New timetable change means getting into work 1 minute before shift start.

[Iamanoob]

Haven't started as yet but there is a new timetable change incoming and the earliest train I can get will now leave 7 minutes later and gets me into work 1 minute before starting. Earliest start is 06:20 and now the train gets into the station at 06:19 whereas at the moment it is 5 minutes before shift start. I was told that I can get the train in with the exceptions of 2 shifts (Friday late and Sunday early) but this was before the timetable change. Now of course I want to take advantage of the free travel and avoid taking the car if possible but with an approx 50 mile round that will cost me a bit of money to get to work.
The job is gateline

 

[Archvile]

Whilst it's ultimately up to you to ensure you're at work on time, if you're late due to a delayed train that's run by your TOC, it's generally something they will just swallow and accept in my experience.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Haven't started as yet but there is a new timetable change incoming and the earliest train I can get will now leave 7 minutes later and gets me into work 1 minute before starting. Earliest start is 06:20 and now the train gets into the station at 06:19 whereas at the moment it is 5 minutes before shift start. I was told that I can get the train in with the exceptions of 2 shifts (Friday late and Sunday early) but this was before the timetable change. Now of course I want to take advantage of the free travel and avoid taking the car if possible but with an approx 50 mile round that will cost me a bit of money to get to work.
The job is gateline

I thought staff free travel was only for leisure purposes and could not be used to commute - or does that only apply to "boxes" where those are issued?

Corrected below.

 

[ComUtoR]

I thought staff free travel was only for leisure purposes and could not be used to commute - or does that only apply to "boxes" where those are issued?

TOC Passes tend to be :

Employee : Residential, Leisure, duty
Partner : Leisure
Dependent : Leisure, Educational

 

[Smelliott]

I thought staff free travel was only for leisure purposes and could not be used to commute - or does that only apply to "boxes" where those are issued?

Varies massively from TOC to TOC. You can generally always use your own TOC (and often sister TOCs) for free. Some might have reciprocal agreements with TOCs, and unofficial understandings do exist too, etc. etc.

To OP: My experience is that you should be alright.

 

[Bletchleyite]

TOC Passes tend to be :

Employee : Residential, Leisure, duty
Partner : Leisure
Dependent : Leisure, Educational

Varies massively from TOC to TOC. You can generally always use your own TOC (and often sister TOCs) for free. Some might have reciprocal agreements with TOCs, and unofficial understandings do exist too, etc. etc.

To OP: My experience is that you should be alright.

Cheers for the clarification, both.

 

[43066]

Haven't started as yet but there is a new timetable change incoming and the earliest train I can get will now leave 7 minutes later and gets me into work 1 minute before starting. Earliest start is 06:20 and now the train gets into the station at 06:19 whereas at the moment it is 5 minutes before shift start. I was told that I can get the train in with the exceptions of 2 shifts (Friday late and Sunday early) but this was before the timetable change. Now of course I want to take advantage of the free travel and avoid taking the car if possible but with an approx 50 mile round that will cost me a bit of money to get to work.
The job is gateline

Absent a taxi agreement, it’ll be your responsibility to get in on time if there isn’t a train available. Whether getting there one minute before is enough will depend on job/supervisor.

As it’s a new job I’d probably start by taking the car to ensure you’re on time (and make a good first impression) and then sound out whether you can risk getting the train.

 

[telstarbox]

Sound advice generally. Err on the side of caution until you know the lie of the land.

 

[Iamanoob]

Might have misunderstood something but they said "There is a 10 minute booking on" and you have 10 minutes from start of your shift to get where you are meant to be, I hope I picked that up correctly.

 

[ComUtoR]

Might have misunderstood something but they said "There is a 10 minute booking on"

'Booking on time' is typically for reading any relevant notices, briefings, getting any equipment etc.

and you have 10 minutes from start of your shift to get where you are meant to be

This is most likely 'walking time' Which is the time allowed to go from your booking on point, to your work location


Effectively, you need to be at your booking on point on time. If your train arrives at the platform 1 minute before shift , you still need to allow getting to your booking on point. Otherwise you are technically late on duty.

 

[Horizon22]

Late is always easier than early shift because you'll have a train before.

Early shift is always difficult (especially a pre 0630 start) by public transport only, unless there's a local agreement. Often I've found for early shifts, these do exist, but obviously its highly locally dependent. There's likely to be a few staff on the same trains for early shifts.

That being said, you always need to work out how to get in effectively and if you have an alternative method you may need to use it. Especially as you haven't started yet.

 

[NSE]

I’d also suggest talking to your manager/supervisor once you start. You might find they’re very accommodating or have alternatives etc. If I was a manager and someone came with that query I’d try to be as accommodating as possible.

 

[Sly Sloth]

If you’ve been in the role 6 months it’s not going to be a problem……if you’re late in most days when you’re new I think you’ll find yourself in a tricky position

 

[Lilla]

You can seek for a local agreement ask RMT about it or you can request a flexible working hour contract.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Are you at a large station with lots of gateline staff or a smaller station (with fewer staff)?

Ultimately it is your responsibility re how you get to work. Presume this is the first train of the day? Yes, speak with your line manager/supervisor

 

[12LDA28C]

you can request a flexible working hour contract.

That's a bit extreme in this situation - that's not really what flexible working is for.

