A career as a signaller

[milktwosugars]

First post here.

I applied for a pooling role for a signalling role a few months back, and was not shortlisted. But for whatever reason, I was contacted very recently to be informed that I was onto assessment stage on the 15th! I just have a couple of questions for anyone feeling helpful.

1. After asking further questions, I was told this was for a pooling role for two local stations in my area; Perth and Montrose. Can anyone clarify what this means? For example, if I pass assessment and complete training, what is likely to happen next? Do you gain access to the internal job vacancies list during or after training? Will I be offered a fixed or temporary position, or is it more likely that I'll be waiting for some time for a vacancy to come up? I'm curious as I am in the process of gaining a full driving license, so whatever positions available will mean relocating.

2. I was also informed that this assessment centre was more like an interview and was 1hr 30m, and held virtually, as opposed to the 4hr in person assessments otherwise held. Am I preparing for similar tests as previous, or more of an interview format? Any information on what to prepare for? I've read up on using the STAR method and 8 non-technical skills to focus on, but I'm just wondering whether there are any further verbal/reasoning/numerical/psychometric testing done during this virtual interview.

Any information from anyone who has a better idea is hugely appreciated! Thanks.

 

[Oaksie]

Hi all, I’ve got my medical this week for a signalling position with network rail. Can anyone tell me what to expect please? Do you find out if you’ve passed or failed on the day? Thanks.

Had mine 2 weeks ago, it’s a basic health check, they’ll ask you about your health and any conditions you may have. Measure your height and weight. Very simple eye test and then a drugs and alcohol test.

It took me less than an hour and I found out on the day that I had passed.

 

[Kat 74]

Hi all, I’ve got my medical this week for a signalling position with network rail. Can anyone tell me what to expect please? Do you find out if you’ve passed or failed on the day? Thanks.

Hi, what I can remember...it was height/weight, eye test (read the chart & colour blindness from a book), hearing test in a booth (press a button when hear the noise), blood pressure, mobility test (reach towards floor, look left & right, circle shoulders, etc), drug & alcohol test (breathlyser & urine test) and just some general questions on current health, medications, etc. I was told on the day that I'd passed. I'm sure u will be fine. When are u due to start IST?

 

[rjw123]

Anybody here Immingham area? Wondering what boxes / grades are in that area?

Immingham area covers:
Goxhill and Oxmarsh signal boxes - Grade 2 - 2 x 8 hour shifts per day, mornings and lates, and 10 hour sundays summer only.
Immingham West SB - Grade 4 - open 24 hours, 8 hours shifts - 12 hour sundays
Immingham Reception SB - Grade 5 - open 24 hours, 8 hours shifts - 12 hour sundays

Also covers Grimsby district light railway boxes:
Immingham East Token exchange point, Pywipe Rd SB and Great Coates No. 1 SB
Light railway boxes all staffed by grade 2 and only opened and staffed as required, usually by relief signallers.

Hope that helps!

 

[Kat 74]

Immingham area covers:
Goxhill and Oxmarsh signal boxes - Grade 2 - 2 x 8 hour shifts per day, mornings and lates, and 10 hour sundays summer only.
Immingham West SB - Grade 4 - open 24 hours, 8 hours shifts - 12 hour sundays
Immingham Reception SB - Grade 5 - open 24 hours, 8 hours shifts - 12 hour sundays

Also covers Grimsby district light railway boxes:
Immingham East Token exchange point, Pywipe Rd SB and Great Coates No. 1 SB
Light railway boxes all staffed by grade 2 and only opened and staffed as required, usually by relief signallers.

Hope that helps!

Fab, thanks for the info

 

[cxlla]

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[Bexifer]

LOM came back and said that this was correct and there is no option to stay overnight on the sunday. So that is that then. But if when I am in attendance at the course there are others who have been offered sunday Accom, Should I raise this with them again?

I’ve just finished week 10 at Derby, we didn’t have Sunday accommodation with the exception of one delegate who was travelling from York. On early sim Mondays I left home at 5.30am

 

[Buiadh]

It must vary per region it seems, but no accomodation for a two hour drive isn't setting candidates up to succeed.
I did IST in Scotland and everyone was offered accomodation from Sunday night to Thursday night, even those travelling for under half an hour.

 

[cxlla]

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[Kat 74]

I'm sure I was told, at interview, that hotel would be provided Sun-Fri each week...I'll be going to York for IST.

 

[cxlla]

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[CoachB]

LOM came back and said that this was correct and there is no option to stay overnight on the sunday. So that is that then. But if when I am in attendance at the course there are others who have been offered sunday Accom, Should I raise this with them again?

