DB Cargo

[the stripler]

Im considering a move to DB cargo (scotland).

Just looking for anyones advice or experience of working with this company. Im a driver with passenger service trains at moment and considering the switch to freight.

There seems to be a lot of mixed reviews about going to freight if you listen to bothy talk, so just trying to get the facts.

Regards gary

 

[Atishyou]

Why do you want to move from pax to freight?

 

[the stripler]

A change, new routes..not stopping every 5 mins to name a few

 

[Breize block]

Do you have a mortgage? Partner? Kids? Is job security important to you? If so then think very carefully about jumping from a safe ship to one holed below the waterline.
I was one of those lucky enough to get voluntary redundancy from DB in the mass cull of 2017 and for several years before that I was advising all new recruits to get to out to a TOC as soon as they could.
Think long and hard - your route card will be much bigger and the work more varied/interesting but it will all only be safe as far as the next contract negotiations.

 

[the stripler]

Do you have a mortgage? Partner? Kids? Is job security important to you? If so then think very carefully about jumping from a safe ship to one holed below the waterline.
I was one of those lucky enough to get voluntary redundancy from DB in the mass cull of 2017 and for several years before that I was advising all new recruits to get to out to a TOC as soon as they could.
Think long and hard - your route card will be much bigger and the work more varied/interesting but it will all only be safe as far as the next contract negotiations.

Thanks for the response brieze block, apart from the uncertainty in contracts, would you then say they were good to work for? Had interview yesterday and theyre saying they have won new contracts, with tonnes of work and having a recruitment drive. 32hr week? Thats pretty good?
Whats shifts and diagramed jobs like?

Thanks

 

[Aivilo]

Alot of freight lads were sold that story at the Interview me included. Not worth the risk in my opinion

 

[LoonyToon]

I left DB Cargo last year. The final salary railway pension at DB is absolutely screwed. The dire reality of the situation has just hit it's poor employees this week as the company has finally come out with its new pension proposals. Basically you'll have to pay in a lot more for a lot less in future.

My advice would be to stay away unfortunately.

 

[cossie4i]

If you value a final salary pension scheme stay with a TOC.
We have just been advised we will need to pay in just over 30% of our wage if we want to keep it.
Lots of night work.
Lots of band spares. 4 different bands of 6hrs each. You can be given upto 11.5hrs, you could also be moved out of your band but any movement will also reduce your max hours to work by the same amount. ie you could be band B (0600 - 1159) so you could still book on at 0200 or go forward to 1600 and do a 7.5hr job.
Very hard to plan time off work because you never know what you are doing week to week.

 

[Breize block]

I presume you are a member of ASLEF?
If so and you are also on Facebook, I suggest you join the ASLEF group on there and ask the same question in there.
You will almost certainly find someone who is at the same Depot/hub that you are interested in, who will be able to give you the low down on the work and the link structure, and you are far more likely to get a truthful answer in there than you are here on a public forum.
You will also find a very relevant post in there with regard to the pension position at DB, one that I would say you must read before making any decision