 

[Iamanoob]

Aaaaarrrrrrgggghhhh, not even started yet and already a potential problem. Can take the car but with 300+ miles every other week is going to cost me. Will make more at Scotrail than my current job but with fuel costs and wear and tear on car it wont be as much. Going to have to go in next week and ask the question to see if it's possible to take the train and make up time at the other end of the shift.

 

[John Bishop]

Aaaaarrrrrrgggghhhh, not even started yet and already a potential problem. Can take the car but with 300+ miles every other week is going to cost me. Will make more at Scotrail than my current job but with fuel costs and wear and tear on car it wont be as much. Going to have to go in next week and ask the question to see if it's possible to take the train and make up time at the other end of the shift.

As you will be on probation when you start, as stated above, I wouldn’t advise turning up late for work! You need to be able to make this work. I’d suggest a 1 minute leeway is way to tight given the complexity of the railways and the infinite number of things that could delay your train thus making you late for work.

 

[12LDA28C]

As you will be on probation when you start, as stated above, I wouldn’t advise turning up late for work! You need to be able to make this work. I’d suggest a 1 minute leeway is way to tight given the complexity of the railways and the infinite number of things that could delay your train thus making you late for work.

Hard to make this judgement without knowing how long it takes to walk from disembarking a train to arriving at the booking on point at the place of work. It might be 30 seconds...

As others have said, best to drive for the first few days until you have an agreement in place with your manager that they are ok with you getting the train. Trains can be late for any number of reasons and everybody on the railway is aware of that. At least if you're late because your train is delayed or cancelled your manager will know you're not lying or making excuses!

 

[Iamanoob]

Hard to make this judgement without knowing how long it takes to walk from disembarking a train to arriving at the booking on point at the place of work. It might be 30 seconds...

As others have said, best to drive for the first few days until you have an agreement in place with your manager that they are ok with you getting the train. Trains can be late for any number of reasons and everybody on the railway is aware of that. At least if you're late because your train is delayed or cancelled your manager will know you're not lying or making excuses!

Take about 2 minutes at most with a walking pace. A jog would be a minute and a run is a heart attack.

 

[43066]

Take about 2 minutes at most with a walking pace. A jog would be a minute and a run is a heart attack.

That sounds way too tight…

 

[Urban Gateline]

Might have misunderstood something but they said "There is a 10 minute booking on" and you have 10 minutes from start of your shift to get where you are meant to be, I hope I picked that up correctly.

This is one thing to check out when you get there, usually you get this time for collecting your ticket machine if you're Gateline so there might be some leeway if you only need to be on the Gateline by 0630 for example, but I agree with the others that driving for the first few days at least will show them you are reliable, that will give you the chance to ask around and find out if arriving at 0619 is acceptable.

 

[ComUtoR]

Ultimately you need to be on time for work. Especially during probation..

Be prepared for them to say no; you must be on time. Be prepared for zero flexibility, and be prepared to get to work
..on time.

Personally I do/did 30mile round trips. Many people do more and everyone gets to work on time.

That's our job as railway workers. We have a responsibility to our colleagues who may be booking off and a responsibility to our passengers to ensure that we are in place when they need us. If anyone wonders how rail workers get to work, BEFORE....that first train. This highlights what we have to do.

 

[alxndr]

Too tight in my opinion, especially just starting. It's unfortunate that it's happened now but it is a risk with shifts that start and finish at odd times, and the timetable could be altered either way again in the future.

Are there any alternative services you could use, even if it meant starting from a different, but still nearer than your workplace, station?

 

[Trainguy34]

Probable unlikely but could you potentially see if you could start at 0630 and finish 10 mins later

 

[12LDA28C]

If anyone wonders how rail workers get to work, BEFORE....that first train. This highlights what we have to do.

Some locations have local agreements in place that a taxi will be provided for staff if a shift starts before the first train that can get them to work on time is due to arrive.

 

[ComUtoR]

Some locations have local agreements in place that a taxi will be provided for staff if a shift starts before the first train that can get them to work on time is due to arrive.

We used to have 'staff' trains. Just an early morning set of empties that stopped and picked up staff along the way.

 

[NSE]

This morning I had a course start at 0900. Right next to the station so very convenient. Due to the temporary timetable Southern have this week I could either arrive at 0909 or 0805. Annoying. But it is what it is. Today I made sure I got there for 0805 to ensure I was there for 0900. I then explained when I got there today and asked if 0909 was ok for tomorrow and they said it wasn’t a problem at all.

Admittedly this is for a two day course, yours is for a job, but it’s luck of the draw. I can’t stress enough how speaking to your manager can do you the world of good. No guarantees of course, but good managers will try and help were possible.

 

[Iamanoob]

Spoke to someone who does the training and signs you off and they said the "10 minutes booking on" gives you time, might have to rush but don't have to worry about it and another trainer confirmed it. Turns out they will be in the same boat as they will be getting on the same train (different station).
Just waiting on conformation on a start date now, hopefully happens soon.

 

[Horizon22]

Spoke to someone who does the training and signs you off and they said the "10 minutes booking on" gives you time, might have to rush but don't have to worry about it and another trainer confirmed it. Turns out they will be in the same boat as they will be getting on the same train (different station).
Just waiting on conformation on a start date now, hopefully happens soon.

Is this a multi-staffed station? Are there other people who book on early? You may find people end up on the same train.

Appreciate you might not know the answers to these questions yet.