A question about New Cross gate

[up1989]

Hello all,

I've just been offered a trainee driver position for ARL at NXG. I'm currently a Train Operator on London underground working a line that runs half on LUL and half on NR so have a rough outline of RSSB rules (we have an abridged rule book for running on NR metals) and have been driving for just under 4 years.

What I'm asking is does anyone have any experience of what the links are like rest day patterns and general relationship between drivers and managers at NXG.

Changing jobs would involve a pay cut during training and first year out, and I'm wondering if it would be a good move from a pretty relaxed atmosphere on LUL. The adage of the devil you know comes to mind, however moving on to mainline driving is a very big temptation!

Any advise or info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sirgerbil]

What's your real reasons for wanting to move? Money or do you genuinley have a passion to drive under NR rules?

You've probably got better T&C's and rest day pattern at LU, Sundays are in with ARL, you've probably got similar amount of stops per day. I cant comment on what the DTM's are like at NXG it's always gonna be a mixed bag of down to earth managers and hard asses. Drivers will be drivers - Your LUL experience will mean nothing there and you will be treated as any other trainee would.

Money wise you'd be 7k better off which isn't going to translate that much in your pay packet each month. Plus you'd be going down to trainee/PQA money for 2 years.

Only you can decide really!

 

[up1989]

Thanks for your reply!

Personally money isn’t the main motivation although an added bonus. Its the interest in progressing my driving career into NR work is the big reason. Also I’d be lying if the fact that nxg would shave half an hour off my commute isn’t a draw!

I understand that I’ll be starting from the bottom, but that’s the best way to learn I think, starting from scratch. Although my experiences from dealing with incidents on LUL and NR might have some help in a career with ARL I can imagine.

At my depot we do work a lot of weekends only get a proper sat Sunday off together every 5/6 weeks. And always driving to restrictive aspects in the tunnel and out on NR we rarely see a green! So an intense commuter route like the ELL would feel familiar I can imagine?

My biggest problem is that it is my choice, and a very difficult one! Tho deep down I think I know where I want to go.

 

[43066]

Congratulations on the offer.

I don’t work for ARL, but work with several people who used to, who have subsequently moved on.

Overall their feedback about the company is pretty positive - albeit that the work was very, very intensive by mainline standards, which is why they left (but coming from an LU background, you might well find it a step down in intensity!).

Overall, if I was in your position, I’d take it - money aside, ARL are on a 4 day week against LU’s 5, so you’d find yourself with a lot more time off.

If money is a factor ARL pay in the mid £60ks and, unlike on LU, you’d be able to work rest days, so if you continued to do a five day week you could easily find yourself earning another £10 - 15k (or more) in addition to the basic wage.

ARL would also offer you a European driving licence and the ability to move to another national rail TOC, either for better work, or to relocate geographically.