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A career as a train driver
- Thread starter Thornaby
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ralphchadkirk
Established Member
DavidBusDriver
Member
All Route knowledge in general ml - lucky on DOO passenger CSR allows for immediate communication with the controlling signal panel.
For freight drivers, think they operate on both CSR and the NRN which has to be kept dialled onto the correct frequency for the area the train is being operated in - in an emergency call, it is down to the driver and signaller coming to a clear understanding about what is taking place, upon which line the train is standing, at which signal if at a signal, or giving landmark and structure numbers to pinpoint the location.
If none of the above - good old Signal Post Telephones!
For freight drivers, think they operate on both CSR and the NRN which has to be kept dialled onto the correct frequency for the area the train is being operated in - in an emergency call, it is down to the driver and signaller coming to a clear understanding about what is taking place, upon which line the train is standing, at which signal if at a signal, or giving landmark and structure numbers to pinpoint the location.
If none of the above - good old Signal Post Telephones!
What do those acronyms stand for especially DOO please.
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Also would it be wise to say a driver has to leave no room for error or are they allowed to be human once in a while? :P
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Also would it be wise to say a driver has to leave no room for error or are they allowed to be human once in a while? :P
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Also would it be wise to say a driver has to leave no room for error or are they allowed to be human once in a while? :P
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also would it be wise to say a driver has to leave no room for error or are they allowed to be human once in a while? :P
DOO - Driver Only Operation (No Guard or Conductor)
CSR - Cab Secure Radio (A means of communication between Drivers and Signallers which has some additional features)
NRN - National Radio Network (A means of communications between a driver and a signaller or control...very poor and very basic)
SPT - Signal Post Telephone (A telephone on a signal post that when the hand is lifted automatically rings the controlling signaller)
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Depends on the error and the circumstances. Some mistakes will go on your file, some mistakes will end your career.
Of the freight companies, it is only GBRF that refer to their drivers as TM's and ground staff as ATM's.
CSR - Cab Secure Radio (A means of communication between Drivers and Signallers which has some additional features)
NRN - National Radio Network (A means of communications between a driver and a signaller or control...very poor and very basic)
SPT - Signal Post Telephone (A telephone on a signal post that when the hand is lifted automatically rings the controlling signaller)
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Depends on the error and the circumstances. Some mistakes will go on your file, some mistakes will end your career.
Of the freight companies, it is only GBRF that refer to their drivers as TM's and ground staff as ATM's.
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Well it depends on the circumstances of what you've done. I imagine train drivers have to fill in some kind of report at the end of the day, outlining if there were any incidents. You'll almost definitely have a record that will be taken into count when you decide to get away from the Underground and move onto the HST's! I'd recommend that you try to remember to bring as many carriages to the destination as possible!
Depends on the error and the company's procedures. Genuine human errors (such as stopping a passenger train at the wrong station stop mark or a fail to call) are generally dealt with less strictly than violations (ie deliberately breaking a rule). Human errors can often be dealt with by re-education or some other corrective action plan, whereas a violation can result in a disciplinary action. Different companies can handle things very differently.
I read somewhere they are advertising externally on a more frequent basis.
Would becoming a bus driver etc be any help given it is a safety critical job. I take it they favour safety critical job positions.
Given Train Driving is often a second career choice could anyone help me out by identifying the various backgrounds of current or past drivers (if known)
I know nothing is a given but are there certain career paths that might be beneficial with the eventual aim of becoming a driver in mind?
I will delay taking the Donny tests until I gain a wider variety of work experience
I don't know really. Bus drivers get considerably less pay than train drivers. The training itself takes about six or seven weeks. I imagine it would mainly cover things like road safety and awareness. My advice is to get as much experience as you can in any field of work. Keep your options open.
driver9000
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A report is only needed if there was a reportable event (ie signalling irregularity, delay etc) during the turn of duty. No event = no report
Although not identical, bus driving and train driving have similarities. You would become used to working to a schedule, working through a roster (known as a link on the railway), working on your own unsupervised, carrying out vehicle checks (a bus needs preparing at the beginning of it's day too), report writing, driving within the PSV regulations and laws (Rulebook on the railway), driving for long periods (up to 5hr30 on a bus). It's not a guaranteed way into driving trains as it depends on how you fill in the application forms, present yourself at interviews and carry out the tests but it can help condition yourself for the regulated role a Train Driver carries out, I came from buses so it's not impossible
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Thanks I will definately consider it. First make it harder at the application stage for the bus driver than Stagecoach. I've also been looking at driving instructors there pay is not bad!
I already work unsupervised but for the other skills it looks like a good option and I have always had an interest in all forms of public transport and providing a crucial service to people
Am I right it is simply an interview for the trainee bus driver job with any assessments carried out if successful and drug screening etc. I know it may be variable but do you have the structured interview?
I realise the pay is considerably lower than train driving but it is not bad for a young person such as myself probably £9 an hour and better than retail which averages around £6 pound an hour
I already work unsupervised but for the other skills it looks like a good option and I have always had an interest in all forms of public transport and providing a crucial service to people
Am I right it is simply an interview for the trainee bus driver job with any assessments carried out if successful and drug screening etc. I know it may be variable but do you have the structured interview?
I realise the pay is considerably lower than train driving but it is not bad for a young person such as myself probably £9 an hour and better than retail which averages around £6 pound an hour
strange6
Established Member
I came from buses so it's not impossible
Haaaa, so that's why you call yourself 'Atlantean' on Flickr!
My very first proper job (on which I relied to make a living from) was working at a garage that specialised in fixing and repairing Porsche's. I didn't do any of the mechanical stuff, I spent the day fixing up the forms, booking appointments and occasionaly changing tyres or topping up cars on various fluids. The pay wasn't that great, even for a Porsche garage, but it didn't have any effect on me when I went down to get a job at the Conservative Party, something I'd wanted to do all my life.
