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A career as a signaller

Sunset route

Established Member
Joined
27 Oct 2015
Messages
1,224
Hey, has anyone heard of or got experience with signallers who work 12 hour shifts (nights and days) being able to stay in their current job on days only? Is this a reasonable adjustment that could be asked for? I’ve recently been diagnosed with a medical condition (awaiting meds to be prescribed which will be declared) and nights are a huge trigger for me. I never go off sick as I always just try to get through my shifts but it is becoming more difficult. I don’t want to leave my role all together but wondered if anyone had success in dropping nights & these being covered by relief? Maybe it’s completely unrealistic. I do remember a bloke in one of my first boxes who only did day shifts and got his nights covered but I don’t know his individual circumstances. Thank you for any help/ guidance.

I would the answer will be down to what local agreements you have in place over and above any National agreements and how good your local & area reps are with how flexible your local management are.

At my location of roughly of 90 signallers between a 1/4 & 1/3 work permanent days, 1/4 & 1/3 work permanent nights and the rest work their work booked shifts, this is down medical reasons, child care, flexible working arrangements and personal preference amongst the core reasons.

There have been rumours that our management are trying to rain this back, but this has been going for years certainly way before covid so it will be hard for them to push back at our location now.
 
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RailUK Forums

Coheed85

Member
Joined
30 Jan 2020
Messages
16
Location
Manchester
Does anyone work or know much about the Guide Bridge (North West) signalling location. The postcode on the job advert is M34 5HF, which is right next to the train station and about 5 minutes from my house, which is great. However everything I can see online says there’s no longer a signal box there.

If that’s the case why would the application ask what my distance is from M34 5HF?
 

Jay1874

Member
Joined
21 Apr 2026
Messages
19
Location
Coventry
Good afternoon Folks

Ive received the news that I have my assessment day next week, can anyone give me any insight into the day? Like what questions they ask in the interview, what sort of assessments I’ll be undertaking? I haven’t been given anything to suggest I need to do a presentation was it clear that you would be doing one for those who had to do one?

Thanks in advance :)
 

stevemarra85

New Member
Joined
24 Jun 2026
Messages
4
Location
Clacton-on-Sea
Hi,
I’m in the same situation, have you had an email or moved on from stage 5 (Shortlisting) yet? What position have you applied for?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Has anyone had any update on the Three Bridges signaller application? I'm currently sat at Stage 5 - Shortlistng.
Just wondering if anyone else in this campaign has heard anything or had progress.

Thanks in advance.
Hi,

Nothing yet, I had a duplicate application somehow. I emailed regarding this, they said I was at the assesment awaiting stage. Still no change to my portal or any contact via email. have you managed to get any news yet? I applied for the ipswich role.
Good luck.
 

Coheed85

Member
Joined
30 Jan 2020
Messages
16
Location
Manchester
Good afternoon Folks

Ive received the news that I have my assessment day next week, can anyone give me any insight into the day? Like what questions they ask in the interview, what sort of assessments I’ll be undertaking? I haven’t been given anything to suggest I need to do a presentation was it clear that you would be doing one for those who had to do one?

Thanks in advance :)

Hi, congratulations on the invite to assessment day.

Sorry this isn’t any help to your question, but would you mind sharing the timeframes from initial application to assessment day invite?
 

Jay1874

Member
Joined
21 Apr 2026
Messages
19
Location
Coventry
Hi, congratulations on the invite to assessment day.

Sorry this isn’t any help to your question, but would you mind sharing the timeframes from initial application to assessment day invite?

Thank you! Hopefully all goes well, I had my DMI for train driver a few months back so I’m expecting the same sort of questions for the interview but not getting through the DMI has made me even more nervous for this one lol

Sure, I completed everything I was sent the same day I got it.

  1. I applied 19/08/26
  2. Invited to assessments 24/08/26
  3. Invited to video interview 26/08/26
  4. Invited to assessment day yesterday 10/09/26
Honestly been so quick since applying never expect it from the rail tbh, all the best with your application if you have made one :)
 
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Coheed85

Member
Joined
30 Jan 2020
Messages
16
Location
Manchester
Thank you! Hopefully all goes well, I had my DMI for train driver a few months back so I’m expecting the same sort of questions for the interview but not getting through the DMI has made me even more nervous for this one lol

Sure, I completed everything I was sent the same day I got it.

  1. I applied 19/08/26
  2. Invited to assessments 24/08/26
  3. Invited to video interview 26/08/26
  4. Invited to assessment day yesterday 10/09/26
Honestly been so quick since applying never expect it from the rail tbh, all the best with your application if you have made one :)

That is quick! Appreciate that, thank you.

And yeah, I was on the reserve list for a G6 role which I’ve now been able to transfer over for a G2 Trainee role at a signal box 5 minutes down the road, so hopefully my scores will be enough to get an invite to an assessment day. Fingers crossed.
 

farfromhome

Member
Joined
10 Jun 2026
Messages
11
Location
Arbroath
Good afternoon Folks

Ive received the news that I have my assessment day next week, can anyone give me any insight into the day? Like what questions they ask in the interview, what sort of assessments I’ll be undertaking? I haven’t been given anything to suggest I need to do a presentation was it clear that you would be doing one for those who had to do one?

Thanks in advance :)
From my experience, youd have received a document to talk about an incident, what causes it, what were the learnings etc. Do a proper research in to it. Maybe use the website railways archive for information. You'll have 15 minutes. Try not to rush it in 5 minutes but be aware you get not a second more.

Questions otherwise were normal interview questions such as why you want to be a signaller, what do you know about network rail. Try to stand out. Don't give the generic information. They know this and it's kind of expected you would know this (after all, you were initially attracted to it on this).
What experience have you had that would help with the role, relate what you've done in past (doesn't have to be work related as such, life experience helps).

