Colchester PSB Vacancies

[dave55uk]

Has anyone on here applied for the 5xSignallers vacancies in Colchester 'box?
I did but failed at the first hurdle - which was what I was expecting TBH.
But I'd be very interested to hear from anyone who does progress further - and hopefully all the way.

 

[WestRiding]

I think there will have been plenty of lower grade internal signalmen applied for these grade 7 jobs.

 

[dave55uk]

My thoughts too - but I am surprised they didn't fill them internally first, before advertising them publicly.

 

[GB]

They have advertised them internally at the same time as advertising them externally.

 

[Mix107]

Has anyone on here applied for the 5xSignallers vacancies in Colchester 'box?
I did but failed at the first hurdle - which was what I was expecting TBH.
But I'd be very interested to hear from anyone who does progress further - and hopefully all the way.

My brother has had a reply back already inviting him to take the communications test, which is the first stage of the process. This is a big bug bear of mine, when Network Rail keep advertising these signaller vacancies both internally and externally at the same time. I was previously a grade 8 signaller at Wembley Mainline and was tempted to get back in earlier this year before I got a trainee train driver role. I knew someone on the inside and it seems every vacancy I applied for, had an internal applicant get the job. So why waste people's time and effort, as the NR recruitment site can be a challenge in it's own right!

Anyway with the Colchester PSB job, I think with 5 Vacancies on the cards, it should be a mixture of both internal and external candidates getting the jobs.

regards

 

[WestRiding]

i think it will be purely internal people that get the jobs, after the revelation of network rails signal box closure plan last year. lower grade internals have all suddenly started clambering to get up the ladder to higher grades, where i presume they will be safer when the time comes.

 

[mac]

How come they needed 5 seems alot for 1 place.If 5 lower grade move up will that mean they will need 5 new lower grade on the 1 year contract they seem to offer now.

 

[Toots]

i think it will be purely internal people that get the jobs, after the revelation of network rails signal box closure plan last year. lower grade internals have all suddenly started clambering to get up the ladder to higher grades, where i presume they will be safer when the time comes.

It doesn't always work out like that.First of all Colchester is part of the closure plan anyway and the mentality appears to be 'sit tight and see what happens'.
There are various reasons for this,all boxes have been given a closure date,but unless work is actually underway,and I don't know if that is the case in that area,then the tendency is to hope for the best and wait and see.If there was a 'closed list' which usually happens where lots of closures are imminent then it would be a surprise if the vacancies were to be advertised externally and the idea that signalmen are all itching to get up through the grades simply isn't the case.I know of a PSB who one year, has to take outside people because there are no internal applications,the next year it is inundated with applications from really experienced people and it had nothing to do with closures....

 

[WestRiding]

Yes all boxes have been given a date, but power boxes and higher grades are a lot safer in general, not because they wont get resignalled, but because say, a grade 7 is going to be alot more useful to network rail than a grade 2 for example. A 7 can slip into any grade below on redundancy, but a 2 could not go into a 7 because it is promotion, and promotion cannot be gained fom redudancy, hence in his case, thee has been no closed list. The 5 jos have come from the installation of a new panel/work station. which i presume has or is going to close some smaller boxes in the area?

 

[GB]

Colchester is safe for at least another 15-20 years...thats even if these new route control centers go ahead so I wouldn't worry too much.

Colchester has always had lower than required staffing levels so the 5 vacancies bring this into line as well as taking care of a couple of retirements.

 

[Toots]

Yes all boxes have been given a date, but power boxes and higher grades are a lot safer in general, not because they wont get resignalled, but because say, a grade 7 is going to be alot more useful to network rail than a grade 2 for example. A 7 can slip into any grade below on redundancy, but a 2 could not go into a 7 because it is promotion, and promotion cannot be gained fom redudancy, hence in his case, thee has been no closed list. The 5 jos have come from the installation of a new panel/work station. which i presume has or is going to close some smaller boxes in the area?

I made the very same point to a Manager on Monday,of course he said this wasn't the case and it would be each signaller on his own merits and attitude irregardless of grade,but I totally agree with you,our ilk will be blown out of the water in a contest for jobs by our powerbox counterparts.
I've never understood the term 'not gaining a grade raise because of redundancy',though I've certainly heard it said,because as you say the five jobs in Colchester could conceivably go to people being made from redundancies due to the closure of lower grade boxes,so in fact they would be gaining a grade raise due to that very fact.....perhaps they mean you don't automatically qualify for one if you are made redundant,after all the new installation you mention must mean boxes will close and signalmen made redundant.

 

[WestRiding]

For example; say 5 grade two boxes close, the boxes are resignalled and made 1 grade six in a new location. The grade 2 men must apply for the new grade 6 job because of the fact that you cannot gain promotion out of your signal box closing. But the grade 2's could be moved to another grade 2 or lower location, just not anything higher than a 2 (unless they apply).

If you are in a higher grade PSB lets say a grade 7 for example;
The PSB men will as a general rule move with the job when resignalled, unless of course the new job was up graded to say, grade 8, then the grade 7s would have to apply for the 8, or move to lower grade jobs 7 and downwards.

A good PSB example at the moment would probably be TRENT and LEICESTER where by the jobs have more or less just moved like for like but to a different location, the EMCC, i dont beleive any redundancies have come from either, and of course a few will have chose to go early, or elsewhere.