Northern - Maintenance Depot Driver

[Andywen]

Hi all. I'm looking for advise please. I'm thinking of applying for the role of maintenance depot driver for Northern, based at Heaton. Could anybody please tell me the the likely shift patterns, also how many days holiday a year you normally get. Also, what is the genuine likelihood of being able to progress as a driver on the mainline? Or would it be difficult, as they'd want to try and keep you at the depot? Just lots of questions going on in my head. Thanks in advance.

 

[AverageJoe]

jobs don’t stay up long. Apply then take time to think if it’s the right job for you while you are waiting to hear back.

 

[Owen2323]

The shift pattern is predominantly nights (don't know how many on/off), can't speak for definite re holidays but probably 5 weeks each to be taken as blocks of Sunday to Saturday. Bank Holidays are a normal day at work on the railway so if you're rostered it you work it (but you get 8 lieu days to take throughout the year to compensate).

It is generally accepted that it can be quite difficult to go from MDD to mainline but it's by no means impossible (just you may have to be patient if you're successful in applying especially if it's internal). There are people who want to go mainline not long after they've started but apparently there are MDD's who have been their years and have no intention of leaving. I think the overtime can be quite plentiful (in contrast to mainline which must make up quite a bit in the pay discrepancy)

 

[WBFC345]

Hi all. I'm looking for advice please. I'm thinking of applying for the role of maintenance depot driver for Northern, based at Heaton. Could anybody please tell me the the likely shift patterns, also how many days holiday a year you normally get. Also, what is the genuine likelihood of being able to progress as a driver on the mainline? Or would it be difficult, as they'd want to try and keep you at the depot? Just lots of questions going on in my head. Thanks in advance.

Message me if you want some information

 

[Andywen]

The shift pattern is predominantly nights (don't know how many on/off), can't speak for definite re holidays but probably 5 weeks each to be taken as blocks of Sunday to Saturday. Bank Holidays are a normal day at work on the railway so if you're rostered it you work it (but you get 8 lieu days to take throughout the year to compensate).

It is generally accepted that it can be quite difficult to go from MDD to mainline but it's by no means impossible (just you may have to be patient if you're successful in applying especially if it's internal). There are people who want to go mainline not long after they've started but apparently there are MDD's who have been their years and have no intention of leaving. I think the overtime can be quite plentiful (in contrast to mainline which must make up quite a bit in the pay discrepancy)

Thanks very much for response

 

[banksywhoshe]

I’ve just passed interview for the same job but different depot, it’s very much 7 on 7 off, one week of 08.30-15.30 on the roster I saw, they have a 6 week roster.

Good luck!

 

[Andywen]

I’ve just passed interview for the same job but different depot, it’s very much 7 on 7 off, one week of 08.30-15.30 on the roster I saw, they have a 6 week roster.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2023 ==

Thanks for the reply

Can you remember what sort of questions were asked? Well done by the way

 

[banksywhoshe]

First two were easy, why did I want the job and what did I know about northern, I got one about a time I dealt with a stressful situation and diffused it and the outcome, and there was another where they asked me about taking the lead in a situation. I kept everything pretty much on safety and communication.

 

[washington16]

I have an interview on Friday for the role, are there any other trains in the depot other than 156/158, that are having work done to them, within the northern fleet? much appreciated. Last time I was there for a interview, a 153 was having work done but that was over a year ago now.

 

[WBFC345]

You will sign Northern class 156,158, LNER class 800/801 and Tpe class 802

 

[banksywhoshe]

Best of luck!

 

[washington16]

Thank you very much

 

[banksywhoshe]

Are you nervous? Done lots of prep?

 

[washington16]

I have done prep work yes, I have had the interview before for this role, so I have a rough idea of what questions to expect. However I have still been practising. I wouldn't say nervous, however we will see on the day haha.

 

[Andywen]

I have an interview on Friday for the role, are there any other trains in the depot other than 156/158, that are having work done to them, within the northern fleet? much appreciated. Last time I was there for a interview, a 153 was having work done but that was over a year ago now.

Hi. If you don't mind me asking. When did you apply for the role?

 

[washington16]

I applied the end of August for this role.

 

[ScottyNCL]

Hi all, Ive just been given an interview date for this role. Could someone message me some advice on the interview, what is expected, more specifically the heaton depot. Cheers

 

[Andywen]

H

Hi all, Ive just been given an interview date for this role. Could someone message me some advice on the interview, what is expected, more specifically the heaton depot. Cheers

I. When did you apply for this, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[stumurph01]

Hi I'm new to this forum and I am thinking of applying for the role of service driver for Northern rail. Is this the same as a depot driver? Also any information about the role would be appreciated. Typical shift patterns whether there are night allowance rates of pay etc. Many thanks

 

[Snow1964]

Looks like Northern are after drivers to take stock to maintenance depots. Suitable for a SME (small & medium enterprise), so on face of it any bunch of drivers could set up a company and bid for it providing they meet or learn the route knowledge requirements

1 buyer​

• Northern Trains York

Description​

NTL has a requirement for rail transportation services including the provision of trained drivers and the procurement of track access and any other relevant consents, licenses or permits required to deliver NTL rolling stock from pick up point to delivery location. As part of our maintenance review for various fleets that NTL operate there are occasions where we need to move units to facilities which are not within the Northern network. Therefor we need drivers with the correct route knowledge to take our units to necessary locations. As such we need a 3rd party provider as a pose to using NTL drivers to get to the locations. It is NTL's intention to tender for this service and award to a sole provider.

