DRS Trainman vacancy

[Flyingscotsman]

Hello all, new poster here so please be gentle
I'm thinking about applying for this job with DRS, first of all am I right in thinking this is their term for a shunter?
The problem I've got is that I've never heard of DRS, nothing good and nothing bad (other than what I've read on their website) - do any of you guys work for them and if so what's your thoughts? The vacancies are for Carlisle and Crewe - do they operate in Scotland and if so where? Any information would be appreciated, thanks

 

[junior_7178]

No its not a shunter, it's ground staff. See the other thread.

I also think it's closed as it's gone from the website.

 

[Beveridges]

Trainmen jobs are mobile shunters on the nuke trains. They travel in the rear cab of the loco (it can be a 37 which is the enthusiasts favourite). During the journey they just observe the load. Once the train gets to it's destination they do the ground shunting and then drive a company car back to base with the loco driver.

On some turns the work is in reverse order to what is described above. Sometimes travel to/from railheads is by train so no car driving needed.

Never worked for DRS. Most of their shifts are too hard for me to consider taking a job with them with book-on times at all hours. They are probably great to work for apart from that.

If you can cope with a bad rosta or can tolerate feeling tired most of the time it might be worth a shot. The work looks very easy apart from the car driving, which isn't easy as we all know. But I don't think there's a massive amount of that.

Due to the "as required" nature of the nuclear trains there are loads of spare turns (I.e. getting paid for nothing), some days you won't even get on a train.

 

[GB]

No its not a shunter, it's ground staff. See the other thread.

I also think it's closed as it's gone from the website.

A shunter is ground staff in FOC land.

 

[junior_7178]

A shunter is ground staff in FOC land.

Really?

So 'Ground Staff' for DBS is a shunter? I thought 'Ground Staff' were ground staff and 'Driver Operators' were shunters.

For DRS I'm almost convinced that a 'Train (wo)man is NOT a shunter and does NO driving whatsoever. I have applied for the position and I'd like to think I know what I have applied for.

 

[GB]

You seem to be under the notion that "shunter" automatically means driving duties...in the freight world it does not. "Shunter" is just a colloquial term used for ground staff, ATM, or Train (wo)man or whatever the company officially call their ground staff.

DBS Train Operators are different as they have limited mainline driving competence for a number of miles from their home depot and DBS is the only company that has them.

 

[junior_7178]

You seem to be under the notion that "shunter" automatically means driving duties...in the freight world it does not. "Shunter" is just a colloquial term used for ground staff, ATM, or Train (wo)man or whatever the company officially call their ground staff.

DBS Train Operators are different as they have limited mainline driving competence for a number of miles from their home depot and DBS is the only company that has them.

There is no confusion on my behalf with regards to what duties FOC's ground staff do or do not do.

The confusion came around by somebody stating earlier in this thread that DRS Train men carried out driving/yard driving/whatever you want to call it duties. As far as I am aware (in fact I know) there is no driving involved so no, I am not confused.

 

[GB]

The only mention of any kind of driving duties was from Beveridges about driving company vehicles too and from sites...are you saying this is not the case?

 

[Saltire]

My understanding (but I'm no expert) was that a Trainman, or shunter done the dirty work when preparing a train - for example coupling up the wagons in a particular order, checking loads are secure and coupling the loco to the train but no driving of trains at all

 

[Beveridges]

Pre departure, trainmen prep the wagons while the driver preps the locomotive

 

[Legzr1]

Really?

So 'Ground Staff' for DBS is a shunter? I thought 'Ground Staff' were ground staff and 'Driver Operators' were shunters.

For DRS I'm almost convinced that a 'Train (wo)man is NOT a shunter and does NO driving whatsoever. I have applied for the position and I'd like to think I know what I have applied for.

By the way, the ATM(e) grade with GBRf will include some mainline driving within the confines on TIII possessions once everything is in place.
Their ATM grades includes driving in yards, power stations and loading facilities.

The RO grade is the same as Shunter and train man - no driving whatsoever.

 

[Bert and Ernie]

Assessment day next Wednesday in Carlisle

 

[junior_7178]

Assessment day next Wednesday in Carlisle

Did you find out by post or by email?

 

[Bert and Ernie]

Did you find out by post or by email?

Phone call

 

[junior_7178]

Phone call

Oh bummer, my phone hasn't rang all day.

Good luck!!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I received my letter of rejection today. It's the first time I've ever been rejected for a job before and made me feel a bit useless.

Anyhow, I've sent a very polite email to DRS explaining that as this was my first ever job application after a career in the Armed Forces, I would be appreciative of any feedback they can give me as to what was lacking or how I could enhance a future application. Is it common that requests like this are granted? Or am I likely to never hear from them? I thought my application was very strong with everything they wanted as per the job spec. I know that is not enough to get the job, but it would have been a confidence boost for other applications if I had at least made the initial sift.

One thing the did say in the letter is that the had over 100 applications for the one vacancy.

Back to the drawing board.

 

[Beveridges]

I went for trainmen jobs with DRS and failed. They just told me there were just much better candidates. I came into the interview unprepared.

Their loss not mine as I ended up securing this MDD position after that.