Network rail signaller training pay?

[Lmc1976]

Hi,

I am progressing nicely through an application for a signallers job.

The signaller pay scales are clear, but as it is a 12 week training course and a 12 month apprenticeship scheme can anybody advise if there is a reduced rate of pay during this time?

It's not been mentioned in any part of the application so far but don't really want to be talking money with HR at this stage!

Thanks

 

[john.ump]

Normally 1 grade below until you've been signed off on your box/workstation.

 

[nom de guerre]

The signaller pay scales are clear, but as it is a 12 week training course and a 12 month apprenticeship scheme can anybody advise if there is a reduced rate of pay during this time?

Glad to hear your application is progressing well. Good luck for the remainder.

Following a recent change, new entrants are now classed as 'apprentice' signallers and paid at training rate - one grade less than full rate - for the first year of employment, regardless of whether they 'pass out' during this period. (Historically, the arrangement was as john.ump says: a trainee received full pay as soon as they had 'passed out' at their box, or their first panel/workstation).

If you haven't already, check the 'Career as a Signaller' thread (currently on Page 2 of the forum), and search the Jobs forum. Several forum members have attended signalling school recently and the issue has been discussed. I recall some colleagues were broadly supportive of this change; personally, I view it as an attack on our grade's T&Cs, not to mention disproportionately unfair to those at smaller boxes (who might reasonably expect to have 'passed out' after five or six months of service). YMMV.

(I note the company are now pushing to remove SE Allowance following any promotion. Once it starts...).

 

[john.ump]

Interesting nom de guerre....as you say NR in certain areas will be saving a grade even though the person is fully competent on that panel and fully productive for the company.

 

[Sunset route]

Interesting nom de guerre....as you say NR in certain areas will be saving a grade even though the person is fully competent on that panel and fully productive for the company.

Great isn't it, a group gain grade 9 jobs (or any other grade for that matter) those who got premonition go straight to grade 9 well done those who joined the railway from elsewhere, well your on grade grade 8 for the same work and your probation period lasts as long as your apprenticeship.

Mind you that's a full reversal of what happened to me when I got promotion many years ago to a grade 8. I was stuck on grade 5 money whilst learning (my previous grade) and the new intake were learning on grade 7 one below. Something that a grievance letter soon resolved as it effected about 5 of us at my location at the time.

 

[nom de guerre]

(I note the company are now pushing to remove SE Allowance following any promotion. Once it starts...).

Correction: existing recipients lose SE Allowance if they're promoted/relocate out of choice, and new entrants will no longer receive it.

I suppose anyone outside the South East will barely raise a shrug, but in my view the protection of currently-held T&Cs should be a higher priority for the union than agitating over things we lost 25 years ago.

Anyway, enough of this nonsense...

 

[chris2.0]

Following a recent change, new entrants are now classed as 'apprentice' signallers and paid at training rate - one grade less than full rate - for the first year of employment, regardless of whether they 'pass out' during this period.

This is very interesting and something that still hasn't been clarified to the current apprentices! There's rumours both ways about this.

I will get this confirmed during the week.

 

[nr_signaller]

Is the 'lower grade for 1 year' applicable to someone who signed contract after 1st July, started with company after 1st July, started training after 1st July or what? what about someone who is already a NR employee?

 

[chris2.0]

Good news.
Just had it confirmed by the training school staff and an RMT union rep that you will go up to your full grade as soon as you pass out on a workstation. You will not have to wait a full year.

 

[Sinistah]

that's great news.

 

[Lmc1976]

Good news.
Just had it confirmed by the training school staff and an RMT union rep that you will go up to your full grade as soon as you pass out on a workstation. You will not have to wait a full year.

Thanks for this much appreciated.

 

[Sinistah]

Can anyone give us a quick glimpse into the day in the life of a signaller in a number of bullet points. I get that it is hard to some up your job in a number of bullet points but humour me

 

[john.ump]

Sign on, tea, signal train, tea, signal train, tea, signal some more trains, tea. Toilet. More tea...

 

[nom de guerre]

Good news.
Just had it confirmed by the training school staff and an RMT union rep that you will go up to your full grade as soon as you pass out on a workstation. You will not have to wait a full year.

Thanks for the update, Chris. Glad to hear this idea has been dropped.

 

[Lmc1976]

Sign on, tea, signal train, tea, signal train, tea, signal some more trains, tea. Toilet. More tea...

Well as I’m proficient in drinking tea and completely toilet trained I reckon I’m halfway there already!

 

[Sunset route]

Can anyone give us a quick glimpse into the day in the life of a signaller in a number of bullet points. I get that it is hard to some up your job in a number of bullet points but humour me

Sign on duty after panel hand over, push lots of buttons signal lots of trains, talk to the odd driver, talk the neighbouring signalling centre over out of course/diverted trains, interact with shift managers and other co-located signallers. Sign off panel have a break, sign back on panel and repeat above, sign back off panel for second break, then sign on for the third and final stint doing much the same as above. Drink lots of tea and coffee and enjoy the work lol. End of shift complete panel handover sign off duty and get out of town as quick as possible.

Then you get the days where the engineers want to play on the track between trains on a multi track, multi junction railway, then its lots of repeated safety coms, lots of form filling and good use of reminders appliances as soft flesh and trains don't mix that well. Chuck in a TPWS activation somewhere, a emergency speed board indicator that's fallen over yet again, so you end up cautioning trains for most of the shift, test emergency alarms, a rough ride, low railhead adhesion (it's that time of year again). A train running with a X-ray head code that control have forgotten to email over the paperwork for the restrictions.

But I wouldn't trade the job for any other in the world, as every day is slightly different.

Sorry no bullet points lol

 

[contrad!ction]

Sign on duty after panel hand over, push lots of buttons signal lots of trains, talk to the odd driver, talk the neighbouring signalling centre over out of course/diverted trains, interact with shift managers and other co-located signallers. Sign off panel have a break, sign back on panel and repeat above, sign back of panel for second break, then sign on for the third and final stint doing much the same as above. Drink lots of tea and coffee and enjoy the work lol. End of shift complete panel handover sign off duty and get out of town as quick as possible.

Then you get the days where the engineers want to play on the track between trains on a multi track, multi junction railway, then its lots of repeated safety coms, lots of form filling and good use of reminders appliances as soft flesh and trains don't mix that well. Chuck in a TPWS activation somewhere, a emergency speed board indicator that's fallen over yet again, so you end up cautioning trains for most of the shift, test emergency alarms, a rough ride, low railhead adhesion (it's that time of year again). A train running with a X-ray head code that control have forgotten to email over the paperwork for the restrictions.

But I wouldn't trade the job for any other in the world, as every day is slightly different.

Sorry no bullet points lol

An excellent summary but you forgot the biscuits

(Wouldn’t trade it in either...!)

 

[Sinistah]

Lol you guys have given me a great insight into the job. It seems if i get the job i will become a world class tea drinker at least. All jokes aside you actually answered one of my questions as i actually thought you were literally glued to your seat for your shift. Do you have to sign off everytime you get up though?

 

[Sunset route]

Do you have to sign off everytime you get up though?

The short answer is no, if you talking about making a quick cup of tea, or the shorter PNBs (personal needs breaks).

Baring in mind that most small one person signalboxes your work space, kitchen and dining area are one of the same.

In larger signalling centres there will some form of meal/rest relief built into the roster and in that case it will be a proper handover. Also if you get called to the office someone then either a spare signaller or shift manger will sign on to release you.