Guard GWR or SWR

[AlanUK78]

Hi everyone,

I applied for both GWR (Reading) and SWR (Woking & Guildford) for the position of Guard. (GWR is currently on hold for a holding pool position).
As an outsider of the industry, I was wondering if you have opinions as to which, should I be lucky enough to pass both interviews, would be the better employer/base? I'm aware that SWR is 42h/week vs 37h/week at GWR, but if you have more information for things to consider, I would be grateful for any guidance.

Regards
Alan

 

[Driver2B]

Having been through the recruitment process with a number of TOCs, I'd suggest "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush".

It might be worth taking the first one which you are offered (even if it's not your preference) because you might you might not be offered your first choice!

 

[MiNi]

Having been through the recruitment process with a number of TOCs, I'd suggest "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush".

It might be worth taking the first one which you are offered (even if it's not your preference) because you might you might not be offered your first choice!

I echo the above comments,grab the 1st one that you are offered. I reckon you will be very lucky to be offered both,fair play if you do.
Getting a foot onto the railway employment ladder is the hardest bit. Good luck.

 

[AlanUK78]

I echo the above comments,grab the 1st one that you are offered. I reckon you will be very lucky to be offered both,fair play if you do.
Getting a foot onto the railway employment ladder is the hardest bit. Good luck.

Thanks MiNi. I'll see how it goes,but indeed, in the current climate I'll be glad to get 1 offer!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Nov 2020 ==

GWR is an excellent employer but Reading was not a pleasant depot to work out of for me. I worked there for three years (after starting at Redhill) and while Redhill depot is lovely and tight-knit, Reading has a really poor culture and in my experience there was a fair amount of workplace bullying and a generally poor work ethic amongst a sizeable minority of the staff there.

Was this as conductor Sprinter153?

 

[MiNi]

Hi everyone,

I applied for both GWR (Reading) and SWR (Woking & Guildford) for the position of Guard. (GWR is currently on hold for a holding pool position).
As an outsider of the industry, I was wondering if you have opinions as to which, should I be lucky enough to pass both interviews, would be the better employer/base? I'm aware that SWR is 42h/week vs 37h/week at GWR, but if you have more information for things to consider, I would be grateful for any guidance.

Regards
Alan

Keep us posted on here with your progress. It's good to here if you are successful.
Regarding the swr guard role if you want I can tell you of my experiences at the assessment centre day & what to expect. My day was pre covid so it may have changed now.

 

[AlanUK78]

Keep us posted on here with your progress. It's good to here if you are successful.
Regarding the swr guard role if you want I can tell you of my experiences at the assessment centre day & what to expect. My day was pre covid so it may have changed now.

Thanks MiNi.
I've done the assessments already and passed those who just waiting for the interviews which will be done via Microsoft teams online! That'll be a first for me. An interview over the internet!!

I've passed the online tests for SWR. Am I correct in saying I won't have to do the assessments again as the ones I passed with GWR are valid for 3 years for all TOCs?

 

[Railroader22]

Thanks MiNi.
I've done the assessments already and passed those who just waiting for the interviews which will be done via Microsoft teams online! That'll be a first for me. An interview over the internet!!

I've passed the online tests for SWR. Am I correct in saying I won't have to do the assessments again as the ones I passed with GWR are valid for 3 years for all TOCs?

I passed all my assessments for GWR, conductor for Reading-They then pulled the plug on the job and said no interviews will be happening. I then applied for guard at SWR and have been invited to assessment Center. I called them to tell them I have already passed a few months ago with GWR and it is valid for 3 years, but they said it doesn’t matter and I still have to retake the assessments. I’m retaking them in 2 weeks.

 

[AlanUK78]

I passed all my assessments for GWR, conductor for Reading-They then pulled the plug on the job and said no interviews will be happening. I then applied for guard at SWR and have been invited to assessment Center. I called them to tell them I have already passed a few months ago with GWR and it is valid for 3 years, but they said it doesn’t matter and I still have to retake the assessments. I’m retaking them in 2 weeks.

