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Becoming a Train Driver?

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Glen

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19 Dec 2010
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Hi,

I’ve been considering becoming a train driver for sometime now and would really appreciate it if anyone has any tips/advice at all please.

I’m 30 and have written to both First Capital Connect and Southern as I live in Sussex. If anyone can help at all or, even better, if anyone has any useful contacts at either of these companies I’d be extremely grateful.

Regards,

Glen
 
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RailUK Forums

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Soft Mick

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Joined
19 Jul 2010
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37
Glen said:
Hi,

I’ve been considering becoming a train driver for sometime now and would really appreciate it if anyone has any tips/advice at all please.

I’m 30 and have written to both First Capital Connect and Southern as I live in Sussex. If anyone can help at all or, even better, if anyone has any useful contacts at either of these companies I’d be extremely grateful.

Regards,

Glen
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Yourself and thousands of others glen. Its quite possibly the worst time in 15 years to get into driving. There are so many redundant drivers already, probably more to follow too. Good luck with it Glen, but don't get your hopes up too much.
 
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chuckles1066

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24 Nov 2010
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361
Soft Mick said:
Yourself and thousands of others glen. Its quite possibly the worst time in 15 years to get into driving. There are so many redundant drivers already, probably more to follow too. Good luck with it Glen, but don't get your hopes up too much.
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Hmmm, it always look sort of romantic when you're stood on a freezing platform and the train arrives - the driver's cab passes you, in semi-darkness and you think "bet it's lovely and warm in there, surrounded by that bank of monitors and displays".

I'm sure the reality is a lot different :)
 
T

TDK

Established Member
Joined
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Location
Crewe
notadriver said:
You can't get a job on network rail by doing it through the army ... can you?

Quick question though :

Are there really a lot of redundant train drivers? :o
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There are quite a few but they are not normally redundant for long because any company would prefer to take on a qualified driver vice someone with no experience at all due to the cost of the training
 
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Legzr1

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19 Mar 2010
Messages
581
TDK said:
There are quite a few but they are not normally redundant for long because any company would prefer to take on a qualified driver vice someone with no experience at all due to the cost of the training
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If only it were that simple :(

Met up with a few ex-colleagues a few weeks ago.

20+ freight drivers made redundant in September are still without employment.
 
ANorthernGuard

ANorthernGuard

Established Member
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Legzr1 said:
If only it were that simple :(

Met up with a few ex-colleagues a few weeks ago.

20+ freight drivers made redundant in September are still without employment.
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May I suggest going via the ladder way

i.e. Guard/Revenue (if not already) get some experience and knowledge about working practices the rulebook etc etc.

a m8 of mine did that now he is a driver for Southern, funny thing was about 6 yrs ago he asked me advice about becoming a guard now he is a driver, I did have to warn him tho that he will have to becareful of any OHLE equipment as he is almost 7Ft (not kidding) but then I remembered 3rd rail back down south lol
 
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Legzr1

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Messages
581
Did you mean to quote me?

I've been in the 'game' for 20+ years and i'm still in it ;)
 
S

Soft Mick

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Possibly a hundred or so redundant from DB Schenker if the management threats are anything to go by.....
 
E

E&W Lucas

Established Member
Joined
21 Jan 2010
Messages
1,358
bladesman123 said:
How about doing it through the army ? if your 30 you've still got 2 years.

http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/jobs/pages/JobDetail.aspx?armyjobid=RLC240/249+&category=
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But it doesn't give you a mainline driving ticket!!! Yes, it's "relevant experience", but you can get that in plenty of other ways. It's squaddie pay as well, which isn't that good by railway standards.

re redundant drivers, surely willingness to relocate has a great deal to do with your prospects? If you're willing to up sticks to somewhere within commuting distance of London, you'd have no problem getting a job.
 
S

Soft Mick

Member
Joined
19 Jul 2010
Messages
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Yeah, i think 300 men was a liberal estimate by management, in order to stir the last pay deal through. As for relocating, well yes, its fast becoming a 'must do' for those out of work. There's not many industries which pay like it!
 
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