Is it worth joining the IRO before joining the railway?

[Economist]

Through a bit of research I've found an organisation called the Institute of Railway Operators, or IRO. Would anyone here recommend it as a good place to find out more about life working on the railway before joining?

I've got valid passes in the driving aptitude tests and thought it might be an idea to find out more about the career by talking directly to railway staff (I know a couple of drivers at the moment but that is about it) and finding out more about the culture. I'm aware that I could probably join as an Affiliate for about £20.

Is it the sort of place where potential railway employees are welcomed or do they prefer existing employees only?

 

[theironroad]

My impression is that they are really geared towards managers and those wanting to be managers. I don't get the impression they really interested in front line staff unless they want to be managers. Just my impression and while some of their courses are interesting for giving a bigger railway picture, they are very expensive and more geared to people being sponsored by their company and not self funders. Certainly my TOC won't fund it unless your in a management grade.......

 

[Shaggy]

My impression is that they are really geared towards managers and those wanting to be managers. I don't get the impression they really interested in front line staff unless they want to be managers. Just my impression and while some of their courses are interesting for giving a bigger railway picture, they are very expensive and more geared to people being sponsored by their company and not self funders. Certainly my TOC won't fund it unless your in a management grade.......

That's a shame. I'm currently doing my IRO degree and at least a third are drivers/TMs etc.

 

[Orchid]

My impression is that they are really geared towards managers and those wanting to be managers. I don't get the impression they really interested in front line staff unless they want to be managers. Just my impression and while some of their courses are interesting for giving a bigger railway picture, they are very expensive and more geared to people being sponsored by their company and not self funders. Certainly my TOC won't fund it unless your in a management grade.......

Your impression is wrong I'm happy to say. The courses may seem expensive but then again education is. If you compare them to an equivalent OU course they are actually very good value, and if you self fund you can pay off the course fees interest free. I have completed the diploma and am a driver, the course was full of all grades - signallers, guards, delay attribution clerks, NR engineers etc. I have no interest in management but I wanted a better qualification than a handful of GCSEs.

To the OP, I'm not sure if it is necessary joining before starting in the industry however, but I would certainly recommend it when you start. Some of the events are really good, one area recently organised a trip on the New Measurement Train for example.

 

[Met Driver]

My impression is that they are really geared towards managers and those wanting to be managers. I don't get the impression they really interested in front line staff unless they want to be managers. Just my impression and while some of their courses are interesting for giving a bigger railway picture, they are very expensive and more geared to people being sponsored by their company and not self funders. Certainly my TOC won't fund it unless your in a management grade.......

Not the impression they've given me at all, I'm not a manager and have no immediate ambitions to be one, but my front line experience has been enough to progress my membership level. In fact it's one of the few professional associations I've looked into that doesn't stipulate that you must be at a certain level within your company to attain fellowship level membership. I'm also studying with them and while some of the course content will probably better serve existing managers in terms of being able to put it to immediate use, it can all be stored for future use should a driver, etc choose to take their career down a different path in future. That and learning for learning's sake is no bad thing in itself of course.

 

[theironroad]

Good to hear some positive feedback.

 

[driver9000]

I joined the IRO several years ago and have been on a few of their visits. Worth it if you're in the industry in my opinion especially with corporate membership for many companies. Will they accept members from outside the railway? Pretty sure I had to provide a CV of my railway career when I first joined.

 

[The Planner]

Most railway companies get free corporate membership anyway? May be worth waiting until you join a company first?