How flexible are GWR when it comes to internal Driver transfers?

[VB4247]

Hi all, I'm brand new here but I'm hoping some of you more in the know than I am might be able to help put my mind at ease regarding internal transfers at GWR.

I'm a new Driver with GWR's Eastern Region, and while I'm extremely happy where I am, and very pleased to have secured the position after years of applications, there are a number of background complications at home which have come up very unexpectedly. It is increasingly clear that they may make it necessary for me to transfer to the Western Region at some point in the next five years, more specifically Par or Penzance. Apologies if this all sounds a bit cloak and dagger, but I'm still very new and I'm worried about doing anything to harm my future career at an early stage.

Without getting into to much detail about my circumstances, as to a certain extent I'm trying to be discreet about this as the circumstances motivating the enquiry are very delicate, I was hoping somebody might be able to give me some sound advice regarding the following:

1. Am I correct that GWR allow one transfer opportunity to each driver in their career?
2. Is there a set amount of time that the company stipulate must pass before such a tranfer request is made?
3. Are there any extenuating cicumstances that may reduce this?
4. (Long shot) Does anybody know what the Cornish depots are like when it comes to taking transferred Drivers?

Thanks in advance!

 

[tiptoptaff]

My bold

1. Am I correct that GWR allow one transfer opportunity to each driver in their career? Yes, as part of the new Ts+Cs
2. Is there a set amount of time that the company stipulate must pass before such a tranfer request is made? 2 years, cannot transfer under PQA. Qualified drivers cannot transfer in their first two years to prevent people coming over to any depot as a "way in"
3. Are there any extenuating cicumstances that may reduce this? Not that I know of. I know of no drivers who have been successful in a PTR move within their first 2 years
4. (Long shot) Does anybody know what the Cornish depots are like when it comes to taking transferred Drivers? Depends on vacancy. Plymouth infrequent, Penzance more likely, Par no hope. The last person to get in to Par was a Penzance driver who lives St. Austell, who swapped with a Par driver that lived Cambourne. You cannot apply to both. You have to put your name on the wait list for one depot and you go when they tell you there's a vacancy. You cannot sign up in the first year, and I doubt until late in your second year.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Don't know if it's what you wanted to hear, but the harmonisation Ts+Cs have clamped down on certain things (not just transfers) that drivers were going that they shouldn't have been - and that both the company and ASLEF wanted to stop.
Mickey takers being clamped down on has meant that the genuine ones are also being held to new standards

 

[VB4247]

Actually thats a big help, thank you! It's better than I thought to be honest!

When you say "You cannot sign up in the first year, and I doubt until late in your second year", I assume this means you cannot sign up for a transfer until late into your second year of being a qualified driver?

Sorry if I'm being dense!

 

[tiptoptaff]

Actually thats a big help, thank you! It's better than I thought to be honest!

When you say "You cannot sign up in the first year, and I doubt until late in your second year", I assume this means you cannot sign up for a transfer until late into your second year of being a qualified driver?

Sorry if I'm being dense!

That's exactly what I mean, yes. It's to prevent you (in theory) being top of the list within your PQA period.

 

[VB4247]

That's really helpful thank you! It may be that I don't even have to move but it's good to get a timescale in place really. Realistically it will be about 5 years then before being able to transfer?

 

[tiptoptaff]

That's really helpful thank you! It may be that I don't even have to move but it's good to get a timescale in place really. Realistically it will be about 5 years then before being able to transfer?

Hard to say - don't think it'll be 5. But it might be, it really does depend. They're recruiting at the moment, and that may mean you miss the boat, as you can't go now, and when you ca the vacancies are filled.

 

[VB4247]

Many thanks!

 

[irish_rail]

Always worth banging in a hardship move request if it's a really compelling reason . The ddc and company have to at least consider each one .

 

[VB4247]

Always worth banging in a hardship move request if it's a really compelling reason . The ddc and company have to at least consider each one .

