and any general info.

It states grade 4 on job post but also says various grades so anything would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Slow Seline]

Hi

First time poster. If you start employment at a lower grade box (2/3, etc), and spot a higher grade vacancy whilst you’re doing your initial signaller training, is it frowned upon to apply for this?

 

[SuperS16v]

Afternoon all, just received my job offer documents through and just wanted to check the salary's following the recent pay settlement as I’m looking at mortgages and such.

I am due to start in a grade 6 role around June and the salary being offered is Grade 5 whilst in IST with a rise to grade 6 and then it states a review of the salary in Jan 2024.

Am I likely to be on the ‘improved rate’ once the settlement is finalised or will I have to wait until 2024?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SmashingTeaCup]

Anyone able to tell me how much the south east allowance is these days? Seen multiple figures from ~2017-2019 on this forum, just wondering if anyone has a more recent figure, thanks!

 

[Frothy_B]

Hi. I have applied for Rugby, Marston vale & Willesden position. Please could someone share any information about these boxes such as grades/shifts and any general info.

It states grade 4 on job post but also says various grades so anything would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Rugby, Marston Vale and Willesden are 3 separate locations. The advert said 6 positions but I don't know of the distribution. Did you specify a location on your application?

Rugby will be at the SCC in Rugby as a Grade 4, I don't know what section that would likely cover.

Marston Vale is a box at Ridgmont Station on the Bedford - Bletchley line, which will also become part of East West Railway in the future. Currently will only see half a dozen freight movements a week as passanger services on the line as suspended untill the TOC can sort out some stock to resume them.

Willesden is between Wembley and Queens Park. Don't know much about it as its out of my range. Willesden is the Grade 7. I would imagine plenty of Freight.

I'm in for these aswell, best of luck!

 

[Royal351]

Anyone able to tell me how much the south east allowance is these days? Seen multiple figures from ~2017-2019 on this forum, just wondering if anyone has a more recent figure, thanks!

I dont think it changes with the new deal but as of when I joined (December 2022) its £955 with work location over 40 miles radius from Charing Cross up to named boundary points on each route from London.

£1800 for Outer London 16-40 miles from CHXand 3100 for inner London up to 16 miles of CHX

 

[kenneth wright]

Well got my first interview on Thursday currently revising as i speak.Feel well set after reading all the thread.Thank you to you all for your contributions to this thread.Its been a massive help to me personally.Good luck to anyone else interviewing.Wish me luck everyone.Ill let you know how i get on.

 

[covscot]

Rugby, Marston Vale and Willesden are 3 separate locations. The advert said 6 positions but I don't know of the distribution. Did you specify a location on your application?

Rugby will be at the SCC in Rugby as a Grade 4, I don't know what section that would likely cover.

Marston Vale is a box at Ridgmont Station on the Bedford - Bletchley line, which will also become part of East West Railway in the future. Currently will only see half a dozen freight movements a week as passanger services on the line as suspended untill the TOC can sort out some stock to resume them.

Willesden is between Wembley and Queens Park. Don't know much about it as its out of my range. Willesden is the Grade 7. I would imagine plenty of Freight.

I'm in for these aswell, best of luck!

Thanks for the information.
I did specify Rugby in my application just because it is closer to home but wouldn't mind travelling to the others.

Good luck to you also!

 

[SmashingTeaCup]

I dont think it changes with the new deal but as of when I joined (December 2022) its £955 with work location over 40 miles radius from Charing Cross up to named boundary points on each route from London.

£1800 for Outer London 16-40 miles from CHXand 3100 for inner London up to 16 miles of CHX

Thank you!