CPV Codes​

• 60200000 - Railway transport services

Indicators​

• Contract is suitable for SMEs.

Other Information​

Please follow this link to view the notice https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-York:-Railway-transport-services./...

Rail Movement Services [Notice]

NTL has a requirement for rail transportation services including the provision of trained drivers an... A Tender Notice by Northern Trains. Value £550K.

bidstats.uk

 

[skyhigh]

Looks like Northern are after drivers to take stock to maintenance depots. Suitable for a SME (small & medium enterprise), so on face of it any bunch of drivers could set up a company and bid for it providing they meet or learn the route knowledge requirements

Rail Movement Services [Notice]

NTL has a requirement for rail transportation services including the provision of trained drivers an... A Tender Notice by Northern Trains. Value £550K.

bidstats.uk

This is simply re-tendering for the contract that ROG currently holds to move units between locations. It has nothing at all to do with day-to-day stock movements on and off depots and nothing to do with recruitment or staffing numbers for depot drivers.

 

[Mgees]

Hi all. I'm looking for advise please. I'm thinking of applying for the role of maintenance depot driver for Northern, based at Heaton. Could anybody please tell me the the likely shift patterns, also how many days holiday a year you normally get. Also, what is the genuine likelihood of being able to progress as a driver on the mainline? Or would it be difficult, as they'd want to try and keep you at the depot? Just lots of questions going on in my head. Thanks in advance.

Hi, did you apply in the end?

 

[Anon272916]

Hi all,

I have an interview coming up for this role next week and was hoping somebody could give me and hints or tips for the interview. I know that they use situational questions such as "Give me a time when..." and I have noted down some structured responses based on the STAR method. However if anyone can give me any specific example of the questions they were asked that would be very helpful.
Also, if anyone has any idea of what shift patterns to expect that would be great too. Thanks in advance.

 

[Owen2323]

You are definitely correct in that there will be give me a time/example of when etc type questions and the STAR format is a proven way of answering such questions. Maybe look up the Non Technical Skills required and show evidence of applying them in your answers.
I'd imagine your questions will be based around Team working and communication for sure (and other ones based around the required skills mentioned in the advert). There'll probably be a what do you know about Northern type question as well (all on the website, name of the MD etc)

The shifts are predominantly nights I believe but you definitely do some days and maybe lates too. A word of warning - it can take a few years to go mainline internally if that's your long-term goal. Newcastle are recruiting mainline drivers at the moment FYI.

If you are successful at interview you may well get your invite to psychometrics soon after so start looking into that asap (all the advice you need is on this forum, practice materials etc). Good luck

 

[Anon272916]

Hello all,

Hoping you guys can help. I have passed the psychometric and MMI interview and was told recruitment would be in touch with me to advise me further of next steps. Has anyone been in this situation and got any experiences with times they could share?

Also, any info on shift patterns at Heaton depot would be great. Thanks

 

[Northrail127]

Hello,

Just out of sheer curiosity, when did you apply for this job/when was your interview?

Thanks in advance

 

[BBT]

Just got an invite for depot train driver for the talent pool in Manchester. I'm super chuffed to have got to this stage. And I wondered if anyone else applied for the role. I've had a look on the forum for interview tips etc so I'll be preparing in the coming days.

If I pass all the required recruitment stages and then I'm put in the talent pool. What are the chances of actually receiving a job offer? I'm guessing it's a how long is a piece of string scenario but I'm just curious if anyone has any experience in this and would like to share. Thank you.

 

[nick40uk]

First up, well done for getting to the interview. To get past the application stage is an achievement in itself.

As for the talent pool? Well as you said it's the old "how long is a piece of string" scenario. It could be a matter of weeks, months, maybe years. Just have to be patient and let the system work. They may send occasional emails/correspondence with any news/no news.

Just remember though that a talent pool placing is no guarantee of a job offer so don't be afraid to apply for similar roles either with another TOC or a different location, if that's what you want.

All the best and hope it works out.

 

[GPR]

I don’t work at a Manchester depot but speaking from experience of 4 and a half years, I’ve seen 3 depot train drivers go internally mainline driving, 2 externally mainline driving, 1 retire and 1 go in to management grade.
So turn over is fair in the DTD grade.

Avanti have had a massive recruitment drive over the past 24 months and there are a lot of rail staff that are in the talent pool for Avanti so I’d guess that talent pools have been formed because TOCs have got wind that staff are in talent pool and want to expedite the process for when/ if their staff give notices that they’ll be leaving.

Avanti aren’t handing out courses till next year now though so could be a while if the above is the case.

 

[BBT]

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated! It's for Northern Newton heath. I have also applied for depot driver in Leeds too. Not heard back from them yet. Fingers crossed!