A Few Driver Questions

[support-uk-rail]

Hi,

I've got a few questions about drivers/the cab. I didn't know where to put the thread so I put it here, but if it should be anywhere else, mods please move it! These are just some general queries I have...

1. How long can a driver operate a train before having to take a break? And what classes as a 'break/rest'.

2. In the cab, other than the actual controls, what features are there designed for the driver's comfort/convienience (I read somewhere on here that one class used to have a urinal in the cab!)

3. How many hours does a typical driver typicall do a week? And does this include any non-driving duties?

4. What is the legal age for driving trains? I understand it to be 21, but is this law or usual company policy, and what about freight?

5. Are drivers allowed to eat and drink in the cab, or use mobile phones?

6. Physically speaking, what criteria should train operators generally suit? (height, weight, fitness etc)

That's all,
Thanks very much for your time!

 

[GB]

You have to be 21 to be a fully qualified driver, however it has been known that some companies have taken on people at 20 1/2 as when they finish training they will be of the correct age.

TOCs and FOCs tend to have their own policy on mobile phones, but generally they are either banned full stop or only to be used in connection with your job when the train is not moving. Depending on the company, using a mobile phone while the train is in motion is a sackable offense....even if the call is work related.

I can't speak for all classes of loco or train, but the class GB class 66 is fitted with a hot plate, window blinds, fairly decent seats with some locos being retro fitted with AC units on a trial bases. Eating and drinking in the cab is allowed where I work as usually this is the only suitable place to do it.

 

[Daniel]

You have to be 21 to be a fully qualified driver,

(or 18 on London Underground)

 

[hairyhandedfool]

From memory, Thameslink (Before FCC) had drivers on 38 hour weeks, but this was an average over 18 weeks cycles. A day's work would be between 5 and 12 hours. Some weeks are booked 'spare' incase of incident or absence.

Drivers were given ten minute Cab Enviroment Breaks on most duties and on the longer ones also had a 'lunch' break of atleast 30 minutes. In both cases this does not include time to walk to and from a train, or time to 'change ends'.

Physical Criteria was that drivers had to be in good general health, be able to move about the train freely and be able to perform any duty required of them, including emergency actions. They must have good eyesight and hearing, they can wear glasses, but not have had laser eye treatment.

 

[37401]

You cant use a mobile in the cab, I read somewhere that as long as you fit ok in the cab they dont mind about height, weight ect

 

[TDK]

Hi,

I've got a few questions about drivers/the cab. I didn't know where to put the thread so I put it here, but if it should be anywhere else, mods please move it! These are just some general queries I have...

1. How long can a driver operate a train before having to take a break? And what classes as a 'break/rest'.

2. In the cab, other than the actual controls, what features are there designed for the driver's comfort/convienience (I read somewhere on here that one class used to have a urinal in the cab!)

3. How many hours does a typical driver typicall do a week? And does this include any non-driving duties?

4. What is the legal age for driving trains? I understand it to be 21, but is this law or usual company policy, and what about freight?

5. Are drivers allowed to eat and drink in the cab, or use mobile phones?

6. Physically speaking, what criteria should train operators generally suit? (height, weight, fitness etc)

That's all,
Thanks very much for your time!

1. Varies up to 4 hours 30minutes, can be longer forlate running, a break depends on the length of turn, usuall 40 minutes plus out of the cab environment

2. Some trains have air con, holders for tea cups, sun blinds, adjustable seats

3. most TOC's drivers work a 35 hour 4 day week with Sundays extra on a flexible voluntary basis, the 35 hours consists of driving, shunting, spare & training updates

4. On mainline it's 21,I think it younger for underground

5. Mobile phone should not be used if it could jeapordise the safety of your train so no mobilephone use when the train is moving, you can eat or drink but once again only if it does not jeaprodise the safety of the train

6. You will need a body mass index of 33 or under in general this is due to ergonomics in the cab, if you are under 5'2 or over 6'6 you can still become a driver but a risk assessment will be carried out on enetering, exiting and also sitting in the cab, I know one driver who is only 5 feet tall. You need to be generally fit, in your duties you may need to walk a mile and a quarter on ballast, if this is not possible you won't get the job

Hope this answers the question

 

[bengley]

I was on a piccadilly line train once and the driver was having an argument with whom I assumed was his wife on his mobile

 

[curly42]

Interesting comment regarding laser eye surgery.I wasn't aware of any restrictions on drivers who have had this done.Does anyone have any further details about this - is it a blanket rule for all companies ?
What would happen if you're already a driver when you have it done - are you taken off driving duties ??
Will be most interested to find out more about this.