If others at your IST are getting Sunday accommodation I would raise it again and state your long trip in on Monday morning as another factor into why you should have Sunday night accommodation. It does seem very odd that it's not being offered when it seems the majority of other regions give Sunday accommodation as standard.

I done my IST in Scotland and we were all given Sunday night accommodation as standard and paid Sunday travel as long as we let the roster clark know our travel time on the Sunday/Monday

 

[Kat 74]

I was also told originally that I would be attending IST in York. But that changed roughly 1 month ago to Derby.

When do you start IST?

 

[cxlla]

When do you start IST?

1st September

 

[bouff34]

LOM came back and said that this was correct and there is no option to stay overnight on the sunday. So that is that then. But if when I am in attendance at the course there are others who have been offered sunday Accom, Should I raise this with them again?

I think you'd be best just accepting what your LOM has said. Your LOM is the person that will have most influence on how you progress. Just accept their decision and move on - otherwise you risk alienating your line manager. Everyone on here is giving advice with the best intentions but bear in mind many haven't even started with NWR yet or are only a few weeks or months in.
Each area may have different policies with respect to IST and what they will allow. You have queried the policy and your LOM has confirmed how it is... some battles aren't worth fighting... If you're worried about SIM sessions early on a Monday - tell your trainers and they can ensure that your group won't get that slot?

 

[Llanigraham]

I think you'd be best just accepting what your LOM has said. Your LOM is the person that will have most influence on how you progress. Just accept their decision and move on - otherwise you risk alienating your line manager. Everyone on here is giving advice with the best intentions but bear in mind many haven't even started with NWR yet or are only a few weeks or months in.
Each area may have different policies with respect to IST and what they will allow. You have queried the policy and your LOM has confirmed how it is... some battles aren't worth fighting... If you're worried about SIM sessions early on a Monday - tell your trainers and they can ensure that your group won't get that slot?

You may also find that if the instructors think that you not staying on Sunday night is causing a problem not just with you but with others in the group, they may contact your LOM and tell him that they need to change their view.

 

[CoachB]

You may also find that if the instructors think that you not staying on Sunday night is causing a problem not just with you but with others in the group, they may contact your LOM and tell him that they need to change their view.

It's quite possibly that they'll go above the LOM and straight to the operations support person who's in charge of booking your hotels & train tickets. I know my IST teacher called them directly with them when it came to dealing with hotels for week 10 since you only need them till you do your final observation rather than the whole week

At the end of the day the IST teachers are there to support you and get you through the course. However they can only help you if you speak to them about any problems or worries you have

 

[bouff34]

It's quite possibly that they'll go above the LOM and straight to the operations support person who's in charge of booking your hotels & train tickets. I know my IST teacher called them directly with them when it came to dealing with hotels for week 10 since you only need them till you do your final observation rather than the whole week

At the end of the day the IST teachers are there to support you and get you through the course. However they can only help you if you speak to them about any problems or worries you have

Yes, but going above your LOM may not be the best move for your future career progression...just saying!

 

[CoachB]

Yes, but going above your LOM may not be the best move for your future career progression...just saying!

I'm aware at what your saying but if a very early start & several hour trip on a Monday morning ends up affecting this person fatigue and ability to concentrate through a several hour SIM session & what is a very intensive class on top of that, it could potentially affect their future before even getting to a signalbox.

Like I said the IST teachers are there to help you get through the course (it is however upto that teacher who they communicate to in order to resolve the situation), the last thing NR want is people failing as they've already invested a lot of time & money just to put people through IST

 

[WHL]

I have just been offered a signaller position in Fort William.

How quickly did you all hear back from the onboarding team regarding a medical?

Also, I have been lurking on this thread for awhile.

Thank you to everyone providing information like they have.

 

[Kat 74]

Anybody know when u attend the one day induction day for new staff? Is it near start date or weeks/months in advance? Just wondering if I need to notify them.of dates I'm not available. Also, hoping it falls on a day off from my current job or may struggle to get the day off eapecially if it's between night shifts. Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jul 2025 ==

I have just been offered a signaller position in Fort William.

How quickly did you all hear back from the onboarding team regarding a medical?

Also, I have been lurking on this thread for awhile.

Thank you to everyone providing information like they have.