 

[19sa94]

Hi New poster here. I’ve toyed with posting this as it will make no difference, however I’m intrigued as to anyone else having a similar experience….
I applied for a grade 7 post advertised as starting May/June. Made it all the way to interview (yay!) and was asked for pre arranged holiday dates which I gave as the first two weeks of sept.
I was delighted to get a job offer last week but was then told the IST date was sept. I explained I had pre booked holiday and had told the interviewers. Recruitment said no problem. They came back to me the following day with a May start date but for a course in Perth Scotland (I live in the south west) recruitment lady told me it was a bit obscure and they never normally sent south of London there. I did my research and it’s a 8hr drive or 7hr on 4 trains every Friday and Sunday for 12 weeks!! Sadly completely infeasible. I went back to recruitment who said they agreed and would speak to the hiring manager. I then recieved an email withdrawing my offer and placing me on the reserve list. Spoke to recruitment again who said because I’d turned down two reasonable offers (dates they knew about and different to advertised and Scotland) they had withdrawn my offer and given it to another candidate. Needless to say I’m really really disappointed after all the hard work to be so close and then it’s taken away.
So, has anyone else had this experience?
Also what should I expect from the reserve list? Is there a reasonable chance of a different offer?

Sorry for the long post just interested in people’s views/experience. Thanks

 

[nom de guerre]

Willesden is the Grade 7. I would imagine plenty of Freight.

The only Grade 7 in the Willesden area is the Willesden Suburban workstation, located in the (otherwise Grade 9) Wembley Mainline. It controls the 'DC Lines' between South Hampstead and Watford Jn, which are used exclusively for intensive local passenger services (London Overground and Bakerloo line Tube). The only freight would be occasional engineering trains. A lot of freight passes through the area, but uses different lines controlled by other panels/workstations/boxes.

I dont think it changes with the new deal but as of when I joined (December 2022) its £955 with work location over 40 miles radius from Charing Cross up to named boundary points on each route from London.

£1800 for Outer London 16-40 miles from CHXand 3100 for inner London up to 16 miles of CHX

No changes following the new deal, but those figures aren't completely up to date: Inner and Outer London were both raised in the 2019 pay deal (to £3270 and £1942 respectively). SE allowance wasn't, so the £955 figure may still be correct.

 

[mrc.Welford]

Hi New poster here. I’ve toyed with posting this as it will make no difference, however I’m intrigued as to anyone else having a similar experience….
I applied for a grade 7 post advertised as starting May/June. Made it all the way to interview (yay!) and was asked for pre arranged holiday dates which I gave as the first two weeks of sept.
I was delighted to get a job offer last week but was then told the IST date was sept. I explained I had pre booked holiday and had told the interviewers. Recruitment said no problem. They came back to me the following day with a May start date but for a course in Perth Scotland (I live in the south west) recruitment lady told me it was a bit obscure and they never normally sent south of London there. I did my research and it’s a 8hr drive or 7hr on 4 trains every Friday and Sunday for 12 weeks!! Sadly completely infeasible. I went back to recruitment who said they agreed and would speak to the hiring manager. I then recieved an email withdrawing my offer and placing me on the reserve list. Spoke to recruitment again who said because I’d turned down two reasonable offers (dates they knew about and different to advertised and Scotland) they had withdrawn my offer and given it to another candidate. Needless to say I’m really really disappointed after all the hard work to be so close and then it’s taken away.
So, has anyone else had this experience?
Also what should I expect from the reserve list? Is there a reasonable chance of a different offer?

Sorry for the long post just interested in people’s views/experience. Thanks

They will pay for your flights and train.dont turn down such a good opportunity. Find out who you line manager is and speak with then directly they will be ready helpful and may try to get you on a course closer to home

 

[19sa94]

They will pay for your flights and train.dont turn down such a good opportunity. Find out who you line manager is and speak with then directly they will be ready helpful and may try to get you on a course closer to home

Thank you so much for replying! I appreciate they provide transport but it’s not the cost it’s the logistics every weekend to do a 16hr commute effectively. I’d get home and go straight back. Recruitment said they would speak to the LOM as I said I’d happily take York/preston/Bristol etc which are all doable and I’m happy to travel but then they came back to me and said they’ve withdrawn my offer and given it to another candidate which was so disappointing.

