GWR Penzance (Qualified)

[Moterman31]

Morning All,

Hope you are well Just a query really. I see GWR always seem to be recruiting for qualified drivers over on the West, Par and Penzance, why is this? A big turnover of staff? Bad environment? I would of thought they would be queuing at the door to get down to the south west on such a good salary. I'd love to jump ship from up North but still doing my driving hours (when we are allowed back into work) so hoping to get down to Penzance in a few years once im technically qualified. Knowing my luck the vacancies will of dried up by then and after advertising for past few years they won't do it again!!

 

[tiptoptaff]

Morning All,

Hope you are well Just a query really. I see GWR always seem to be recruiting for qualified drivers over on the West, Par and Penzance, why is this? A big turnover of staff? Bad environment? I would of thought they would be queuing at the door to get down to the south west on such a good salary. I'd love to jump ship from up North but still doing my driving hours (when we are allowed back into work) so hoping to get down to Penzance in a few years once im technically qualified. Knowing my luck the vacancies will of dried up by then and after advertising for past few years they won't do it again!!

Penzance is a good depot and the south west has a relatively small turnover. But with changes to driver TS and C's that went through in the last 18months, proposed changes still to come, and increases to services in Cornwall, extra drivers are required

 

[Moterman31]

Penzance is a good depot and the south west has a relatively small turnover. But with changes to driver TS and C's that went through in the last 18months, proposed changes still to come, and increases to services in Cornwall, extra drivers are required

Thabks for the update! Hopefully in a years time when im passed out i can get my application in

 

[43066]

Penzance is a good depot and the south west has a relatively small turnover. But with changes to driver TS and C's that went through in the last 18months, proposed changes still to come, and increases to services in Cornwall, extra drivers are required

The St Ives branch around Carbis Bay must be up there as one of the most scenic routes in the country.

What routes and traction do Penzance sign, out of interest?

 

[Moterman31]

The St Ives branch around Carbis Bay must be up there as one of the most scenic routes in the country.

What routes and traction do Penzance sign, out of interest?

From another post, i think its;

Penzance GWR
Traction:
800, 2+4HST, 158, 150
Routes:
Penzance-Plymouth
Plymouth-Exeter SD
St Erth-St Ives
Truro-Falmouth

Penzance HSS
Traction:
800, 2+4HST, 150
Routes:
Penzance-Plymouth
Plymouth-Exeter SD
St Erth-St Ives

 

[43066]

From another post, i think its;

Penzance GWR
Traction:
800, 2+4HST, 158, 150
Routes:
Penzance-Plymouth
Plymouth-Exeter SD
St Erth-St Ives
Truro-Falmouth

Penzance HSS
Traction:
800, 2+4HST, 150
Routes:
Penzance-Plymouth
Plymouth-Exeter SD
St Erth-St Ives

Cheers. I should have just checked on the (excellent) driver depots thread.

 

[Moterman31]

Cheers. I should have just checked on the (excellent) driver depots thread.

Haha no worries! My plan was to get my application in as i would of done my hours and be driving by now but coronavirus had other plans.. my toc has stopped all driving with instructors and so has pushed my south west dreams back by a few years i reakon

 

[tiptoptaff]

Haha no worries! My plan was to get my application in as i would of done my hours and be driving by now but coronavirus had other plans.. my toc has stopped all driving with instructors and so has pushed my south west dreams back by a few years i reakon

GWR won't look at you without at least one, if not two, years productive driving first. I think you need to adjust your expectations in terms of a time frame

 

[Moterman31]

Yeah i know, already asked that question many moons ago!

Stay safe guys !

 

[43066]

Haha no worries! My plan was to get my application in as i would of done my hours and be driving by now but coronavirus had other plans.. my toc has stopped all driving with instructors and so has pushed my south west dreams back by a few years i reakon

Best of luck with the training. Hopefully you’ll be able to resume shortly - some TOCs have carried on with training regardless!