I think the in-training pay for a driver is about £21,000 PA. What salary you were on before really should not come into the question. If I'm looking to get someone into my office, there's no way I would look at their previous pay. I'd certainly be checking out which jobs they'd done previously, but the money is irrelevant. What counts is the expierence.
It doesn't make any difference what salary you or on or to a certain degree what job you currently have, it is all down to the content of the application form in the first outset and then your success on completing the assessment day and interviews.
Could someone forward me practice questions for the dials test please. I would really appreciate it
Another question: Why have some TOCs chosen to advertise externally when there are enough potential drivers within the company?
If they only looked internally they would be able to look at the applications more fairly and would have the inbuilt knowledge to assess applicants. This would also provide further incentive for those wishing to take on menial jobs?
Another question: Why have some TOCs chosen to advertise externally when there are enough potential drivers within the company?
If they only looked internally they would be able to look at the applications more fairly and would have the inbuilt knowledge to assess applicants. This would also provide further incentive for those wishing to take on menial jobs?
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warriorofrovac
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- 23 Feb 2006
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I have a trainee driver interview coming up soon.
I assume it will be the usual competency based questions that come up in any job interview?
I assume it will be the usual competency based questions that come up in any job interview?
Have a browse through the Railway Jobs & Careers forum. I know for fact that the lowdown on trainee interview questions has been listed at least 500,000 times!
Hi, I recently failed the final part of an assessment for a trainee train driver for LOROL (the SafePQ test) after easily passing the rest, and am still interested in becoming a train driver as most other companies don't do the SafePQ (which I personally think is just their excuse for choosing who they want rather than anything involving safety). Would it be a good idea to take a job elsewhere within the rail industry (Southern have a position as Station Assistant in Clapham Junction that I am considering) or wouldn't it make much difference?
Also, I have mild Asperger syndrome, and stated this during the assessment but not the application, would this be considered a disability that they (companies generally) would not hire someone with, and if so do they even consider testing the severity?
Also, I have mild Asperger syndrome, and stated this during the assessment but not the application, would this be considered a disability that they (companies generally) would not hire someone with, and if so do they even consider testing the severity?
notadriver
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What is the Safe PQ test ?
I believe it's the Safe Personality Questionnaire which is a questionnaire that grades your propensity to be a good train driver - one question might be "I tend to work best on my own" and you have 5 answers from strongly disagree through to strongly agree. There are 115 questions for LOROL I believe, with the test designed to check you are answering honestly by asking similar questions in different ways.
I guess it is a tried and tested method, although it is a shame if one or two wild card answers leads to failure.
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I am none of those...the main "limit" with me is people skills. I can deal with customers easily enough (I wouldn't even have considered platform assistant otherwise
) but it doesn't come easily to me and I prefer to work alone unless it's with people I know and who know me. Other than that, there isn't anything that I would consider a barrier...I am definitely a logical thinker (and her not being a logical thinker would suggest to me a misdiagnosis, most if not all aspies are the opposite...not that I am saying the diagnosis is wrong, just my take on the condition), I have minor anxiety around customers (but very minor) and can keep calm under even extreme pressure. I guess the biggest problem to me might be irate customers who would eventually want to knock me out because of my calmness and the fact that I think of things as black and white with no grey area.
Cherry_Picker
Established Member
Safety critical communication is a key part of being a train driver. You will have to communicate with signallers, guards & dispatchers on a daily basis and P Way staff and control from time to time.
I'm no psychiatrist, but would Aspergers be a hindrance in that? Even if it gave the guy who had the say on whether you got the job or not the slightest doubt, would he risk it? One of the problems from the applicants point of view is the sheer number of people who apply for drivers jobs. Lots of these people are very strong applicants, and a lot of those will miss out simply because there are so few jobs available. If there is a guy you have a doubt over and five you dont, is it safe to assume that Aspergers could be a deal breaker? I'm not saying it will be, but it is certainly food for thought.
I'm no psychiatrist, but would Aspergers be a hindrance in that? Even if it gave the guy who had the say on whether you got the job or not the slightest doubt, would he risk it? One of the problems from the applicants point of view is the sheer number of people who apply for drivers jobs. Lots of these people are very strong applicants, and a lot of those will miss out simply because there are so few jobs available. If there is a guy you have a doubt over and five you dont, is it safe to assume that Aspergers could be a deal breaker? I'm not saying it will be, but it is certainly food for thought.
It is safe to assume Asperger would be a problem with some people, but my worry is that they may have assumed it was so with me without even looking into the fact...although it is understandable they wouldn't want to waste their time and instead decided to waste mine :-P
In my case, I have had almost a year's experience as a radio controller for a parking attendant firm (APCOA) and was considered one of the most reliable operators (always called to the radio in emergency situations if I was in the room, mostly because of my calmness and ability to maintain control)...the safety of everyone out on the street was in my hands.
Perhaps you're right, perhaps I should contact them to discuss it, as IMO it would not have any effect on my ability to do the job whatsoever. The golden rule with radio communication is clear and concise communication, and I've had plenty of experience with that
In my case, I have had almost a year's experience as a radio controller for a parking attendant firm (APCOA) and was considered one of the most reliable operators (always called to the radio in emergency situations if I was in the room, mostly because of my calmness and ability to maintain control)...the safety of everyone out on the street was in my hands.
Perhaps you're right, perhaps I should contact them to discuss it, as IMO it would not have any effect on my ability to do the job whatsoever. The golden rule with radio communication is clear and concise communication, and I've had plenty of experience with that