A career as a train driver

[plastictaffy]

I wish Beveridges was still here to answer on behalf of depot drivers now that Dave1987 has gone to main line.

Whatever happened to him??

 

[craigybagel]

Whatever happened to him??

Think he got banned in the end, wich was a pity. His rants really were quite entertaining

 

[Driver068]

Correct.
There is one part of the GA franchise that uses depot driving as a progression grade. You have to go through it.
To the best of my knowledge, nowhere else.

You would have to apply as a trainee driver.

Would you say their are any benefits of being a MDD if wanting to move onto a qualified drivers role.

 

[Johncleesefan]

Would you say their are any benefits of being a MDD if wanting to move onto a qualified drivers role.

Millions of benefits, you will learn the rules and traction and the safety critical side of the job.

You will also be part of the company and have opportunity to "shine" in front of the managers

 

[craigybagel]

Not to mention the chance to apply for internal only jobs.

 

[387star]

deleted

 

[josecc]

Hi

I've recently applied for the trainee train driver job with Scotrail. Does anyone know how many jobs they have available for this round of trainees?
I've previously worked as an electrician for 7 years and Offshore in the Oil and Gas industry for 4. Do you think this will help my application as they are both very safety critical jobs and environments?
I do understand that there will be a lot of applicants and I will also need to go through various tests days and interviews etc so I know it is going to be a hard process.

Thanks

 

[notadriver]

Would you consider going for another railway job such as conductor if you fail to get through this time ?

 

[josecc]

Would you consider going for another railway job such as conductor if you fail to get through this time ?

I haven't really thought about it as there aren't any other jobs local to my area at the moment.
Why do you ask?

 

[notadriver]

Theres usually far more vacancies advertised for non driving roles within a train company.

 

[josecc]

Theres usually far more vacancies advertised for non driving roles within a train company.

I just happened to take a look on their website a couple of days ago and they only have vacancies for trainee train drivers. If any other jobs came available in my area then yes I would consider them

 

[Johncleesefan]

I just happened to take a look on their website a couple of days ago and they only have vacancies for trainee train drivers. If any other jobs came available in my area then yes I would consider them

But I would strongly recommend applying for the job u want (driver in this case) and put all your time and dedication into that application before even considering any other role. If that's the job u want then go for it ??????

 

[Dave1987]

To answer a couple of points that have been posted on here recently:

1) A Depot Driver is in the driving grade, they can join ASLEF, and no one is allowed to drive trains who isn't in the driving grade and assessed on their competency to do so at fixed intervals.

2) A Depot Driver *can* be a good stepping stone to the mainline (don't care what rubbish people on here come out with) but only if you have automatic promotion (still available at some TOC's) or do very well at the job because you then make yourself an excellent candidate for mainline trainee jobs.

3) If people only ever want to apply for the mainline trainee positions then you severely restrict your chances of getting one as huge amounts of trainee positions go to internal candidates. Certainly I've heard managers say they would rather have a Depot driver with a good track record in a trainee mainline role than someone off the street as the Depot Driver is a known quantity whereas someone off the street isn't.

That's my two cents on the subject! I've gone from a depot driver to the mainline and in that time seen the same old names cropping up on this forum who only ever apply for the trainee mainline positions and constantly bemoaning the fact they haven't got anywhere. Entirely your choice guys.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

But I would strongly recommend applying for the job u want (driver in this case) and put all your time and dedication into that application before even considering any other role. If that's the job u want then go for it ��

I would suggest your advise is extremely flawed. I've seen lots and lots of internal people promoted to the driving grade. In fact I would say more than half are internals from other grades.

 

[Johncleesefan]

How can there possibly be a flaw in advising someone to apply for the job they want to do?

 

[notadriver]

Because as he's said your chances are greatly increased by getting another position within the company and transferring internally.

 

[Johncleesefan]

Yes maybe, but your chances of putting together a good application are greatly increased if you stick to one alone FIRST and for the job you want. Like i said already, focus on what you want first, then consider other roles if proving unsuccessful. Pretty much common sense tbh

 

[Memetim]

There were no internals on my trainee driver course. This may be an abnormality but it certainly shows that going for the job you want, instead of feeling the need to go into a different position first and apply internally, works for plenty of people.

 

[notadriver]

Is that for GTR?

 

[387star]

I think some guards etc shoot themselves in the foot by going into the dm interview with a slightly laid back attitude assuming because they are a guard they are in and i think some internals therefore face more a grilling than externals plus they may be asked more operational questions just my two cents

 

[Memetim]

It was initially FCC but yes now GTR

 

[Driver068]

ADVICE...I have applied for a number of trainee train driver positions in various locations such as Leeds, Liverpool and Carlisle. I have also applied to Freightliner earlier this year for the "various locations" positions. What I am trying to find out is does your home location have a negative effect on the position your aiming to apply for. I live in Newcastle but willing to locate too Leeds for arguments sake if a position became available, I do accept the position on willing to locate but I am unsure if this is down to the number of applications and/or down to how far your away from home depot.