I must confess I didn't even know that there was such a thing! Thank you for informing me about this, unfortunately it is quite serious, long story short immediate family members in Cornwall have become really unwell mentally and as the only family they have I may need to relocate permanently to help with long term care and be there should anything happen, my hopes are that this will constitute a compelling reason to push a transfer through should I need it

 

[tiptoptaff]

I must confess I didn't even know that there was such a thing! Thank you for informing me about this, unfortunately it is quite serious, long story short immediate family members in Cornwall have become really unwell mentally and as the only family they have I may need to relocate permanently to help with long term care and be there should anything happen, my hopes are that this will constitute a compelling reason to push a transfer through should I need it

It may be, but it still depends on vacancies.

 

[irish_rail]

Well plenty of vacancies at Penzance so something to think about.

 

[tiptoptaff]

On paper yes there are 6 vacant lines in the GWR link but there are 8 trainees in the system. There are no actual vacancies.

 

[westcoaster]

My bold

Par always pops up for external applications. I know a Thameslink Brighton driver just moved to par.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Par always pops up for external applications. I know a Thameslink Brighton driver just moved to par.

It certainly doesn't. I suspect they've been waiting a while. Incidentally, there are no "new" names in the Par driver list. So how recent was this?

 

[tiptoptaff]

You might also notice it is the only depot not advertised in the current qualified recruitment drive.

 

[irish_rail]

There are ongoing vacancies for drivers at many depots including Penzance for future additional work (ie half hourly conrwall) so I wouldn't be put off by the fact there aren't many vacancies showing in the link at this minute in time.

 

[Bigfoot]

It is increasingly clear that they may make it necessary for me to transfer to the Western Region

If they are making you move it should be a lot easier than if it's just your preference.

 

[martin2345uk]

If they are making you move it should be a lot easier than if it's just your preference.

The “they” he’s referring to are his circumstances rather than GWR.

I think.

 

[Indy3995]

On paper yes there are 6 vacant lines in the GWR link but there are 8 trainees in the system. There are no actual vacancies.

You seem to know a fair bit about what is going on in gwr recruitment tiptop. These 8 trainees you mention as in the system..is that on a course or waiting to start one? Im sat in the Penzance pool trying not to pull my remaining hair out

 

[Willum]

How long have you been waiting Indy?

 

[Indy3995]

How long have you been waiting Indy?

Since last August, which although is frustrating isnt as long as one guy I know of on here that has been waiting since last May

 

[387star]

It certainly doesn't. I suspect they've been waiting a while. Incidentally, there are no "new" names in the Par driver list. So how recent was this?

Someone moved in 2015/6 Brighton to Par likewise I know of two who have moved from GWR to TL one of whom was Par based in order to get to Brighton back when First ran both franchises

 

[tiptoptaff]

You seem to know a fair bit about what is going on in gwr recruitment tiptop. These 8 trainees you mention as in the system..is that on a course or waiting to start one? Im sat in the Penzance pool trying not to pull my remaining hair out

8 in training. All internals. Last course started back in the summer

 

[Indy3995]

8 in training. All internals. Last course started back in the summer

Ah...interesting. cheers

 

[Willum]

There’s a group that started training in January I know of.

 

[tiptoptaff]

There’s a group that started training in January I know of.

Not in Penzance, and trust me on that.

 

[Busandrail]

Since last August, which although is frustrating isnt as long as one guy I know of on here that has been waiting since last May

That would be me still waiting for the elusive email/call/ANYTHING. anyone in the know on here have any news?

So the 8 that as in the school atm, are any for penzance? I have heard there is quite a few vacancies coming up. Hoping as I'm in the pool from last May I might hear something soon if nobody had started a course this year for penzance. Fingers crossed

 

[Indy3995]

That would be me still waiting for the elusive email/call/ANYTHING. anyone in the know on here have any news?

So the 8 that as in the school atm, are any for penzance? I have heard there is quite a few vacancies coming up. Hoping as I'm in the pool from last May I might hear something soon if nobody had started a course this year for penzance. Fingers crossed

The silence is so frustrating isnt it pal. Its got to be soon for us...hopefully (crosses all 10 fingers and 11 toes )

 

[Willum]

Not in Penzance, and trust me on that.

From Exeter. Not the only group training at the moment. A friend of a friend is an another separate group currently training apparently.