C2C Depot Drivers

[stevieoz]

Hello All

I am to attend assessments with C2C for a shunting position.

Does anybody on here know what the annual salary is?

Also do the Shunters at C2C normally step up to be mainline drivers?

Thanks in advance.

 

[chris11256]

Hello Stevie,

I've got my stage 1 tests next friday.

Not too sure on Salary. I was tempted to email and ask, but I don't want to seem rude. From what I've read in the job advert you can progress to mainline driving.

Best of luck!

 

[Driver068]

I am confused, is being a depot driver turning too mainline driver a progression or not, or does it depend on the TOC/FOC

 

[stevieoz]

I am confused, is being a depot driver turning too mainline driver a progression or not, or does it depend on the TOC/FOC

Not entirely sure myself but it is usually higher paid as a train driver and also the training for a shunter takes 4-6 weeks according to the advert whereas mainline drivers train for around a year so I can only speculate that there is more skill required??

 

[chris11256]

Sorry if I didn't make sense. With c2c being a depot driver is the first step to possibly becoming a mainline driver. Obviously theres more training involved. So for example could spend 3/4 years doing depot work, then go for mainline training. (That's just an example, I'm not sure of exact procedure)

From what I've read this depends on the TOC. For some a depot driver is the first step on the ladder to mainline driver. For others it isn't.

 

[subforce]

Some are quite happy to stay as depot drivers for years, others go straight on to mainline drivers after only a few months. It depends on the individual and also the supply and demand of depot and mainline positions at the time. A few years ago the salary for a depot driver was around 30-32k, possibly increased since then.

 

[Driver068]

As a qualified Depot Driver, would you have to under go driver training if you wanted to go onto the mainline.

 

[321446]

As a qualified Depot Driver, would you have to under go driver training if you wanted to go onto the mainline.

Yes you would. Roughly 3 months on Rules, Traction & Yard training. Then as vacancies come up in the Mainline roster, the full Mainline Rules course & out with a Minder Driver. This takes roughly, aptitude and management allowing, 9 months. If they have a quick turnover or they need Mainliners quickly, you could be out 9-10 months after walking through the door. Or if the Mainline rosters are full it could be anything from 1 - infinity in the Yard!!!

For the record, I work for the Premier TOC in Essex but c2c are similar to how we were up to a couple months ago.

 

[Driver068]

Yes you would. Roughly 3 months on Rules, Traction & Yard training. Then as vacancies come up in the Mainline roster, the full Mainline Rules course & out with a Minder Driver. This takes roughly, aptitude and management allowing, 9 months. If they have a quick turnover or they need Mainliners quickly, you could be out 9-10 months after walking through the door. Or if the Mainline rosters are full it could be anything from 1 - infinity in the Yard!!!

For the record, I work for the Premier TOC in Essex but c2c are similar to how we were up to a couple months ago.

Ok many thanks, I only ask because I have a interview for a Depot Driver. But I have heard it does not provide you with a stepping stone to mainline driving so Id have to start at the bottom again if a trainee driver position opened up

 

[321446]

Ok many thanks, I only ask because I have a interview for a Depot Driver. But I have heard it does not provide you with a stepping stone to mainline driving so Id have to start at the bottom again if a trainee driver position opened up

Ah. Sounds like they are doing the same as us then. Basically become DDriver and then when a vacancy arises for MLine you have to apply. Now, theoretically this will put you in a slightly better position than coming strait off the street. However it also allows the TOC to advertise for qualified MLine drivers, they are already rules & maybe traction competent so "only" need to Route Learn. But it then depends if any MLiners want to swap companies. If there are more vacancies than takers, then they will open it up to their own captive DDrivers & maybe other DDrivers as well as off the street.

Hope that helps.

 

[Driver068]

Ah. Sounds like they are doing the same as us then. Basically become DDriver and then when a vacancy arises for MLine you have to apply. Now, theoretically this will put you in a slightly better position than coming strait off the street. However it also allows the TOC to advertise for qualified MLine drivers, they are already rules & maybe traction competent so "only" need to Route Learn. But it then depends if any MLiners want to swap companies. If there are more vacancies than takers, then they will open it up to their own captive DDrivers & maybe other DDrivers as well as off the street.

Hope that helps.

Thats great many thanks, what about of you were a Depot Driver for one particular TOC but then a vacancy opened up for trainee train drivers for a different TOC, would that also look favourably on the TOC applying for.

 

[387star]

deleted

 

[subforce]

C2c don't take mainline drivers off the street, they recruit exclusively from their own depot drivers.

 

[Panupreset]

I believe at C2C as a depot driver once passed out its about £33k but I stand ready to be corrected. Nice work, only 357's to sign and no grubby diesel shunting to do. You can progress to mainline driver at C2C. This is no longer the case at AGA.

 

[stevieoz]

C2c don't take mainline drivers off the street, they recruit exclusively from their own depot drivers.

Thanks, do you work for c2c? if not where did you get info?

 

[subforce]

Thanks, do you work for c2c? if not where did you get info?

I work alongside them, I was speaking to one of their driver managers the other week

 

[Pebbles]

The salary is around 26-27k when you pass out, rising to 33k

c2c do not recruit mainline drivers from outside the company so the only way in is by being a depot driver first. The transition from depot op to mainline driver is automatic but you have to be in the depot for a minimum of 2 years.