 

[driver9000]

Laser eye surgery is not allowed under railway group standards which covers the entire network, if a qualified driver has the surgery then they would be pretty foolish as this would end their career. 37401 is wrong in saying you can use a mobile phone in the cab as this too is banned and as has already been mentioned is a sackable offence, it is allowed to use one when the train is at a stand or in an emergency situation when no other means of communication is available

 

[37401]

37401 is wrong in saying you can use a mobile phone in the cab as this too is banned and as has already been mentioned is a sackable offence,

oops meant to say cant thanks for pointing it out :doh:

 

[TrainDriver]

1. How long can a driver operate a train before having to take a break? And what classes as a 'break/rest'.

3 hours continuous non-stop driving or 5 hours of stop-start driving.
Depending on how long your shift is or how its broken up you can have 20, 30 or 40 minute Physical Needs Break, sometimes supplemented with a 10 minute Cab Environmental Break. All break times are excluding walking time to and from the mess room and PC/TC times (basically 15 minutes on top of break in all)

2. In the cab, other than the actual controls, what features are there designed for the driver's comfort/convienience (I read somewhere on here that one class used to have a urinal in the cab!)

In mine? None

3. How many hours does a typical driver typicall do a week? And does this include any non-driving duties?

35 hours on average over a 54 week link. 10 minutes a day is for booking-on, which is checking late notices, getting up-to-date on publications etc and 1 minute for booking off duty a day to ascertain your next turn of duty.

4. What is the legal age for driving trains? I understand it to be 21, but is this law or usual company policy, and what about freight?

To drive on any Network Rail infrastructure you cannot gain a licence until you are 21*. You can start training before but cannot pass out until this age.
I think you can drive tube trains from 18 because the routes are fully protected by tripcocks.

*Interestingly, the European Directive on Train Driver Licensing states that member states must set minimum ages of 18 for domestic services and 20 for international services. Our age limits simply exceed the minimum requirement and is based on risk assessments.

5. Are drivers allowed to eat and drink in the cab, or use mobile phones?

Eating and drinking is fine. Each company has their own policy on mobile phones. I am allowed to have my company mobile phone on in the cab, as long as it is on silent and put away, but it is there ready to be used when necessary. Some companies say no phone in the cab ever!

6. Physically speaking, what criteria should train operators generally suit? (height, weight, fitness etc)

Railway Group Standards used to say no BMI over 33 but has been adjusted to prohibit persons suffering from any condition that is likely to cause

a) sudden loss of consciousness
b) a reduction in attention or concentration
c) sudden incapacity
d) a loss of balance or co-ordination
e) significant limitation of mobility

There is also no restriction as such on laser eye surgery any more. It has been amended to read

....shall not permit persons to drive trains or travel as a
competent person with a train driver where there is reason to believe that a
person’s vision, or the means used to correct it, could impair their performance.

which basically means it needs to be risk assessed, but I do not know of any driver that has tried it yet.

That's all,
Thanks very much for your time!

No problem!

 

[Dai.]

3 hours continuous non-stop driving or 5 hours of stop-start driving.
Depending on how long your shift is or how its broken up you can have 20, 30 or 40 minute Physical Needs Break, sometimes supplemented with a 10 minute Cab Environmental Break. All break times are excluding walking time to and from the mess room and PC/TC times (basically 15 minutes on top of break in all)



In mine? None



35 hours on average over a 54 week link. 10 minutes a day is for booking-on, which is checking late notices, getting up-to-date on publications etc and 1 minute for booking off duty a day to ascertain your next turn of duty.



To drive on any Network Rail infrastructure you cannot gain a licence until you are 21*. You can start training before but cannot pass out until this age.
I think you can drive tube trains from 18 because the routes are fully protected by tripcocks.

*Interestingly, the European Directive on Train Driver Licensing states that member states must set minimum ages of 18 for domestic services and 20 for international services. Our age limits simply exceed the minimum requirement and is based on risk assessments.



Eating and drinking is fine. Each company has their own policy on mobile phones. I am allowed to have my company mobile phone on in the cab, as long as it is on silent and put away, but it is there ready to be used when necessary. Some companies say no phone in the cab ever!



Railway Group Standards used to say no BMI over 33 but has been adjusted to prohibit persons suffering from any condition that is likely to cause

a) sudden loss of consciousness
b) a reduction in attention or concentration
c) sudden incapacity
d) a loss of balance or co-ordination
e) significant limitation of mobility

There is also no restriction as such on laser eye surgery any more. It has been amended to read

....shall not permit persons to drive trains or travel as a
competent person with a train driver where there is reason to believe that a
person’s vision, or the means used to correct it, could impair their performance.

which basically means it needs to be risk assessed, but I do not know of any driver that has tried it yet.



No problem!

Im edging my bets a bit here but I think this is the person to listen to.
(Notice his name)

 

[GB]

Im edging my bets a bit here but I think this is the person to listen to.
(Notice his name)

So everyone else is talking out their arse?

 

[Dai.]

So everyone else is talking out their arse?

I never said or made that assumption