 

[387star]

ADVICE...I have applied for a number of trainee train driver positions in various locations such as Leeds, Liverpool and Carlisle. I have also applied to Freightliner earlier this year for the "various locations" positions. What I am trying to find out is does your home location have a negative effect on the position your aiming to apply for. I live in Newcastle but willing to locate too Leeds for arguments sake if a position became available, I do accept the position on willing to locate but I am unsure if this is down to the number of applications and/or down to how far your away from home depot.

Depends on toc

Greater anglia, gtr, c2c, east midlands trains fgw etc I know for a fact relocation not a problem however it could then again make your life more difficult as TDK has said you need to get a very high standard interview to be taken on over local candidates. That said it has happened and people have got jobs relocating especially I would think for london based tocs

Southern Northern Southeastern etc bar people if do not live within a set distance

 

[387star]

Just a quick one to say thanks guys on the forum for all your help over the past five years I managed to pass all but the final interview first time

I never gave up.. I failed the freightliner hh final interview due to nerves past for fgw before christmas but it was a talent pool so did not place all eggs in one basket... Applied for thameslink and finally starting this year a year and four months since I took the assessments. Started applying 2014 and like I say never gave up


Will of course be off the forum soon as deep in training but thanks everyone and hope I can be of encouragement to others
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
PS I started off with southern rail as a platform assistant... A night cleaner with some dispatch basically cleaning stations then went to fgw to be a guard now going back to gtr as a trainee train driver

So even though I didn't stay with the same toc i am still a railway internal and wouldn't have past everything without that experience

 

[Saltire]

Just a quick one to say thanks guys on the forum for all your help over the past five years I managed to pass all but the final interview first time

I never gave up.. I failed the freightliner hh final interview due to nerves past for fgw before christmas but it was a talent pool so did not place all eggs in one basket... Applied for thameslink and finally starting this year a year and four months since I took the assessments. Started applying 2014 and like I say never gave up


Will of course be off the forum soon as deep in training but thanks everyone and hope I can be of encouragement to others
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
PS I started off with southern rail as a platform assistant... A night cleaner with some dispatch basically cleaning stations then went to fgw to be a guard now going back to gtr as a trainee train driver

So even though I didn't stay with the same toc i am still a railway internal and wouldn't have past everything without that experience

Well done ML - I feel like I know you well enough just to call you "M"
Just goes to show perseverance pays off, fortunately you were in a position to commit to relocating (unlike me), and you have got to the point most of us aspire to - good luck with the training and don't be a stranger on here, some of us would like to follow your progress
Best wishes
Saltire

 

[387star]

Well done ML - I feel like I know you well enough just to call you "M"
Just goes to show perseverance pays off, fortunately you were in a position to commit to relocating (unlike me), and you have got to the point most of us aspire to - good luck with the training and don't be a stranger on here, some of us would like to follow your progress
Best wishes
Saltire

thanks!

well in the end didn't have to relocate I will do though to bring commute down

I was lucky perhaps as hardly ever failed to get through a sift think applying early helped as well

I think relocation is a significant disadvantage actually as TDK has said but it can happen on occasion

I actually failed two DM interviews (though past two) not just freightliner HH but greater anglia as well.. went in on a high for greater anglia after fgw got a bit too complacent I think and they were totally different questions... it came very soon after my FGW pass back when I thought FGW would happen in days lol... I was asked why them not fgw and I was maybe too honest explained I was successful but hadn't heard back maybe not a good answer! but didn't want to make out my own company had rejected me!

but yeah will update I am sure

 

[Driver068]

Are you able to contact the OPC to get an update on any current assessments conducted and able to get feedback and/or the result of your MMI

 

[Saltire]

Are you able to contact the OPC to get an update on any current assessments conducted and able to get feedback and/or the result of your MMI

Nope! Is the quick and simple, albeit blunt answer.
Their reasoning is that the information they hold on you does not belong to you, it belongs to the company who paid for you to sit the assessments.

And yes I did ask them, here's their very polite reply

"Thank you for your email. Unfortunately we cannot send you the results directly of your assessment with ****** as the results belong to them. However if you can inform your prospective employer of the assessments that you have done, they will have provisions in place to validate your results. I'm sorry I couldn't help further.
** **********
Business Development Manager"

 

[Driver068]

Well I have finally passed my train driver assessments, does this make me more employable for any trainee train driver positions in the near future?

 

[455driver]

Well I have finally passed my train driver assessments, does this make me more employable for any trainee train driver positions in the near future?

It all depends what tests you have done (eg some TOCs don't do the mechanical test) and who you did the tests with but the broad answer is yes.

 

[Driver068]

It all depends what tests you have done (eg some TOCs don't do the mechanical test) and who you did the tests with but the broad answer is yes.

done them down doncaster, dbs