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Grand Central Driver

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Gemz91

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Anyone got any information on what GC are like to work for as a driver, Bradford based. Usual stuff, rest day patterns, what the jobs are like, leave and so on. PM me if youd rather.

Cheers in advance.
 
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WCMLaddict

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They are not part of RPS. That's always been enough for me not to look into it any further...
 

Gemz91

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They are not part of RPS. That's always been enough for me not to look into it any further...

Yea I realise that, nor are they part of ATOC, there the only two things I ever hear when I ask. Interested in what the works like though, there's more to life then pensions and money (although I may say different when I come to retiring).
 

RBSN

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I've just sent a speculative application for the Bradford station in the hope that they would like a new Trainee Driver :D
 

LETHLFH

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Grand Central do not currently offer training courses to external candidates
 

Class2ldn

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RBSN
Seeing as they dont carry out training to external candidates then you've got more chance of seeing Jesus then you have getting a job as a trainee with GC.
You can try all you like but why not concentrate on the companies you have got a chance with.
To the OP I'm not sure what the work is like but I've never heard anyone moan about it
 

RBSN

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Seeing as they dont carry out training to external candidates then you've got more chance of seeing Jesus then you have getting a job as a trainee.

I wouldn't go that far. But why is it that GC don't train externals?

You can try all you like but why not concentrate on the companies you have got a chance with.

Oh, I am. In fact, I'm waiting to hear back from Northern and Freightliner. Fingers crossed! :D
 

Class2ldn

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I'm not sure exactly why but I have heard they don't have the safety rating or whatever its called to be able to undertake the training.
Either that or they just can't be a###d with the cost of it lol
 

Clip

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Look at their timetable then work out at least an hour before and after for your shift patterns.

They dont run many trains and if no RPSS pension then skip it- its the best thing of the railway,just.
 

SPADTrap

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I wouldn't go that far. But why is it that GC don't train externals?



Oh, I am. In fact, I'm waiting to hear back from Northern and Freightliner. Fingers crossed! :D

Freightliner I'd just forget I'm afraid.
 

SPADTrap

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Why so? They have an opportunity at Leeds open at the moment.

Sorry I assumed it was drivers you were looking at. If so and you're still not aware then that is unfortunate.
 

red2005

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Why so? They have an opportunity at Leeds open at the moment.

I'd be stunned If that's a driving opportunity mate..... Considering they are laying shed loads off and there's half a thread dedicated to potential applicants/trainees talking about how they've been told that all planned training courses have been suspended.

From what I've been told by a reliable source even the freight companies in much better shape than freightliner are juggling things around internally in terms of manpower so they don't have to make redundancies. If they are not even recruiting qualifieds there ain't much chance for trainees.
 

E&W Lucas

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Anyone got any information on what GC are like to work for as a driver, Bradford based. Usual stuff, rest day patterns, what the jobs are like, leave and so on. PM me if youd rather.

Cheers in advance.

Lodge jobs in London to add to the list of negatives.
 

greatkingrat

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Looks like quite a lot of lodging, the driver of the 2105 arrival can't also drive the 0802 departure the next morning so must be two drivers lodging each night.
 

RBSN

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Sorry I assumed it was drivers you were looking at. If so and you're still not aware then that is unfortunate.

There is a need to be proficient in a number of disciplines; including driving of all plant on the terminal, shunting of rail wagons as well as train preparation; therefore, experience in container handling equipment would be an advantage.


I assumed by 'shunting' this role was more of a 'deport driving' role that included other types of driving?

Either way, it doesn't hurt sending an application in. Even just to get a foot in the door. :)
 

Gemz91

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Looks like quite a lot of lodging, the driver of the 2105 arrival can't also drive the 0802 departure the next morning so must be two drivers lodging each night.

Is that just Sunderland drivers though? Or is there cross depot cover? Looking at applying for the Bradford depot, not Sunderland.
 

E&W Lucas

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Is that just Sunderland drivers though? Or is there cross depot cover? Looking at applying for the Bradford depot, not Sunderland.
Sorry, didn't read the original post properly, and forgot about the Yorkshire service. I believe it's just the Sunderland driver that lodges.
 

Bigplant

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There is a need to be proficient in a number of disciplines; including driving of all plant on the terminal, shunting of rail wagons as well as train preparation; therefore, experience in container handling equipment would be an advantage.


I assumed by 'shunting' this role was more of a 'deport driving' role that included other types of driving?

Either way, it doesn't hurt sending an application in. Even just to get a foot in the door. :)

Just to start an apology to the OP as this is completely off topic.
Ok the term shunting means more like train prep for example helping a driver by being the eyes on the ground manually connecting lines on wagons, pulling points checking wagons are fit for use etc.
I have personally been trying to get a multi skilled op job at Bristol for a while and never got through the sift. my background is working with heavy and fixed plant for around ten years and the past three years I have been a transport Co ordinator/weighbridge op/ export document controller. I know I tick the boxes for nearly all the disciplines desired in the role but I have no railway background so I am starting to believe they are looking for groundstaff from other FOCs and looking to train them up on reach stackers (I am qualified to use these), empty container lifters and traffic control for incoming LGV traffic.
That being said I still keep trying lol I did get a driver manager interview with freightliner IM and found that a hundred times easier to get to that stage than to get through the sift for a multi skilled op job :)
 

class 9

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Looks like quite a lot of lodging, the driver of the 2105 arrival can't also drive the 0802 departure the next morning so must be two drivers lodging each night.

Not necessarily so, some companies allow less than 12 hours rest when lodging.
 

Class2ldn

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Well you're suppose to have 12 hours off between driving shifts under hidden so I'm not sure how that works
 
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Johncleesefan

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Maybe its all part of the same turn, he books on. Takes it down, sits pnb/ as ordered until morning leg home
 

Tomnick

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Well you're suppose to have 12 hours off between driving shifts under hidden so I'm not sure how that works
They're only recommendations, though, with each TOC carrying out its own risk assessments and having its own agreements. Most are based on the Hidden recommendations, but I've heard of some reducing the 12 hour minimum rest period for lodging turns (maybe because 12 hours would be impractical, but also maybe justified on the basis of minimal travelling time or avoiding more lodging turns which would be worse overall?). Similarly, signalmen were allowed to have just eight hours rest between turns over a weekend if it was built into the base roster, because the alternative (if it wasn't possible to double back from lates to earlies like that) would be far more tiring overall.
 
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