New Conductors

[Paul1977]

HI all

just wondered if any new or trainee conductors on here ? and wondered how you are finding the job/training ? I have always wanted to become a conductor and confident I can do it well with my general experience and the way I am as a person.

Its just tests that bothering me never been great with written tests but know I can do the job well. I failed by just a couple of points with first group TPE back in march and now I am waiting to be put through to test centre with Northern when something comes up from August onwards for Sheffield but dreading the tests again, really feel they could possibly be losing good people for the jobs just because not great at tests etc.

Any advice on the tests guys and how you are finding the job/training. appreciate it

cheers

Paul
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Been told by some conductors I have spoke to on trains that they never even had to do any tests were given job just by having an interview, and they said they not been doing the job all that long?

so how does this work then? are the tests quite new or something? just my luck

thanks

 

[Monty]

The assessments have been around for quite a while now, all new conductors/guards are required to take them. There is no way around this I am afraid, though to be brutally honest if you were to struggle with these tests it's most likely you wouldn't cope well with the training either. Most TOCs should give you plenty of practice material so the key with this is to practice, practice and practice and you should be fine.

As for your second answer the only reason I can think of is that the conductors you spoke with were employed prior to those tests being introduced. Can any ex BR guards confirm if they had any tests they had to do prior to getting a guards job?

 

[TristanGNER]

Paul, you have to do about 3/4 different tests for the Northern Conductor's job. There's SCAAT, RAAT, Ticketing test and maybe one other. I have lots of friends that work at Northern as conductors from Sheffield. I'm also based in Sheffield and I work for a TOC but not at Northern Rail ps. Good Luck with your application. As Monty says you will receive practice books in plenty of time for you to have a go!

 

[mickeyjenson!]

The assessments have been around for quite a while now, all new conductors/guards are required to take them. There is no way around this I am afraid, though to be brutally honest if you were to struggle with these tests it's most likely you wouldn't cope well with the training either. Most TOCs should give you plenty of practice material so the key with this is to practice, practice and practice and you should be fine.

As for your second answer the only reason I can think of is that the conductors you spoke with were employed prior to those tests being introduced. Can any ex BR guards confirm if they had any tests they had to do prior to getting a guards job?

Start my guards training in August bit nervous about it all to be honest. Any tips on anything I should be studying prior to it.

Cheers
Michael

 

[hidden]

Week 4 of training and loving every minute. Made great friends already and learnt so much, you'll really enjoy it when you get it!

As for the tests, practice the material they send you, you'll be fine.

 

[Andrew32]

Start my guards training in August bit nervous about it all to be honest. Any tips on anything I should be studying prior to it.

Cheers
Michael

Who you starting with mate?

Andy

 

[trentside]

Start my guards training in August bit nervous about it all to be honest. Any tips on anything I should be studying prior to it.

Cheers
Michael

Good luck with the training Michael. As for studying prior to starting, my advice would be to just relax before you start an intensive few weeks of rules training - the courses are designed for people walking in with no prior knowledge, so prior studying isn't necessary in my opinion.

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The assessments have been around for quite a while now, all new conductors/guards are required to take them. There is no way around this I am afraid, though to be brutally honest if you were to struggle with these tests it's most likely you wouldn't cope well with the training either. Most TOCs should give you plenty of practice material so the key with this is to practice, practice and practice and you should be fine.

This is all very true.

If you want to get some practice in with SCAAT, then downloading the program in this link would go a long way to help. You can practice using the computer and also by printing sheets out to practice with pen and paper so you're prepared for both versions of the test;

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=79923

 

[Paul1977]

Hi thanks for that Tristen, cant get me a job can you ? lol

I did the tests back in march and just failed by 2 points was told on last test for TPE was gutted, think I was worrying over role play and it put me off, so applied with northern as first group advised me that I could retake under 6 months if different toc, but was bad advice from a new starter so I passed interview and was invited to test centre then told I couldn't come but would reinvite me without reapplying from August if anything comes up? gagging for that time to come now, just hoping positions come up mate.

