ATW train roster

[carlejo]

Any current driver that works on the Cardiff/valleys line here ?

If so, would you be so kind as to post your rota pattern here so I've an idea of how the shifts work ?

I currently work shifts, so it's not a problem working them, I just wanted an idea of what they were

Thanks
Carlejo

 

[emrysgwen]

Up until 18 months ago I worked the valleys but as a guard however I have a rough idea on the turns. Generally speaking you could be earlies, mid morning, mid afternoon, 5pm ish and nights, main line was pretty much the same. Expect to work all hours of the day and night.

 

[carlejo]

I just wondered if anyone could put the actual shift run pattern on here, or do they change ?
cheers
Carlejo

 

[teaanddunkers]

I don't think its practical to post the entire link on here! I think drivers start as early as 02:30 if starting from shed and as late as 17:00, basically it's all hours with no real pattern. I wouldn't worry about it at this stage, get the job first, train for 9 months then start looking at the link!

 

[daddy_badger]

You will be following your driver instructor shift pattern until you get your wings.

 

[Pacerpilot]

As stated, its not really practical to post each of the three links of work as that's over 130 weeks of shifts to post. Earliest start used to be 0340, latest "daytime" start was 17:50, with nights starting at 21.30.
But that was before I saw sense and jumped ship some 3 years ago. I fine railway training ground as you'll encounter numerous types of signalling systems but the work is simply horrific.

 

[TDK]

Any current driver that works on the Cardiff/valleys line here ?

If so, would you be so kind as to post your rota pattern here so I've an idea of how the shifts work ?

I currently work shifts, so it's not a problem working them, I just wanted an idea of what they were

Thanks
Carlejo

You won't be doing any shifts for quite a while and you will have plenty of time to be able to study them if you get the job.

 

[martin2345uk]

As stated, its not really practical to post each of the three links of work as that's over 130 weeks of shifts to post. Earliest start used to be 0340, latest "daytime" start was 17:50, with nights starting at 21.30.
But that was before I saw sense and jumped ship some 3 years ago. I fine railway training ground as you'll encounter numerous types of signalling systems but the work is simply horrific.

Horrific?! That's a bit extreme isn't it..? What was so bad about it?

 

[daddy_badger]

Have a look at the valley timetables

 

[Pacerpilot]

Horrific?! That's a bit extreme isn't it..? What was so bad about it?

Boring repetitive work, 4.5hrs in the seat, back and forth over the same stretch of track all day.
Penarth - Rhymney - Penarth - Bargoed - Penarth Break Bargoed - Penarth - Rhymney - Penarth.

Canton - Coryton - Radyr - Coryton - Radyr - Coryton Break repeat.

No chance of progressing onto the mainline links for years. There will be 130 drivers senior to you so they'll be first in line for vacancies in the higher links.

Horrid stock, held together with tape and tie wraps. Freezing and leaky in the winter, unbearably hot in the summer.

And the most delightful passengers in the world

 

[emrysgwen]

Boring repetitive work, 4.5hrs in the seat, back and forth over the same stretch of track all day.
Penarth - Rhymney - Penarth - Bargoed - Penarth Break Bargoed - Penarth - Rhymney - Penarth.

Canton - Coryton - Radyr - Coryton - Radyr - Coryton Break repeat.

No chance of progressing onto the mainline links for years. There will be 130 drivers senior to you so they'll be first in line for vacancies in the higher links.

Horrid stock, held together with tape and tie wraps. Freezing and leaky in the winter, unbearably hot in the summer.

And the most delightful passengers in the world

You missed a rady cory at the end lol.

My least favourite job was 6 bays, followed by treherbert cardiff back to treherbert via city line, then 2 bays followed by cory radyr

And the last ystrad wasnt any better with a merthyr, penarth bargoed penarth rhymney cardiff break penarth ystrad. Then the sunday turn which was all but the first and last bay train very boring and repetitive and its only a 6 minute round trip including waiting time. Think it worked out at 32 bays in one day if you did the fiddle, and you had the same driver all day which is fine if you have a driver you get on with, very lonely and boring if its a driver that doesnt really speak or you dont get on with. Also bad if your on the 121 bubble car in the summer with hundreds of pushchairs, and people that dont have a clue how to get on or off this type of traction. I gave them many years, but soon saw the light and transferred to freight

 

[Beveridges]

Christ that sounds horrendous.
I cant imagine doing that 4 days a week (or is it a 5 day week at Cardiff!?)
I have spent a couple of days in and around Cardiff and the valleys so know what services your talking about. I also know the stock well, horrendous pacers.
Bet it was a bit less boring when you used to have class 37-hauled trains going to Rhymney, were they driven by ATW drivers or were they EWS driven?