HI, I think it was bout a week wait before they gave me a date for medical. Had my interview 28th May, job offer on 30th May & medical was 16th June then confirmed job offer on 20th....good luck

 

[MikeOff]

Anybody know when u attend the one day induction day for new staff? Is it near start date or weeks/months in advance? Just wondering if I need to notify them.of dates I'm not available. Also, hoping it falls on a day off from my current job or may struggle to get the day off eapecially if it's between night shifts

Are you talking about the Warm Welcome to the railway thing? Mine was after I’d joined NWR. I was the only person on my IST to go - everyone else was offered dates after IST started and that is more important.

 

[swtfan]

Hi all I have a video interview for G9 Signaller at West Hampstead I was just wondering what I can expect in it and what the terms and conditions are such as the hours etc etc?

Many thanks

 

[StaffsPM1]

So can I ask another question, went to my assessment centre and it went nicely however one thing that caught me off guard was when I was asking about the training length for the box I specifically applied for I got told that I hadn't in fact applied for that location but only a pool position and if successful you got IST and apply for positions while there?
The advert never mentioned pool signaller or this at all? Anyone had this?
The reason I applied for this specific location was the pay and busyness suited me and what I wanted from signalling but to be told that's not the case you have to hope there is a decent graded box when you qualify seems something of the risk. Anyone, already in know what the internal vacancy list looks like for the south central region?

Many thanks

 

[endofthetunnel]

Anyone, already in know what the internal vacancy list looks like for the south central region?

Many thanks

I can’t speak for why your application wasn’t for the box you expected, but most areas are recruiting into ‘pools’ now who then apply for boxes when they are ready.

The vacancy list isn’t relevant yet as it’ll be at least 6 months til you will be in the position to actually fill a job - so the ones available now will be long gone. There’s always signaller jobs available somewhere though, and they wouldn’t be recruiting if they didn’t expect vacancies.

 

[StaffsPM1]

Yeh I understand that. I was just wondering what sort of choice there was at any given time. The pool system makes sense, but not knowing where you'll end up and what you'll earn isn't very appealing!

 

[somethinglike]

Hi All

I recently applied for a Signaller G9 Role and have passed the initial online tests and online interview.

I’m now onto step 3 ‘assessment centre’ and my account states: “Congratulations, you've met the required standard for an interview!” but it also implies that spaces go very quickly and aren’t always guaranteed, so to act quick when offered.

When I first read through some of this forum, I noticed a lot of people 'passing' but not getting to the next stage for one reason or other, but it's not always clear what stage this applies to.

So now that I've passed stage 2, am I guaranteed to get to stage 3 and attend an assessment centre (providing I'm on the ball to get it booked)? (I know for certain after stage 3, there's a chance you impress and have what it takes, but don't actually get further due to volume/location).

Or is there a chance that despite passing stage 2, I could be unfortunate and not actually get the chance to attend an assessment centre/interview now?

Also, just as a side note, for a G9 assessment centre, what can I expect? Is it just an interview to cover the 8 competencies and a few less formal questions, or is there more to it? E.g. tests etc.

Appreciate any info

 

[CoachB]

Yeh I understand that. I was just wondering what sort of choice there was at any given time. The pool system makes sense, but not knowing where you'll end up and what you'll earn isn't very appealing!

I understand where you're coming from but the best way of looking at it is you'll at the very least get a job at a grade 2 box. This is also the wage you'll get paid while at IST and while training until you get passed out.

Once you're in as pool signaller you're only allowed to apply for job in the area that has hired you then also as a newbie you'll have to wait a year until you can move box.

There's always progression available as other signallers move or retire but there will be signal boxes that are very desirable where staff rarely leave and are highly sought after.

To be honest though once you're in the job though you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

 

[Domenico]

This is what my portal shows, is this the same as yours ?

Hi buddy, where did you apply for? Have them got back to you? How long did it take?
I’m the same waiting for assessment day.

 

[StaffsPM1]

I understand where you're coming from but the best way of looking at it is you'll at the very least get a job at a grade 2 box. This is also the wage you'll get paid while at IST and while training until you get passed out.

Once you're in as pool signaller you're only allowed to apply for job in the area that has hired you then also as a newbie you'll have to wait a year until you can move box.

There's always progression available as other signallers move or retire but there will be signal boxes that are very desirable where staff rarely leave and are highly sought after.

To be honest though once you're in the job though you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

thanks I appreicate that and i do understand but just not ideal as I was planning if successful to be grade 2 for the 14 weeks before passout, then grade 4 and then onto grade 6 and that salary would be perfect for my current situation. Being now possibly stuck on grade 2 for the foreseable and having no idea what I'll end up on could be a problem thats all.