Avanti West Coast - Qualified Train Drivers - London Euston (23/03/22)

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Good Luck Guys

 

[martin2345uk]

Again so soon - must be pretty short on drivers there in the coming few months!

 

[dctraindriver]

Blimey I’d be taking a massive cut for 2 years. Maybe that’s putting some off?

 

[Mashud121]

Yes plus just looked at mtr crossrail new pay for drivers kicks in from april 69k for metro work and half on auto.Thinking.

 

[WrongRoad]

Not great money for Mainline work, especially compared to the pay at SWR London depots which is mainly Metro commuter routes.

 

[RailExplorer]

Does anyone know their current pay rates? The pay rates on the ad seem very low in comparison to other TOCs in London.

 

[Class2ldn]

That is their current pay, it only goes up to 67k after 2 years

 

[theking]

57k for full routes and traction is a joke for a fully qualified driver unless they have a driver instructor or driver manager out with your or you do half turns until you're on 67k.

I understand why tocs pay pqd drivers a lower rate because they need more support but you are going there as a fully qualified driver with an "EXEMPLARY" record according to their ad so should be on full pay once productive.

 

[baz962]

Blimey I’d be taking a massive cut for 2 years. Maybe that’s putting some off?

I have a qualified driver friend starting there soon and apparently the advert in regards the salary is generic , but at Euston it's different . Don't take it as gospel , but I was told that you go to low sixties after four months and that it goes to full rate after only a year.

 

[TTDARL]

A driver is leaving my place in a few weeks to go there. FOR LONDON EUSTON DEPOT ONLY it’s £53826 starting. On pass out (London to Wolverhampton plus Wembley depot / Camden yard and associated lines / moves is the initial core route pass out and all other routes are learnt as time goes on) it goes up to £62364. After a year it goes up to £67486. Avanti have had no pay rise in over 2 years so could be changing soon. And Sundays are outside so you earn more for committed Sundays. Also a booking on payment for nights and sundays. Starting salary and increments are lower at all other depots as per the advert and it’s takes two years to get to full salary all all other depots but only one year at London Euston depot. You can do RDW whilst route learning within reason of course.

 

[43066]

A driver is leaving my place in a few weeks to go there. FOR LONDON EUSTON DEPOT ONLY it’s £53826 starting. On pass out (London to Wolverhampton is the initial core route pass out and all other routes are learnt as time goes on) it goes up to £62364. After a year it goes yo to £67486. Avanti have had no pay rise in over 2 years so could be changing soon. And Sundays are outside. Starting salary and increments are lower at all other depots as per the advert and it’s takes two years to get to full salary all all other depots but only one year at London Euston depot. You can do RDW whilst route learning within reason of course.

AIUI (from someone whose going there) they can do RDW once they’ve signed off London - Birmingham*, so a couple of months after starting.

*or was it Wolverhampton?! Basically the same place I suppose!

 

[TTDARL]

They can work RDW whilst route learning prior to being passed out. But only one RDW per week. Confirmed with a few people that have left my place and are currently working there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Mar 2022 ==

This is the fourth advert in a year for Euston depot. Very picky apparently in terms of incidents, sickness, lateness, disruptive people etc etc. They always get a flood of applicants but choose very few hence the repeat adverts. A wave of retirements are due. This is one of those TOCS that hardly anyone leaves. All proper mainline, high speed work.

 

[Class2ldn]

From what I've seen their roster isn't the most appealing. No taxi agreement either have they?

 

[martin2345uk]

Yeah definitely plusses and minuses with Avanti I guess. I am still trying to decide if the commute from Chelmsford to Euston is even practical...

 

[43066]

From what I've seen their roster isn't the most appealing. No taxi agreement either have they?

They do have a taxi agreement. Five day week/week of rest days not for everyone.

 

[TTDARL]

They definitely still have a taxi agreement, including new entrant qualified drivers. The current roster is up for vote. It’s still a link structure system with various links signing different routes compared to other links. Many there feel that like a lot of other TOCS, everyone should be equal and sign the same routes & traction. And yes, the period of days at work between the 7/10 days off they get can be long hence the vote on the current system.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Mar 2022 ==

No double trips still at Euston depot. Either a single trip or trips worked in a triangle structure. Drive one up north, pass somewhere and drive one back.