 

[Driver068]

Are Depot Drivers classed as qualified drivers.

 

[Panupreset]

It is a job in the driving grade. But Depot Drivers are not mainline competent because a depot driver will only for the purposes of route knowledge, sign the depot. Also a depot driver may not be rules competent for all mainline driving knowledge.

 

[Driver068]

MDD covered by ASLEF or just the RMT

 

[MichaelAMW]

It is a job in the driving grade. But Depot Drivers are not mainline competent because a depot driver will only for the purposes of route knowledge, sign the depot. Also a depot driver may not be rules competent for all mainline driving knowledge.

These points vary between different TOCs, depending on the scope of the work.

 

[Dave1987]

MDD covered by ASLEF or just the RMT

Depot drivers are drivers so can join ASLEF.

 

[pop79]

Hi guys I had an assessment last Monday at Southend Central .I haven`t done well at some parts of the tests like the TRP part 1 and hearing the distracting tone. Iam so upset because I have prepared well for the assessment but I didn`t perform well.I was physically tired and my concentration level wasn`t good at all .The day before the assessment i was working till late night and only had 4 hours sleep and drove all the way from Manchester.Does anyone knows how they score the assessment ? Do they count it as an overall score or if i fail any part of the test then iam out? Can i phone the OPC and tell them to cancel my assessment? as I didn`t know about the two strikes and you out.Iam so worried and very upset as I have been applying for a trainee role for three years and when i sat the assessment i messed it up :cry::cry:

 

[Nic nic]

fail any section and it's a strike I'm afraid mate

 

[malor]

Hi guys I had an assessment last Monday at Southend Central .I haven`t done well at some parts of the tests like the TRP part 1 and hearing the distracting tone. Iam so upset because I have prepared well for the assessment but I didn`t perform well.I was physically tired and my concentration level wasn`t good at all .The day before the assessment i was working till late night and only had 4 hours sleep and drove all the way from Manchester.Does anyone knows how they score the assessment ? Do they count it as an overall score or if i fail any part of the test then iam out? Can i phone the OPC and tell them to cancel my assessment? as I didn`t know about the two strikes and you out.Iam so worried and very upset as I have been applying for a trainee role for three years and when i sat the assessment i messed it up :cry::cry:

They score the assessment by putting every section you take into consideration and you also cannot phone the OPC to cancel your assessment after taking it. If you were physically tired and you felt your concentration level was not good enough, you should have not taken the test at all.

As a train driver, you would have a lot of people's lives in your hand and you would be fully responsible for their safety. You need to be fully rested and not be stressed.

I do hope you make it through and have taken this as a learning point.

Cheers,

 

[pop79]

I had an assessment last Monday I haven't done well in TRP part 1 but I have done well on the dials .does the high score on dials cover the text or not ? I am so stressed. Anyone got any idea?

 

[387star]

Hi guys I had an assessment last Monday at Southend Central .I haven`t done well at some parts of the tests like the TRP part 1 and hearing the distracting tone. Iam so upset because I have prepared well for the assessment but I didn`t perform well.I was physically tired and my concentration level wasn`t good at all .The day before the assessment i was working till late night and only had 4 hours sleep and drove all the way from Manchester[/B].Does anyone knows how they score the assessment ? Do they count it as an overall score or if i fail any part of the test then iam out? Can i phone the OPC and tell them to cancel my assessment? as I didn`t know about the two strikes and you out.Iam so worried and very upset as I have been applying for a trainee role for three years and when i sat the assessment i messed it up :cry::cry:

Very sorry to hear

Admire you for your determination blimey relocating from manchester for a depot driving job?

But you do sign to say you are fit enough to take the tests ....

C2C have a very high standard did you reach national level if so it does not affect your two strikes

Also you are told when you sit the tests you have only two attempts to pass to national level

Any bits you pass you should not need to retake as long as they meet the tocs criteria

 

[pop79]

Thanks Ml for your reply iam so sad regarding my assessment last Monday. I can't sleep for the last 3 days .iam so stressed and angry of myself . I have studied the materials C2C sent me but in my opinion it wasn't enough.i didn't know the text is going to be about GLOP application and i spent a few minutes trying to figure out what the text about.Iam nearly certain that I will not pass the assessment. Iam a Bus driver ,and I want to become a Train Driver so bad:cry: I have been applying for a trainee train driver for 2 years and when the chance came I screwed it up.i thought I was prepared well for the assessment.

 

[387star]

Thanks Ml for your reply iam so sad regarding my assessment last Monday. I can't sleep for the last 3 days .iam so stressed and angry of myself . I have studied the materials C2C sent me but in my opinion it wasn't enough.i didn't know the text is going to be about GLOP application and i spent a few minutes trying to figure out what the text about.Iam nearly certain that I will not pass the assessment. Iam a Bus driver ,and I want to become a Train Driver so bad:cry: I have been applying for a trainee train driver for 2 years and when the chance came I screwed it up.i thought I was prepared well for the assessment.

Doesn't matter what the text is about just remember it and dust yourself off and try again you will get there maybe work on your grammar as well as there is some incorrect English above
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Have you tried for your local tocs ie northern and tpe?

 

[pop79]

Thanks Ml for your advice ,I do appreciate it.I have tried before with Northern with no luck . I have another assessment for a Guard position next Tuesday with South West Trains in Southampton, but iam thinking to cancel it ,iam not ready mentally even though I have read the materials they sent .