Driving for mulitiple TOC

[bahnause]

I have a question regarding the recognition of train drivers' competencies when they work for several TOC, for example for personnel service providers.

From my time as a train driver in mainland Europe, I remember how difficult it could be to get existing skills such as traction, regulations and route knowledge recognised by other companies. Fortunately, this has become a little easier now (apart from different TOC using differents rule books, apps, tools and a mix of internel guidelines). How is this regulated in the UK? Is there a central database to which train drivers' data can be transferred?

 

[Horizon22]

I don't think the same really transfers over to the UK. You work for one company / TOC / FOC and that is it. You may drive different traction or "on behalf" of another operator, but you are working for the same employer ultimately.

 

[bahnause]

This could make it somewhat difficult to set up a staffing agency in the railway sector. This business model is quite widespread in mainland europe as a means of overcoming short- or medium-term bottlenecks.

 

[172007]

I can think of one example. There is a mainline excursion operator who does have mainline TOC drivers who do drive steam engines for them on the national network.

That said realistically it's no different to the surprisingly large number of preserved railway drivers and fireman who volunteer and are also mainline drivers with Tocs.

It's not really what the OP is getting at though.

 

[pdeaves]

This could make it somewhat difficult to set up a staffing agency in the railway sector. This business model is quite widespread in mainland europe as a means of overcoming short- or medium-term bottlenecks.

Not driving trains, but we do have staffing agencies. They mostly provide labourers and certain specific skills/competencies for track/infrastructure maintenance reasons. As I understand it, those are falling out of favour a bit now in favour of greater 'in house' staffing.

 

[Horizon22]

This could make it somewhat difficult to set up a staffing agency in the railway sector. This business model is quite widespread in mainland europe as a means of overcoming short- or medium-term bottlenecks.

There are lots of agencies that supply railway staff. However these tend to be at the gateline / station / security / revenue support level as well as for maintenance work, and it is rare if not impossible to find them in safety-critical passenger roles such as driving.