Just relax and breathe.
They'll likely judge that too.
Remember, it's a safety critical role, it's a role you require calm, attention to detail and clear communication.
That last point. Clear communication. Speak well, speak clear, don't mumble. Take a sip of water if you need thinking time so that you're not rushing into an answer.

Hope this little bit helps.
 

Jay1874

Member
Joined
21 Apr 2026
Messages
19
Location
Coventry
From my experience, youd have received a document to talk about an incident, what causes it, what were the learnings etc. Do a proper research in to it. Maybe use the website railways archive for information. You'll have 15 minutes. Try not to rush it in 5 minutes but be aware you get not a second more.

Questions otherwise were normal interview questions such as why you want to be a signaller, what do you know about network rail. Try to stand out. Don't give the generic information. They know this and it's kind of expected you would know this (after all, you were initially attracted to it on this).
What experience have you had that would help with the role, relate what you've done in past (doesn't have to be work related as such, life experience helps).

Just relax and breathe.
They'll likely judge that too.
Remember, it's a safety critical role, it's a role you require calm, attention to detail and clear communication.
That last point. Clear communication. Speak well, speak clear, don't mumble. Take a sip of water if you need thinking time so that you're not rushing into an answer.

Hope this little bit helps.
That’s brilliant advice thank you!

I haven’t received anything other than the email to confirm my attendance after choosing a slot so I assume there will be no presentation, thank you, any ideas what the group assessments entails? I know there is some questions with safety like maybe ‘there is a animal on the track what do You do etc’ but unlike train driver where I could pretty much prepare from all the info about the assessments on there I can’t find much about the signalling day which isn’t a bad thing Ide just rather have as much info as possible lol.

Again thank you for the advice!
 

farfromhome

Member
Joined
10 Jun 2026
Messages
11
Location
Arbroath
That’s brilliant advice thank you!

I haven’t received anything other than the email to confirm my attendance after choosing a slot so I assume there will be no presentation, thank you, any ideas what the group assessments entails? I know there is some questions with safety like maybe ‘there is a animal on the track what do You do etc’ but unlike train driver where I could pretty much prepare from all the info about the assessments on there I can’t find much about the signalling day which isn’t a bad thing Ide just rather have as much info as possible lol.

Again thank you for the advice!
I didnt have a group assessment (my interview was literally a 1 to 1, well there were two of them).
What i thought was a group assessment, ironically, was actually a presentation of an incident from 10-15 years ago. So although prepared for the presentation, I was a little under prepared for the interview (got job by the way).
I think i received all my info for interview after choosing the time slot.
 

Beau1980

New Member
Joined
2 Sep 2026
Messages
3
Location
Crawley
Hi,

Nothing yet, I had a duplicate application somehow. I emailed regarding this, they said I was at the assesment awaiting stage. Still no change to my portal or any contact via email. have you managed to get any news yet? I applied for the ipswich role.
Good luck.
Hi,

No news yet. Although I’ve heard it can take a while, some say it can take up to 8+ weeks so just a waiting game now. With a bit of luck we hear back soon.
Good luck.
 

CuriousFlyer

New Member
Joined
14 Apr 2022
Messages
1
Location
Maidenhead
Hello all, apologies if this has been discussed but first time for me on these forums as i'm from a different profession.

My partner is currently going through the process for a crossing keeper position at Liverpool Street, just wondering if anyone can shed any light on shifts, times/lengths and any other useful gen on the role?

Many thanks in advance.
 

stevemarra85

New Member
Joined
24 Jun 2026
Messages
4
Location
Clacton-on-Sea
Is anybody here due to start IST on 5th October?
Hi,
Im still awaiting to find out if ive made it through yet. Not sure where in the country you applied for. Some people have got IST days up north

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Hi,

No news yet. Although I’ve heard it can take a while, some say it can take up to 8+ weeks so just a waiting game now. With a bit of luck we hear back soon.
Good luck.
I emailed today, I have passed all the other stages. there awaiting for the interview slots to be released fo my campaign, they will invite the successful candidates when the slots open. This may take a few weeks. From what ive seen depending on the jobs available, they will invite just over double that amount to the assessment day. The question becomes how many applicants sit at the awaiting assessment day?. Is there 100 that passed all the stages then only 25 invited to the assessment day?. Or is there 50 that passed all stages. If anyone has any idea on the numbers that would be amazing?. Knowing you have a 50% chance over a 25% chance to make the assessment day certainly is a good confidence boost.
 
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Commie

New Member
Joined
22 May 2025
Messages
1
Location
Birmingham
Hi everyone,

I have upcoming interview for a SIG3 signaller, any tips or advices? I wasn't asked to prepare presentation or anything in particular, therefore I'm mainly learning in general about NR etc.

I read this threat in and out, last 30 pages but I just thought maybe someone went through this process more recently or has some ideas that I haven't come across yet.

Thank you in advance.
 

muz379

Established Member
Joined
23 Jan 2014
Messages
2,502
Does anyone work or know much about the Guide Bridge (North West) signalling location. The postcode on the job advert is M34 5HF, which is right next to the train station and about 5 minutes from my house, which is great. However everything I can see online says there’s no longer a signal box there.

If that’s the case why would the application ask what my distance is from M34 5HF?
There isn't a signal box at guide bridge anymore but it is where the guide bridge LOM is based, they have been using that postcode for recruitment onto training posts for the guide bridge area though for a while in my experience, I don't know all the boxes on that LOM area but I know that they definitely cover Dinting which is at the station, and Denton which is only round the corner behind Audenshaw reservoirs.
I know that LOM area used to cover Diggle which has now closed and I think they changed some box responsibilities around on that side when that happened but not sure what they cover now apart from those two sorry.
 

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