Driver training

[tiptoptaff]

How long are PTS courses how long do they last before they expire because on the heritage Railway that I work on we’ve had to do one

It won't be NR valid.

 

[Stigy]

How long are PTS courses how long do they last before they expire because on the heritage Railway that I work on we’ve had to do one

Two years, but yours won’t be valid. They’re not even transferable between TOCs.

 

[Steam Man]

Two years, but yours won’t be valid. They’re not even transferable between TOCs.

It does say on my certificate that it isn’t transferable and mine is valid for 3 years I passed it in July 2017 I don’t have to do it again till July 2020

 

[tiptoptaff]

It does say on my certificate that it isn’t transferable and mine is valid for 3 years I passed it in July 2017 I don’t have to do it again till July 2020

Right. Let me help you out. Everything you've done on heritage railways (as a fireman myself) in terms of qualifications counts for nothing. The experience may help but that alone isn't enough. Just because you have a 3yr heritage PTS doesn't mean you have anything towards a 2year network one. Your heritage railway may accept your NR one in lieu of theirs, but it does not work the other way around.

 

[CiderDrinker]

Just to clarify here, it will be different per TOC, but for GWR, Assessments you can fail in Driver Training are PTS, Interim 1, Interim 2, Interim 3 and 200hour Sim. Of course if you are generally struggling they can speak to in between those.
For all of these should you fail you would have an interview and training given as appropriate, then retested. Were you to fail the retest then you would be moved on, barring exceptional circumstances of course.

 

[sw1ller]

Regarding fails. It’s not always attitude that sees someone fail. There was a lad on our course with a fantastic attitude and the determination to get it right, but simply couldn’t do the job. After nearly 600 hours driving he eventually got his licence..... only to decline it as he knew it would only be a matter of time before he made a mistake. He’s now a guard and absolutely loving life.

 

[Stigy]

Just to clarify here, it will be different per TOC, but for GWR, Assessments you can fail in Driver Training are PTS, Interim 1, Interim 2, Interim 3 and 200hour Sim. Of course if you are generally struggling they can speak to in between those.
For all of these should you fail you would have an interview and training given as appropriate, then retested. Were you to fail the retest then you would be moved on, barring exceptional circumstances of course.

Worth noting too that there will likely be other assessments along the way (again, speaking for GWR here so it may differ?) which are more ‘knowledge checks’ which cannot be failed as such, but are intended to make sure you’re picking things up. It’s a good system in my opinion and means there’s constant support on offer should you need it.

 

[Stigy]

Regarding fails. It’s not always attitude that sees someone fail. There was a lad on our course with a fantastic attitude and the determination to get it right, but simply couldn’t do the job. After nearly 600 hours driving he eventually got his licence..... only to decline it as he knew it would only be a matter of time before he made a mistake. He’s now a guard and absolutely loving life.

S/he must have been spot on with the theory aspect to driving but just not the practicalities?

 

[baz962]

S/he must have been spot on with the theory aspect to driving but just not the practicalities?

Passed and got his licence through, so it still stands. Not always, but generally those that fail, have a bad attitude. His good attitude got him through. He may have decided against, believing he would have had an incident, quite possibly he wouldn't.

 

[Stigy]

Passed and got his licence through, so it still stands. Not always, but generally those that fail, have a bad attitude. His good attitude got him through. He may have decided against, believing he would have had an incident, quite possibly he wouldn't.

I agree, attitude has a lot to play in most walks of life, especially this sort of role. Being newly qualified though, I assume he’d not simply be able to re-join or go to another TOC? This rendering his licence useless? Not on a qualified basis at least.

 

[HantsMan]

Looking forward to going to training school soon. I know it will be tough but it is also a privilege to get there so am not going to give it anything but 100%. I am a bit worried that my dyslexia maybe a disadvantage but I am going to be honest about my challenges & will be sure I won’t be the first or last person trainers have had to work with who suffers.

 

[sw1ller]

I agree, attitude has a lot to play in most walks of life, especially this sort of role. Being newly qualified though, I assume he’d not simply be able to re-join or go to another TOC? This rendering his licence useless? Not on a qualified basis at least.

It would have been a matter of minutes/hours before he made a costly mistake. Everyone of his instructors have said it and so has he. Concentration just wasn’t there. I’m not 100% sure why they offered him his licence if I’m honest. Maybe he put it together the last few weeks but just didn’t feel comfortable enough being on his own. His attitude certainly helped him though, hence why he had so many chances. He was a guard before so just went back to his old job.

The next course saw the complete opposite and someone with a terrible attitude was told to leave before his 265 hours were up. So it just goes to show, keep your head down, do as the instructors say and don’t argue, lie and generally be a tw**, and you’ll be ok.

 

[CiderDrinker]

Worth noting too that there will likely be other assessments along the way (again, speaking for GWR here so it may differ?) which are more ‘knowledge checks’ which cannot be failed as such, but are intended to make sure you’re picking things up. It’s a good system in my opinion and means there’s constant support on offer should you need it.

Very true Stigy, but yeah they are to see how things are going, not pass/fails.

 

[CiderDrinker]

Looking forward to going to training school soon. I know it will be tough but it is also a privilege to get there so am not going to give it anything but 100%. I am a bit worried that my dyslexia maybe a disadvantage but I am going to be honest about my challenges & will be sure I won’t be the first or last person trainers have had to work with who suffers.

Don’t worry about your dyslexia, so long as you let us know then no problems. I have trained a few people over the years who have dyslexia, we can work around it

 

[HantsMan]

Don’t worry about your dyslexia, so long as you let us know then no problems. I have trained a few people over the years who have dyslexia, we can work around it

Thank you! That’s very reassuring to see. I think it’s just that imposter syndrome that kicks in & you start to doubt yourself but so far my TOC has shown great awareness and I’ve had nothing but support & encouragement.

 

[dctraindriver]

Thank you! That’s very reassuring to see. I think it’s just that imposter syndrome that kicks in & you start to doubt yourself but so far my TOC has shown great awareness and I’ve had nothing but support & encouragement.

Good luck enjoy the course. You’ll be fine. Good bunch of trainers at Basing (if that’s the right TOC).....

 

[HantsMan]

Good luck enjoy the course. You’ll be fine. Good bunch of trainers at Basing (if that’s the right TOC).....