 

[Frothy_B]

The only Grade 7 in the Willesden area is the Willesden Suburban workstation, located in the (otherwise Grade 9) Wembley Mainline. It controls the 'DC Lines' between South Hampstead and Watford Jn, which are used exclusively for intensive local passenger services (London Overground and Bakerloo line Tube). The only freight would be occasional engineering trains. A lot of freight passes through the area, but uses different lines controlled by other

Thankyou for correcting me, I wasn't sure about Willesden. Useful information for myself also, going forward.

 

[Slow Seline]

Hi

First time poster. If you start employment at a lower grade box (2/3, etc), and spot a higher grade vacancy whilst you’re doing your initial signaller training, is it frowned upon to apply for this?

Can anyone confirm if you’re allowed to change internal jobs within a set time period?

 

[endofthetunnel]

It depends on how quickly the new terms from the deal come into play.

New terms are that new starters stay in their original job for 52weeks (unless exceptional circumstances). That doesn’t mean you can’t apply and secure a new job a few months before that, but you wouldn’t be released until 52 weeks.

Previously there was no restriction and you could apply to move whenever though it would usually be frowned upon as it would leave your LOM, who’s just paid for all your recruitment and training, in the lurch - hence the rule change!

 

[Slow Seline]

It depends on how quickly the new terms from the deal come into play.

New terms are that new starters stay in their original job for 52weeks (unless exceptional circumstances). That doesn’t mean you can’t apply and secure a new job a few months before that, but you wouldn’t be released until 52 weeks.

Previously there was no restriction and you could apply to move whenever though it would usually be frowned upon as it would leave your LOM, who’s just paid for all your recruitment and training, in the lurch - hence the rule change!

Thanks for that.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Apr 2023 ==

Just did the online tests again. Most definitely did better than last time but that Grid challenge is still a *******, eh? Haha.

Do you ever have to do the Grid Challenge again, at anytime during recruitment or training?

 

[MikeyFord]

Hi New poster here. I’ve toyed with posting this as it will make no difference, however I’m intrigued as to anyone else having a similar experience….
I applied for a grade 7 post advertised as starting May/June. Made it all the way to interview (yay!) and was asked for pre arranged holiday dates which I gave as the first two weeks of sept.
I was delighted to get a job offer last week but was then told the IST date was sept. I explained I had pre booked holiday and had told the interviewers. Recruitment said no problem. They came back to me the following day with a May start date but for a course in Perth Scotland (I live in the south west) recruitment lady told me it was a bit obscure and they never normally sent south of London there. I did my research and it’s a 8hr drive or 7hr on 4 trains every Friday and Sunday for 12 weeks!! Sadly completely infeasible. I went back to recruitment who said they agreed and would speak to the hiring manager. I then recieved an email withdrawing my offer and placing me on the reserve list. Spoke to recruitment again who said because I’d turned down two reasonable offers (dates they knew about and different to advertised and Scotland) they had withdrawn my offer and given it to another candidate. Needless to say I’m really really disappointed after all the hard work to be so close and then it’s taken away.
So, has anyone else had this experience?
Also what should I expect from the reserve list? Is there a reasonable chance of a different offer?

Sorry for the long post just interested in people’s views/experience. Thanks

We had two guys from near Dover on our course in Scotland so it's not unheard of for this to happen, places are at such a premium that if you turn down courses they will see if someone else will accept the travel and offer them the job. They paid for them to either fly (although believe it or not the train got them home earlier because of the early Friday finish) or they would pay for hotels over the weekend if you wanted to stay up every other weekend or so. No experience with the reserve list I'm afraid but best of luck.

 

[GardenRail]

Thank you so much for replying! I appreciate they provide transport but it’s not the cost it’s the logistics every weekend to do a 16hr commute effectively. I’d get home and go straight back. Recruitment said they would speak to the LOM as I said I’d happily take York/preston/Bristol etc which are all doable and I’m happy to travel but then they came back to me and said they’ve withdrawn my offer and given it to another candidate which was so disappointing.

Not quite the same but when I got Signalling School, I had to travel from Yorkshire to Ilford as it was back then. A right pain. But worth every minute, it ultimately led to a Grade 8.