You enjoy the job ? its all ive ever wanted to do but this process is soul destroying, just really want to get on as a conductor mate all I can think about, I would do it for £16,000 let alone the £20,000 ish they pay its not just the money for me, so frustrating.

Also can you help on this? bee told I will only have to resit the tests I failed do you know if this is correct? and whats the training like if I ever get on that is???

appreciate a reply when can, cheers

Paul
Barnsley
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Good luck with the training Michael. As for studying prior to starting, my advice would be to just relax before you start an intensive few weeks of rules training - the courses are designed for people walking in with no prior knowledge, so prior studying isn't necessary in my opinion.

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This is all very true.

If you want to get some practice in with SCAAT, then downloading the program in this link would go a long way to help. You can practice using the computer and also by printing sheets out to practice with pen and paper so you're prepared for both versions of the test;

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=79923

Thanks for all the advice guys, like I say this is everything to me only career I want to do and its a massive general interest for me also.

Anyone else offer advice on if I need to retake all the tests or just the one I failed on? I just failed by couple of points was told by assessor on very last one, any advice? also is it true if fail twice that's it cant ever reapply or can you after a while etc?

Just want to be a conductor all ive wanted to do and feel 100% confident its right for me and I can make a good guard etc, any further help, tips or advice greatly appreciated guys, thanks again all

Paul

 

[TristanGNER]

Paul1977, I don't work as a conductor but I've applied for East Coast as a guard from their Leeds depot. I used to work on train. It's a great job, which is made more interesting on a Saturday night after your customers have been on a day & night out lol.
Sounds to me like you only just missed out with TPE. I don't know if you know this but TPE have an enhanced pass mark for their testing and if you only just missed out by 2 points, then PROBABLY your performance would have been accepted by other TOCs.
I work for EMT and so I'm only guessing here but TPE definately have an enhanced pass system in place. Hope that helps ps...Getting to testing and interview is a brilliant achievement in itself. They say that only 2 in 10 applicants make it to a stage where a TOC has to pay out for testing and so they must have been really interested.

 

[Paul1977]

HI Tristen

thanks for reply/advice, hope you don't mind sent you a message through visitor message, should see it in your details section, get back to me when can if don't mind.

If you not got it let me know will post as normal

thanks again
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PS

just got an email saying got through to telephone interview with first group for station assis/revenue protection at Huddersfield, not another phone interview lol

anyone know what sort of questions be in this one? will it be same as my conductor phone interview or slightly different ??? any advice guys?

also im assuming no tests for this one ? or I wont be able to go for it again will I ? is testing just on conductor and driver???

please advise , thanks again

Paul

 

[trentside]

Anyone else offer advice on if I need to retake all the tests or just the one I failed on? I just failed by couple of points was told by assessor on very last one, any advice? also is it true if fail twice that's it cant ever reapply or can you after a while etc?

Just want to be a conductor all ive wanted to do and feel 100% confident its right for me and I can make a good guard etc, any further help, tips or advice greatly appreciated guys, thanks again all

Hi Paul,

Whether you have to retake all the tests will be down to the individual TOCs and their assessors. I've known it for people who passed all the tests at another TOC have to retake them again with another, so it will honestly depend on who you're applying to and the approach they take.

I notice you mention an interview for a station based job. This is how I started on the railways, then moved to a conductors role internally (obviously passing tests and interviews etc.) and found it a good way to start. It's a foot in the door, and will gain you good experience if you get it. As for the interview, expect a lot of customer service orientated questions and possibly a few scenarios.

 

[tony6499]

Can any ex BR guards confirm if they had any tests they had to do prior to getting a guards job?

Applied for the guards job , was already a Junior Railman, quick chat with the station manager and told to report to Beckenham training school on the Monday.

The training both in class and practical soon weeded out anyone not suited.

 

[HSTfan!!!]

Start my guards training in August bit nervous about it all to be honest. Any tips on anything I should be studying prior to it.

Cheers
Michael

I wouldn't recommend doing any study, you'll only confuse yourself. Everything you need to know you'll learn as part of your training.