 

[43066]

Yeah definitely plusses and minuses with Avanti I guess. I am still trying to decide if the commute from Chelmsford to Euston is even practical...

A couple at my place (down the road from Euston) come in from there.

 

[dctraindriver]

A driver is leaving my place in a few weeks to go there. FOR LONDON EUSTON DEPOT ONLY it’s £53826 starting. On pass out (London to Wolverhampton plus Wembley depot / Camden yard and associated lines / moves is the initial core route pass out and all other routes are learnt as time goes on) it goes up to £62364. After a year it goes up to £67486. Avanti have had no pay rise in over 2 years so could be changing soon. And Sundays are outside so you earn more for committed Sundays. Also a booking on payment for nights and sundays. Starting salary and increments are lower at all other depots as per the advert and it’s takes two years to get to full salary all all other depots but only one year at London Euston depot. You can do RDW whilst route learning within reason of course.

That’s helpful to potential applicants. Thanks.

 

[Class2ldn]

They do have a taxi agreement. Five day week/week of rest days not for everyone.

Ah ok wasn't sure

 

[Crazyb]

Yeah definitely plusses and minuses with Avanti I guess. I am still trying to decide if the commute from Chelmsford to Euston is even practical...

You can do it from Chelmer, you can also get rid of your early turns if you can't get there, though I'm not at Euston, the work is to hard for me...lol

The only problem is when travelling, is the weekends...If you have a closure like the last few weeks on the GA, it's a pain in the arse, as is disruption, but unfortunately i have to use it. You would have to give yourself a good hour and half, I reckon, or not far off that.

Saying that, you can drive to Pitsea, if the C2C is running.

 

[TTDARL]

You can do it from Chelmer, you can also get rid of your early turns if you can't get there, though I'm not at Euston, the work is to hard for me...lol

The only problem is when travelling, is the weekends...If you have a closure like the last few weeks on the GA, it's a pain in the arse, as is disruption, but unfortunately i have to use it. You would have to give yourself a good hour and half, I reckon, or not far off that.

Saying that, you can drive to Pitsea, if the C2C is running.

The taxi agreement in place for drivers caters for these eventualities & free parking at Euston station should you prefer to drive.

 

[Crazyb]

The taxi agreement in place for drivers caters for these eventualities & free parking at Euston station should you prefer to drive.

Have you seen some of them taxi drivers!!! Outside lane on the M25 driving at 30mph…lol. Though it’s a good fall back if you don’t want to drive.

 

[387star]

Central london depots are an utter pain and london salaries need to be significantly higher but let's face it you can earn 60k plus at Penzance

 

[slidingdoors]

The taxi agreement in place for drivers caters for these eventualities & free parking at Euston station should you prefer to drive.

Do those that drive in have to pay congestion charge and ULEZ? Must work out a fortune!

 

[choochoochoo]

Do those that drive in have to pay congestion charge and ULEZ? Must work out a fortune!

Depending on where the car park at Euston is, it might be right on the border of the congestion charge zone. I know the Kings Cross St Pancras staff car park is just outside the zone.

ULEZ is avoidable with an acceptable age/engine car.

 

[TTDARL]

Euston station Avanti depot and the staff car parking (situated on one of the upper levels of Euston station) is outside of the congestion zone area. The roads on the approach to the car park entrance are all outside the congestion zone whether approaching from the north, east, west or south. (South end approach is just outside the charging zone.)

 

[slidingdoors]

Thanks both. Wow yeah just had a look at the congestion zone map. Really surprised at that, just assumed it (and Kings Cross) would be well inside.

 

[martin2345uk]

I have an online interview for this tomorrow, any last minute words of advice..? I Have never had a qualified driver interview before!

 

[Class2ldn]

I would assume it will be rules and competency questions so get swatting up a bit lol. Have a look at the company values , info, routes etc

 

[martin2345uk]

More rules! Oh no