 

[Woody27]

Hi New poster here. I’ve toyed with posting this as it will make no difference, however I’m intrigued as to anyone else having a similar experience….
I applied for a grade 7 post advertised as starting May/June. Made it all the way to interview (yay!) and was asked for pre arranged holiday dates which I gave as the first two weeks of sept.
I was delighted to get a job offer last week but was then told the IST date was sept. I explained I had pre booked holiday and had told the interviewers. Recruitment said no problem. They came back to me the following day with a May start date but for a course in Perth Scotland (I live in the south west) recruitment lady told me it was a bit obscure and they never normally sent south of London there. I did my research and it’s a 8hr drive or 7hr on 4 trains every Friday and Sunday for 12 weeks!! Sadly completely infeasible. I went back to recruitment who said they agreed and would speak to the hiring manager. I then recieved an email withdrawing my offer and placing me on the reserve list. Spoke to recruitment again who said because I’d turned down two reasonable offers (dates they knew about and different to advertised and Scotland) they had withdrawn my offer and given it to another candidate. Needless to say I’m really really disappointed after all the hard work to be so close and then it’s taken away.
So, has anyone else had this experience?
Also what should I expect from the reserve list? Is there a reasonable chance of a different offer?

Sorry for the long post just interested in people’s views/experience. Thanks

Hi, it took me the best part of 3 years to get an offer, and would have taken anything offered to me, regardless of distance! You must consider this may be the one and only chance of a place at IST. Hope you get it sorted

 

[LC346]

Hi can someone confirm if we get London allowance in training? Had my first full pay and it doesnt seem to be added on. Also do you get both London allowance and local area supplement ?

 

[otter11]

Hi can someone confirm if we get London allowance in training? Had my first full pay and it doesnt seem to be added on. Also do you get both London allowance and local area supplement ?

Hi,
I’m currently training and am being paid both the London allowance and the local area supplement.
Suggest you get in touch with payroll!

 

[gareth386]

Hi New poster here. I’ve toyed with posting this as it will make no difference, however I’m intrigued as to anyone else having a similar experience….
I applied for a grade 7 post advertised as starting May/June. Made it all the way to interview (yay!) and was asked for pre arranged holiday dates which I gave as the first two weeks of sept.
I was delighted to get a job offer last week but was then told the IST date was sept. I explained I had pre booked holiday and had told the interviewers. Recruitment said no problem. They came back to me the following day with a May start date but for a course in Perth Scotland (I live in the south west) recruitment lady told me it was a bit obscure and they never normally sent south of London there. I did my research and it’s a 8hr drive or 7hr on 4 trains every Friday and Sunday for 12 weeks!! Sadly completely infeasible. I went back to recruitment who said they agreed and would speak to the hiring manager. I then recieved an email withdrawing my offer and placing me on the reserve list. Spoke to recruitment again who said because I’d turned down two reasonable offers (dates they knew about and different to advertised and Scotland) they had withdrawn my offer and given it to another candidate. Needless to say I’m really really disappointed after all the hard work to be so close and then it’s taken away.
So, has anyone else had this experience?
Also what should I expect from the reserve list? Is there a reasonable chance of a different offer?

Sorry for the long post just interested in people’s views/experience. Thanks

7.5 hrs each way to York for me for IST. Ultimately its if you think it's worth it or not for your future career. I decided to do it as I was looking at the bigger picture and realised its a short term sacrifice for a long term gain.
But that's just me.

 

[19sa94]

Hi everyone thanks so much for all the replies it’s really appreciated! Imteresring to know theyve provided flights (I was told only rail) and the option to stay the odd weekend. Again this wasn’t offered. I’m going to have a chat with recruitment tomorrow and discuss with them!

 

[Slow Seline]

I passed out as a Guard 6 years ago, and did my training at Scotrail Guard School in Glasgow, which I found pretty tough.

Can anyone who’s been to Guard School within the last 6 years tell me if IST is a similar level of training, or if it’s much more intense?

 

[LC346]

Thank you for letting me know. Are these shown on your payslip and the amounts ?

Hi,
I’m currently training and am being paid both the London allowance and the local area supplement.
Suggest you get in touch with payroll!