A career as a signaller

[D1015]

Quick question. I am currently a Delay Attributor with 3years experience and am considering signalling. TDA is Grade 5, on the signalling Ts and Cs and pay scale. To apply for the role I had to sit a number of psychometric tests including a multitasking test and a concentration test. If I apply for internal roles and look for say grade 2 or grade 3 signalling roles (I would rather start at the bottom and work somewhere 'quiet' in order to gain experience) (the pay cut would not be a major detriment to myself) would I need to sit the signaller assessments tests after applying and getting through sift?
I ask as I am internal, and as mentioned, have already sat something similar, possibly most of what signallers sit already but am intending to apply for lower grade than what I am currently employed.

 

[Hunter144]

Congratulations! When did you have your interview and when did you hear back?

Thank you! I had my interview on Wednesday and heard back yesterday late afternoon.

 

[Mounty87]

Quick question for current signallers.

How do your partners and kids feel about the work rota? The wife is wondering whether she’s actually ever going to see me and whether we need to plan childcare etc.

 

[Jordan4321]

Quick question for current signallers.

How do your partners and kids feel about the work rota? The wife is wondering whether she’s actually ever going to see me and whether we need to plan childcare etc.

Depends on the roster wether you’re relief or resident and if it’s 12s or 8s etc , but working a 12 hour 4 week cycle with two Sundays I can say it’s not too bad , it has its bad parts especially when working the full weekend but you adjust and do see your partner , especially as you are off 14 days out of 28 atleast for this roster but overall work life balance is decent and once you and your family adjust to it , it is quite good and the time off is great if you have kids especially during school holidays

 

[Kraken]

Quick question for current signallers.

How do your partners and kids feel about the work rota? The wife is wondering whether she’s actually ever going to see me and whether we need to plan childcare etc.

I’m on a 12h roster with a varied number of shifts per week, including every other Saturday and quite a bit of overtime. Prior to joining Network Rail I worked 08-16 Mon-Fri. My wife works 08-17 four days a week from home.

We are fortunate in that our primary school has extremely flexible breakfast and after school clubs. If we didn’t we’d probably just have to pay for them every day of the week to cover the days when both me and my wife are working, which would be a huge extra expenditure.

I find that when I’m on a four shift week (so 48 hours) I do rarely see my family is the honest truth, particularly if I’m on nights. My wife has to keep the whole family and house running in addition to doing her day job. It’s not ideal.

The flip side of that is that next week I’m working Monday and Tuesday and then have a full 8 days off, during which I’ll do both school runs at the normal times, eat breakfast and dinner with my family, take the kids to the park after school, do bath and bedtimes for them and just generally be refreshed.

I much prefer doing the shift work, but I’d be lying if I said it was easy to plan ahead and organise family life. My wife has two Saturdays (sometimes more if I’ve copped a Friday night shift into a Saturday rest day) a month where she has to look after the kids on her own. The truly rubbish amount of quality time I get when I’m in a run of shifts is offset by the eons of time I get with the family when I’m on my rest days though *for me*.

 

[Mounty87]

Thanks guys.

I have my medical next week so I still haven’t been given my roster but I’m sure 12 hours was mentioned in my interview.

That’s kinda how I’ve been looking at it in the fact that we won’t see each other too much whilst I’m working but we would make up for it when I’m not. I guess it’s just gonna take some getting used too and once you know your roster you can plan things around that.

 

[BennyD99]

I’m on a 12h roster with a varied number of shifts per week, including every other Saturday and quite a bit of overtime. Prior to joining Network Rail I worked 08-16 Mon-Fri. My wife works 08-17 four days a week from home.

We are fortunate in that our primary school has extremely flexible breakfast and after school clubs. If we didn’t we’d probably just have to pay for them every day of the week to cover the days when both me and my wife are working, which would be a huge extra expenditure.

