Freight driver route knowledge question

[Gathursty]

For TOCs, the drivers and guards are trained for certain routes. Freight trains can take a variety of different routes. How do FOCs get around this? Do FOC drivers have much broader route knowledge?

 

[Andy-mc]

Freight drivers learn the core routes for their depot which covers the routes for their main flows and any diversions much like passenger drivers.
where freight drivers get more knowledge is usually when they get a lot of infrastructure work as this can happen anywhere on the network, so you'll find that they will know (or will be learning) the whole area that their depot covers and areas covered by other depots to help flexibility.

The main way they go about it is by getting cab passes for their drivers to travel up front of TOC trains

 

[class 9]

At my FOC we have a route refresh day every 13 weeks which we refresh our diversion routes.

 

[Rocket]

The junior drivers go into the starter links for about 18 months which have the crap jobs in and then move up in seniority order into the main links. Their link will consist of local stuff.

In the main links, we learn the core route. Not everyone will do diversion routes. Normally we get asked to come off roster to cover a diversion job and that driver will either go with the job, or maybe stay spare.