This has all been said before, many times, but the best advice really is to take your time, take on board the stuff about NTS (it really does work), and do your absolute best to keep your nose clean. It’s *much* easier to move if you have a clean SOL record.

I’d also avoid smashing the overtime when you pass out, at least until you’ve got a good few months of solo driving under your belt.

 

[Moterman31]

Best of luck with the training. Hopefully you’ll be able to resume shortly - some TOCs have carried on with training regardless!

This has all been said before, many times, but the best advice really is to take your time, take on board the stuff about NTS (it really does work), and do your absolute best to keep your nose clean. It’s *much* easier to move if you have a clean SOL record.

I’d also avoid smashing the overtime when you pass out, at least until you’ve got a good few months of solo driving under your belt.

Thanks 43066,

Appreciate the advise, not going to lie, its been hard work keeping motivated at home and keeping my head in the books, especially with the kids not in school but i've tried. Once we get a definate date to go back i think i will be diving into the books! Its frustrating but cant be helped! I have no intention to grab the overtime, im happy enough with the salary and time off! Plus, my intention is to move down to cornwall eventually so need to keep my record clean.

 

[George1066]

What depot are you based at uuuup north as you say. DTM asking so we don’t waste time training you up and get someone who wants to work here.

 

[43066]

What depot are you based at uuuup north as you say. DTM asking so we don’t waste time training you up and get someone who wants to work here.

If you really are a DTM, maybe you should focus on creating an environment where people actually want to work, rather than attacking those who want to leave.

Just a thought!

 

[George1066]

Someone that wants too leave before they have even passed out as a driver, ergo wasting the time and money of I’ve presuming Northerns training academy ,DTM,S at said depot and utilising instructors who could be doing more important work.

 

[tiptoptaff]

If you really are a DTM, maybe you should focus on creating an environment where people actually want to work, rather than attacking those who want to leave.

Just a thought!

Also, a degree of subtlety wouldn't go amiss.

I can't see why a DTM would really care. The messroom is always full of people discussing where they've been, or where they're thinking of going next. All part of being a driver, looking for that greener grass!!

 

[dan2610]

I’m in the talent pool for a trainee position at Pnz, so if you could wait til after I’ve started thank you

 

[irish_rail]

From another post, i think its;

Penzance GWR
Traction:
800, 2+4HST, 158, 150
Routes:
Penzance-Plymouth
Plymouth-Exeter SD
St Erth-St Ives
Truro-Falmouth

Penzance HSS
Traction:
800, 2+4HST, 150
Routes:
Penzance-Plymouth
Plymouth-Exeter SD
St Erth-St Ives

Just to add to that Penzance HSS also sign the class 57 and sleepers and have just robbed some sleeper work off plymouth so they drive it from truro to pz.

 

[craigybagel]

Just to add to that Penzance HSS also sign the class 57 and sleepers and have just robbed some sleeper work off plymouth so they drive it from truro to pz.

Thanks, have edited the route knowledge thread accordingly

 

[Moterman31]

What a friendly bunch... there's nothing wrong with getting your foot in the door and having aspirations to move on to new depots or new jobs, if it benefits you and your family... what if someone wanted to move into management Dtm role, would that be a waste of instructors time then?? For the record it isn't northern i work for thankfully as their dtm sounds like the real supportive type !!!

 

[Red Devil]

Haha no worries! My plan was to get my application in as i would of done my hours and be driving by now but coronavirus had other plans.. my toc has stopped all driving with instructors and so has pushed my south west dreams back by a few years i reakon

Hold your horses! ASLEF in the process of getting training back up and running. No date yet but you won't be waiting long

 

[L.M_DannyC]

Haha no worries! My plan was to get my application in as i would of done my hours and be driving by now but coronavirus had other plans.. my toc has stopped all driving with instructors and so has pushed my south west dreams back by a few years i reakon

Most companies look for 2-3 years of driving experience by yourself once fully productive. So my advice would be to not think too far ahead just yet, concentrate on getting your key, staying incident free post-qual and then the world is your oyster.