I find that when I’m on a four shift week (so 48 hours) I do rarely see my family is the honest truth, particularly if I’m on nights. My wife has to keep the whole family and house running in addition to doing her day job. It’s not ideal.

The flip side of that is that next week I’m working Monday and Tuesday and then have a full 8 days off, during which I’ll do both school runs at the normal times, eat breakfast and dinner with my family, take the kids to the park after school, do bath and bedtimes for them and just generally be refreshed.

I much prefer doing the shift work, but I’d be lying if I said it was easy to plan ahead and organise family life. My wife has two Saturdays (sometimes more if I’ve copped a Friday night shift into a Saturday rest day) a month where she has to look after the kids on her own. The truly rubbish amount of quality time I get when I’m in a run of shifts is offset by the eons of time I get with the family when I’m on my rest days though *for me*.

Thank you.

That's a really good insight and certainly gives food for thought on how to plan.

 

[ac1234]

Thank you! I had my interview on Wednesday and heard back yesterday late afternoon.

Was this face to face or do online? Also congrats on the offer.

 

[Sugarpuff]

Hey mate.
Congratulations on securing the role.

I've got my face to face interview tomorrow any advice on what they may ask and what to be prepared for?

Have you heard anything?

 

[Hunter144]

Was this face to face or do online? Also congrats on the offer.

Thank you. It was face to face. The questions all stemmed around the 8 skills, the role of a signaller and why you want to work for network rail. Then afterwards there was a role play exercise where you were a signaller and had to say what you would do in the scenario. It was very relaxed and I actually enjoyed it. I made sure to mention safety a lot throughout.

 

[Georgiahope1]

Just wondering if anyone else is still waiting hear back following interviews, had mine 15th May and still not heard anything?

 

[High Dyke]

Quick question for current signallers.

How do your partners and kids feel about the work rota? The wife is wondering whether she’s actually ever going to see me and whether we need to plan childcare etc.

We don't have sprogs, so childcare, school runs etc aren't an issue for us. The wife also works on the railway, working shifts. These are permanent late turns.

In my role as a relief there are weeks where we hardly see one another. Some may say that's a good thing. One grace is that our rest day patterns are similar, so we get a weekend off every three weeks. Equally, I've have the option not to work a Sunday, if i don't want or can't. Nor do I always need to work 'additional' overtime. Most weeks, without any Sundays or overtime gives me a worked 34hr week (8.5 base roster hours).

 

[Raisbe1976]

Just wondering if anyone else is still waiting hear back following interviews, had mine 15th May and still not heard anything?

Hi ,I don't think anyone for the poppleton,strensall and selby roles have heard anything yet . I was interviewed after you on Thursday 15th 12:45 (I think we was the first 2) there is another 3 (4 with me ) on here for the same roles . I was told I would hear back the week after but I did know there was more interviews on the 27th and 28th so was concerned I might recieve the unsuccesful e,mail if I did . The careers portal changed last Friday to Thankyou for attending our assesmenet centre we will be in touch shortly with an update and next step assesment centre .
My interview didn't go as well I would of liked so i don't think I will be getting a call.
I was surprised to see you was interviewed by 2 females though because i was interviewed by 2 men (one the LOM for poppleton ) my first choice was poppleton .
The others have not said anything about receiving an offer and we have all been on here and seen the successful Harrogate applicant .
Poppleton was more than one role as well I believe .
Good Luck

 

[Georgiahope1]

