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Conductor at Trans Pennine
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- be nice to have some friendly conductor though)Solent&Wessex
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Hello, I am a Guard for Transpennine.
Like all companies it has its good and bad points. I personally very much enjoy my job. It is nice to work on a fleet of new trains. Yes the 185s and 170s aren't perfect, but they are ok, and to be honest I would much rather work on them than the assorted old sheds that Northern have knocking around.
Essentially, like all jobs, if you know your stuff and get on with your job without causing any fuss then they will leave you alone. It is actually a very flexible company I find. Being quite small, there are no train crew supervisors - all train crew are managed on the daily basis by the control centre. As there are only about 5 traincrew controllers you get to know them all - even if just by voice. Providing you don't **** them off then it can be a fairly easy ride. Again the rostering department has only a few people so if you do them the odd favour they will help you out when needed.
The grade itself in TPE has still not been harmonised so the old First North Western and Arriva Trains Northern depots are still working to different pay rates and terms and conditions. Unfortunately, according to the RMT Union's listing of pay amongst the different TOCs, TPE Guards are either the 2nd or 3rd lowest paid Guards in the country, I forget exactly which.
TPE are VERY keen on the Revenue Protection side of the role however, and they do monitor performance in this respect. The duties are fairly easy and steady (well, they are on the ex ATN side - the ex FNW turns are a bit more hectic), and I find the rest day / work balance is quite good.
Like all companies it has its good and bad points. I personally very much enjoy my job. It is nice to work on a fleet of new trains. Yes the 185s and 170s aren't perfect, but they are ok, and to be honest I would much rather work on them than the assorted old sheds that Northern have knocking around.
Essentially, like all jobs, if you know your stuff and get on with your job without causing any fuss then they will leave you alone. It is actually a very flexible company I find. Being quite small, there are no train crew supervisors - all train crew are managed on the daily basis by the control centre. As there are only about 5 traincrew controllers you get to know them all - even if just by voice. Providing you don't **** them off then it can be a fairly easy ride. Again the rostering department has only a few people so if you do them the odd favour they will help you out when needed.
The grade itself in TPE has still not been harmonised so the old First North Western and Arriva Trains Northern depots are still working to different pay rates and terms and conditions. Unfortunately, according to the RMT Union's listing of pay amongst the different TOCs, TPE Guards are either the 2nd or 3rd lowest paid Guards in the country, I forget exactly which.
TPE are VERY keen on the Revenue Protection side of the role however, and they do monitor performance in this respect. The duties are fairly easy and steady (well, they are on the ex ATN side - the ex FNW turns are a bit more hectic), and I find the rest day / work balance is quite good.
Hi KWVR45
Can you clarify what you mean by monitroing revenue protection performance? Does it mean, as I assume, that ticket machine data is monitored to ensure that conductors do pass through the train regularly, especially from unstaffed stations?
Can you clarify what you mean by monitroing revenue protection performance? Does it mean, as I assume, that ticket machine data is monitored to ensure that conductors do pass through the train regularly, especially from unstaffed stations?
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