Oh no!!! I thought it was valid for all TOCs! So we are on a very similar track. Are you applying for Woking or Guildford?

 

[Railroader22]

Oh no!!! I thought it was valid for all TOCs! So we are on a very similar track. Are you applying for Woking or Guildford?

I also thought it would be valid, but it’s not Just have to smash it at the next assessment. I’m applying for Woking, and you?

 

[AlanUK78]

I also thought it would be valid, but it’s not Just have to smash it at the next assessment. I’m applying for Woking, and you?

Woking, but as Guildford has just come out, I'm calling SWR tomorrow to see if I can transfer my application to Guildford as it's slightly closer to me. But I would love to know if anyone here knows both depots and can make a recommendation for either.

 

[Railroader22]

Woking, but as Guildford has just come out, I'm calling SWR tomorrow to see if I can transfer my application to Guildford as it's slightly closer to me. But I would love to know if anyone here knows both depots and can make a recommendation for either.

Cool. Good luck with it It would be interesting to know how many guards each depot are taking on.

 

[SouthernOne]

Cool. Good luck with it It would be interesting to know how many guards each depot are taking on.

I understand Woking has quite a few vacancies. As for Guildford, I will have a dig tomorrow. Due to Covid, all training courses for guards were suspended in March. Several guards have left since, some going up to driver, others retired.

I also have a Teams interview for Woking guard this week.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Woking, but as Guildford has just come out, I'm calling SWR tomorrow to see if I can transfer my application to Guildford as it's slightly closer to me. But I would love to know if anyone here knows both depots and can make a recommendation for either.

Woking has a bit more variety in terms of routes (Guildford don’t touch the ‘Windsor side’ or Basingstoke, but do Leatherhead to Dorking which Woking don’t). Stock wise they both do 444, 450, 455 and 456. Woking also do 458 and 707, however the arrival of 701s will see both depots equal in terms of stock when the fleet enters service (444, 450, 701). The shifts don’t tend to be quite as early starting or late finishing at Woking either. That said, both are friendly enough depots and I certainly wouldn’t turn down a job offer for either.

 

[Railroader22]

I understand Woking has quite a few vacancies. As for Guildford, I will have a dig tomorrow. Due to Covid, all training courses for guards were suspended in March. Several guards have left since, some going up to driver, others retired.

I also have a Teams interview for Woking guard this week.

Thanks
Good luck in your interview.

 

[Stigy]

Woking has a bit more variety in terms of routes (Guildford don’t touch the ‘Windsor side’ or Basingstoke, but do Leatherhead to Dorking which Woking don’t). Stock wise they both do 444, 450, 455 and 456. Woking also do 458 and 707, however the arrival of 701s will see both depots equal in terms of stock when the fleet enters service (444, 450, 701). The shifts don’t tend to be quite as early starting or late finishing at Woking either. That said, both are friendly enough depots and I certainly wouldn’t turn down a job offer for either.

Don’t Guildford do Chessingtons too?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Nov 2020 ==

I also thought it would be valid, but it’s not Just have to smash it at the next assessment. I’m applying for Woking, and you?

I think you’ll find that generally the assessments are transferable, but it’s not set in stone and certain TOCs will require you to retake them. It may depend on who conducts the tests (whether it’s internal of the OPC).

 

[AlanUK78]

Woking has a bit more variety in terms of routes (Guildford don’t touch the ‘Windsor side’ or Basingstoke, but do Leatherhead to Dorking which Woking don’t). Stock wise they both do 444, 450, 455 and 456. Woking also do 458 and 707, however the arrival of 701s will see both depots equal in terms of stock when the fleet enters service (444, 450, 701). The shifts don’t tend to be quite as early starting or late finishing at Woking either. That said, both are friendly enough depots and I certainly wouldn’t turn down a job offer for either.

Thanks for that. I'm not overly keen on super early start, so Guilford might be a better option!

Just been on the phone with SWR and they have indeed confirmed I would need to re-do the Assessment day tests in Southampton, despite passing them for GWR just 6 weeks ago and they are different.

