Commercial Guard Bournemouth

[Thomas C]

I’m a couple of months out from starting my training as a guard and will then be working out of Bournemouth when my training is completed

I would be grateful if anyone could confirm the shift pattern for a guard at Bournemouth. I believe it to be 7-2-7-2-6-4. Is that right? Earliest starts 4-30 latest finish 2-30 am ? With a mix of early, daytime and lates ? Also I understand that you get allocated staff parking permits for two station car parks but in reality are there parking spaces available at the Bournemouth station or would I be better parking at Poole, Hamworthy or Wareham (my three closest stations) and coming in by train.

Also I’m not a trade union member. Is there many advantages to becoming a member and which union would you recommend?

Sorry for all the questions

Thanks in advance

 

[Flange Squeal]

That shift pattern you’ve mentioned is a fairly standard one across the company’s depots, although they do vary slightly (some depots split the 7 days up for example, but that does mean single free days). I believe the earliest start is around 0400 and the latest finish is around 0230, however engineering works and special events often see diagrams get amended (particularly at weekends) so that can vary.

You will get a parking permit for two stations and two vehicles (so if you have access to a partner’s or other car you may use, it’s worth sticking that on there if your car is ever off the road!). Generally you’ll have your depot station (for earlies/lates) and a second station of your choice (usually where people live so they can catch the train on middle shifts).

Also I’m not a trade union member. Is there many advantages to becoming a member and which union would you recommend?

I’d recommend joining the RMT. They negotiate your pay, your terms and conditions, your depot’s local agreements, your roster, your annual leave allocation, health and safety, and ensuring overtime is allocated fairly. They also scrutinise the diagrams to ensure they are compliant and can propose changes to improve them. There isn’t any requirement to join any union - RMT or otherwise - but if you don’t then you won’t get a say/vote on those things which directly affect you. Other benefits include having someone knowledgable on hand to answer questions, as well as the obvious someone to represent you in post-incident/sickness meetings.

 

[Stigy]

You’ll always get parking at your work location, however the additional station is subject to space being available and the amount of parking taken up by customers, to you may not always get the additional station closest to home or that would be your preference.

 

[theironroad]

I’m a couple of months out from starting my training as a guard and will then be working out of Bournemouth when my training is completed

I would be grateful if anyone could confirm the shift pattern for a guard at Bournemouth. I believe it to be 7-2-7-2-6-4. Is that right? Earliest starts 4-30 latest finish 2-30 am ? With a mix of early, daytime and lates ? Also I understand that you get allocated staff parking permits for two station car parks but in reality are there parking spaces available at the Bournemouth station or would I be better parking at Poole, Hamworthy or Wareham (my three closest stations) and coming in by train.

Also I’m not a trade union member. Is there many advantages to becoming a member and which union would you recommend?

Sorry for all the questions

Thanks in advance

Generally always parking available at Bournemouth but can be a bit of a walk later in day..
I don't think new staff can get a permit for Poole as I think it's on a waiting list.
Does hamworthy even have any parking?
Wareham, not sure, but know it gets pretty busy.

RMT. They negotiate your pay rises and terms and conditions.

 

[Hotdog]

I’m a couple of months out from starting my training as a guard and will then be working out of Bournemouth when my training is completed

I would be grateful if anyone could confirm the shift pattern for a guard at Bournemouth. I believe it to be 7-2-7-2-6-4. Is that right? Earliest starts 4-30 latest finish 2-30 am ? With a mix of early, daytime and lates ? Also I understand that you get allocated staff parking permits for two station car parks but in reality are there parking spaces available at the Bournemouth station or would I be better parking at Poole, Hamworthy or Wareham (my three closest stations) and coming in by train.

Also I’m not a trade union member. Is there many advantages to becoming a member and which union would you recommend?

Sorry for all the questions

Thanks in advance

When do you start your training? Did you find out recently?

I'm still waiting for a start date. Hopefully it will be soon.

 

[Thomas C]

Thank you for you for responding re parking etc

Hotdog

It was mentioned that I would possibly be starting training in September when I was told I’d passed the interview but this got moved to December. I found out in late August

I know they are starting a lot of new routes from other stations so those stations are getting priority on training spaces at the moment.