Hi ,I don't think anyone for the poppleton,strensall and selby roles have heard anything yet . I was interviewed after you on Thursday 15th 12:45 (I think we was the first 2) there is another 3 (4 with me ) on here for the same roles . I was told I would hear back the week after but I did know there was more interviews on the 27th and 28th so was concerned I might recieve the unsuccesful e,mail if I did . The careers portal changed last Friday to Thankyou for attending our assesmenet centre we will be in touch shortly with an update and next step assesment centre .
My interview didn't go as well I would of liked so i don't think I will be getting a call.
I was surprised to see you was interviewed by 2 females though because i was interviewed by 2 men (one the LOM for poppleton ) my first choice was poppleton .
The others have not said anything about receiving an offer and we have all been on here and seen the successful Harrogate applicant .
Poppleton was more than one role as well I believe .
Good Luck

ahh okay I see, yes I was Thursday 15th at 9am, so looks as though all those areas you have listed are still waiting which is what I applied for too, I said in my interview I was happy with all of the locations but originally put Selby first choice, I haven’t heard of anyone else who has heard back either apartment from Harrogate area so hopefully we will find out our outcome next week! Yes I had two females one of them had just been promoted as a MOM but both did signalling school! My portal also changed to that to and hasn’t changed I keep checking
fingers crossed for you, good luck!

 

[martinn004]

Hi guys,
1st time applier - unfortunately unsuccessfull.... Just wanna ask from which date 6 months countdown starts so I can apply again? When I 1st aplied or from the last email that I've been unsuccessfull.
Thanks

 

[Theodore]

Hi everyone, I just wanted to say a big thank you to this amazing group!

I applied for the role of signaller for the first time and had my face-to-face interview on Tuesday, 27th May. I’m excited to share that I got the call on Friday, 30th May, that I was successful!

This forum was a game-changer; I found everything I needed to prepare right here. For anyone preparing for their interview or looking for answers, I strongly recommend reading through the entire thread from the beginning. Honestly, if you take the time to go through it all, you’ll be fully prepared.

Thanks again to everyone who’s shared tips and advice, it really works!

 

[amalek]

Have you heard anything?

Nothing yet.

 

[ac1234]

I've not got a clue until we get a response off them mate like you said it could be eit

I've not heard anything mate fingers crossed it'll be soon

You heard anything yet pal

 

[Kat 74]

I would say the same stage, just waiting to hear. I chose Scunthorpe and Gainsborough. Good luck!

Have you had your assessment centre / interview yet?

 

[ferksta]

You heard anything yet pal

Nothing yet mate

 

[Kat 74]

Anybody due to do IST (York) in January?

 

[Hunter144]

Anybody due to do IST (York) in January?

Hi Kat, I think we may have interviewed together in York on 28th. We sat and had a chat before we went into the rooms. If that’s you, I’m really glad you got in too! I tried to private message but I don’t think it’s available to me yet as a new member. I am on the earlier intake starting in September, then training in October.

 

[ferksta]

Nothing yet mate

I've been looking at candidates portal and still showing the same so no news at all

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I've been looking at candidates portal and still showing the same so no news at all

Check your emails i didn't get shortlisted good luck to you waited a month to be told that unbelievable lol

 

[mrsj2008]

I've also applied for the Rufford position good luck

Have you heard, I've just been told I'm not invited to assessment centre (i was waiting on a date). Gutted it's an understatement.

 

[northwestern]

Have you heard, I've just been told I'm not invited to assessment centre (i was waiting on a date). Gutted it's an understatement.

Same here. Does anyone know the process by which candidates are invited to assessment centre after passing the online assessments? Seems like it must be pretty random if everyone has done enough to get through to the assessment centre but then only certain candidates get picked? Could even be something like distance from signal box

 

[mrsj2008]

I'm only 10m away.
Might be an internal transfer.

 

[ac1234]

I've been looking at candidates portal and still showing the same so no news at all

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jun 2025 ==


Check your emails i didn't get shortlisted good luck to you waited a month to be told that unbelievable lol

I also have not been shortlisted

 

[skyblue1992]

I also have not been shortlisted

How long was it you waited from the gate saying you had met the criteria to finding out you wasn’t shortlisted? I have applied for Birmingham G6, was told 3 weeks ago I met criteria. Just waiting to see if I get an assessment centre date

 

[mrsj2008]

4 weeks

 

[Lucas7]

Anyone here signed up for the Walsall course starting August 4th?