I'll keep you posted.

 

[theironroad]

Thanks for that. I'm not overly keen on super early start, so Guilford might be a better option!

Just been on the phone with SWR and they have indeed confirmed I would need to re-do the Assessment day tests in Southampton, despite passing them for GWR just 6 weeks ago and they are different.

I'll keep you posted.

Think they were saying that Guildford DOES have the earlier starts and later finishes.

Good luck.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Nov 2020 ==

 

[AlanUK78]

Think they were saying that Guildford DOES have the earlier starts and later finishes.

Good luck.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Nov 2020 ==



That doesn't sound great. Was that just guards or the whole depot including drivers? I believe it's a pretty big depot these days.

Whoops, yes I misread that!! Ok Woking it is then!

 

[theironroad]

Whoops, yes I misread that!! Ok Woking it is then!

Lol, I'd take either to get in but think both depots often have vacancies.

Did Farnham have vacancies? Probably closer.

You can generally make a internal move to another depot after a period but not sure what the timescale and how often for guards.

 

[AlanUK78]

Being in Camberley yes Farnham would be closer, but I haven't seen roles advertised there, but you're right, as long as I get in, I guess one can always move internally afterwards.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Don’t Guildford do Chessingtons too?

Both depots do Chessington - was just highlighting the differences between the two. Off the top of my head the routes both share are:

Waterloo to Guildford all three ways (Worplesdon, Cobham and Epsom) and the lines/branches to Chessington, Hampton Court, Alton, and Pompey (via Haslemere). Also Guildford to Ascot via Aldershot.

Guildford depot add Leatherhead to Dorking.

Woking depot add Woking to Basingstoke, Clapham to Ascot, Kingston loop, Hounslow loop, Virginia Water to Weybridge and the Byfleet curve.

 

[RuralSquad93]

GWR Reading is a great depot. Spent 2 years there before moving on to pastures new. Still have plenty of very close friends in the depot. There is definately no bullying of any kind in that depot. Mix of old hands and new starters but everyone is lovely & the work is simple yet enjoyable ... except Marlows.

 

[Railroader22]

Being in Camberley yes Farnham would be closer, but I haven't seen roles advertised there, but you're right, as long as I get in, I guess one can always move internally afterwards.

When’s your swr assessment? I did mine yesterday and passed both the morning and afternoon parts. Interview booked for two weeks time.

 

[AlanUK78]

Hi Railroader22,

My interview with GWR is tomorrow, and my assessment day with SWR is on the 22nd, in Southampton. Glad to hear you passed it all yesterday! congratulations! which depot are you going for?

 

[Railroader22]

Hi Railroader22,

My interview with GWR is tomorrow, and my assessment day with SWR is on the 22nd, in Southampton. Glad to hear you passed it all yesterday! congratulations! which depot are you going for?

Thanks. And good luck to you for both of yours. I applied for Woking depot.

 

[dctraindriver]

Woking, but as Guildford has just come out, I'm calling SWR tomorrow to see if I can transfer my application to Guildford as it's slightly closer to me. But I would love to know if anyone here knows both depots and can make a recommendation for either.

Woking more varied work.

 

[DonkeyKong]

I'm ex Guildford and it's a great depot with really good people. Guildford Guard is non commercial so you wont be selling tickets.

 

[WombleGuard]

How'd you get on?

 

[AlanUK78]

Interview is done, it went on for longer than I expected (1h), but I think/hope I did ok. Will know within 7 days

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Dec 2020 ==

I'm ex Guildford and it's a great depot with really good people. Guildford Guard is non commercial so you wont be selling tickets.

Oh, so you just do doors? What about SWR trying to get rid of guards altogether, is that still current?

 

[Mojo]

Do GWR Traincrew earn commission on the ticket sales? This could be quite a nice little earner. I have a family member who works for GWR but in the Westcountry and works for the revenue department (but as a Ticket Examiner not Revenue Protection Inspector who don't get commission) and he used to earn quite substantial amounts of commission on ticket sales.