 

[emrysgwen]

Its a 4 day week on valleys and a 5 day week on main line. All I can say is im glad to be on 66 engines rather than a nodding donkey (142/143) and I like not having to worry about passengers. The only traction used on the valley network now are the 121 bubble car which spends most of the summer on shed with faults and seems to work fine through winter when you really dont want to be on it, 153 which is great fun round the city lines on a saturday including match days at ninian park, try getting nearly 300 people on one of them, then they have the 142 and 143s, and if your really lucky you will get a 150. Mainline operate in addition class 175s and there is a loco and coaches one way a day from up north to cardiff and back although I believe this is now onlu operated by shrewsbury crew. They also have ertms fitter 158s although this is the only stock for the cambrian so its not as common to work a 158 from cardiff although it does happen. Arriva seem to be a perferct training ground for staff but many people once trained and complete there 2 years look at alternative companies.

What I will say tho, is that although atw may not be the highest paying, they still pay very well, almost guaranteed a pay rise every year, they pay on time and if they pay incorrect amounts you can go over and get what they owe you via a "white slip" so it is resolved quickly. Also there is job security as long as you keep your head down and do your work correctly without doing things wrong.

 

[bandit]

Its a 4 day week on valleys and a 5 day week on main line. All I can say is im glad to be on 66 engines rather than a nodding donkey (142/143) and I like not having to worry about passengers. The only traction used on the valley network now are the 121 bubble car which spends most of the summer on shed with faults and seems to work fine through winter when you really dont want to be on it, 153 which is great fun round the city lines on a saturday including match days at ninian park, try getting nearly 300 people on one of them, then they have the 142 and 143s, and if your really lucky you will get a 150. Mainline operate in addition class 175s and there is a loco and coaches one way a day from up north to cardiff and back although I believe this is now onlu operated by shrewsbury crew. They also have ertms fitter 158s although this is the only stock for the cambrian so its not as common to work a 158 from cardiff although it does happen. Arriva seem to be a perferct training ground for staff but many people once trained and complete there 2 years look at alternative companies.

What I will say tho, is that although atw may not be the highest paying, they still pay very well, almost guaranteed a pay rise every year, they pay on time and if they pay incorrect amounts you can go over and get what they owe you via a "white slip" so it is resolved quickly. Also there is job security as long as you keep your head down and do your work correctly without doing things wrong.

drivers are on a 5 day week valleys and mainline,its guards 4 day week valleys 5 day week mainline.

 

[emrysgwen]

drivers are on a 5 day week valleys and mainline,its guards 4 day week valleys 5 day week mainline.

Thank you for correcting, best to have the right information.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Sorry if this doesn't sound relevant, however it seems a good place to put it!

As a commuter and regualr traveller on ATW, I always wonder where the crew changes are on the Mainline, and what sort of pattern it follows. Can anybody enlighten me?

 

[TDK]

Sorry if this doesn't sound relevant, however it seems a good place to put it!

As a commuter and regualr traveller on ATW, I always wonder where the crew changes are on the Mainline, and what sort of pattern it follows. Can anybody enlighten me?

Chetser, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Llandudno Jct, Holyhead, Machynllth, Cardiff, Trehebert and some other ad hoc like Wrexham, Llnyrtydd wells and Llandrindod Wells etc. No pattern, it all depends on PNB (rest time), Job length, route knowledge etc.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Chetser, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Llandudno Jct, Holyhead, Machynllth, Cardiff, Trehebert and some other ad hoc like Wrexham, Llnyrtydd wells and Llandrindod Wells etc. No pattern, it all depends on PNB (rest time), Job length, route knowledge etc.

Ok cheers, so a train heading north from CDF would crew change at SHR?
What about going west? Do crews from CDF change at SWA or CMN?

 

[Pugland53]

Ok cheers, so a train heading north from CDF would crew change at SHR?
What about going west? Do crews from CDF change at SWA or CMN?

Cardiff mainline drivers often change at Shrewsbury but they also sign to Chester and Crewe so could change there too. Going west they do change at Carmarthen but can also go all the way.

 

[notadriver]

I heard the drivers on a 5 day week get every 5th week off.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Cardiff mainline drivers often change at Shrewsbury but they also sign to Chester and Crewe so could change there too. Going west they do change at Carmarthen but can also go all the way.

Cheers, doesn't amtter in the slightest in real terms, just always wondered. What about guards? I guess it's broadly the same?