Northern MDD Progression

[60074]

Hi all,

I’m interested to find out more about moving on from a Northern MDD (depot driver) role.

If you were to be MDD (for say 5 years) then apply for a trainee mainline role with northern, do you have to re-sit the tests (as they'd have expired)? Or as you’re already “driving” for northern do you bypass this stage?

I take it no other TOCs would consider you for “qualified” driver roles..

Are there any other alternative roles that people go into after MDD?

TIA

 

[heedfan]

I can't comment for Northern, but depot drivers/service drivers at EMR don't need to resit psychometrics, even if they have expired.

Even if you are fully rule trained at Northern and have a European Train Driving License (ETDL) you may well find it a struggle to be recruited for a qualified role elsewhere due to the lack of high speed practical handling. At the same time, it can be an advantage as some TOCs/FOCs might see you as an easier to train 'trainee'. It's a double-edged sword.

 

[Fred Dinenage]

Not sure about the tests. I do know that leaving the depot once you’ve secured a mainline role can be difficult. Some MDDs are still waiting for release to mainline well over a year since successfully passing interview. PM me if you want more info.

 

[Louby]

your not a qualified driver, you would have to start from the beginning, no tests required as you have done them

 

[tiptoptaff]

I can't comment for Northern, but depot drivers/service drivers at EMR don't need to resit psychometrics, even if they have expired.

Even if you are fully rule trained at Northern and have a European Train Driving License (ETDL) you may well find it a struggle to be recruited for a qualified role elsewhere due to the lack of high speed practical handling. At the same time, it can be an advantage as some TOCs/FOCs might see you as an easier to train 'trainee'. It's a double-edged sword.

EMR is a bit different as they have to do the full rules course, as they take trains to/from their relevant depot (except at Neville Hill) - at Northern, and I am happy to be corrected, their MDDs only work on the depot and therefore don't do mainline rules, so cannot go to another TOC as a "qualified" driver

 

[heedfan]

EMR is a bit different as they have to do the full rules course, as they take trains to/from their relevant depot (except at Neville Hill) - at Northern, and I am happy to be corrected, their MDDs only work on the depot and therefore don't do mainline rules, so cannot go to another TOC as a "qualified" driver

You are correct - I was referring specifically to Neville Hill where drivers who are partially rules trained do not need to resit the psychometrics upon going to a mainline position with EMR. Although it's somewhat of a moot point as all new drivers at Neville Hill are fully rules trained now.

 

[Aivilo]

To my knowledge you will not have to resit tests with northern. You will however start as a trainee driver on the trainee salary and do the full course.

 

[tiptoptaff]

You are correct - I was referring specifically to Neville Hill where drivers who are partially rules trained do not need to resit the psychometrics upon going to a mainline position with EMR. Although it's somewhat of a moot point as all new drivers at Neville Hill are fully rules trained now.

Good for them, makes progression a bit easier! Also makes sense to have standardised training

 

[Stigy]

You are correct - I was referring specifically to Neville Hill where drivers who are partially rules trained do not need to resit the psychometrics upon going to a mainline position with EMR. Although it's somewhat of a moot point as all new drivers at Neville Hill are fully rules trained now.

You shouldn’t have to resit psychometric assessments as it’s a driver grade still. Of course I say shouldn’t....I know if a depot driver at SWR who for some reason had to resit psychometrics every three years, which really isn’t the point of psychometric assessments.

 

[Intermodal]

To my knowledge you will not have to resit tests with northern. You will however start as a trainee driver on the trainee salary and do the full course.

If you go for an internal trainee driver job at Northern you will retain your old salary while training.

 

[Aivilo]

Not on the west.

 

[Efini92]

If you go for an internal trainee driver job at Northern you will retain your old salary while training.

It depends on which side of the Pennines you’re on. The East does, the west is a reduced rate.

 

[rhys37429]

It depends on which side of the Pennines you’re on. The East does, the west is a reduced rate.

think it drops to £27-28k roughly

 

[60074]

Can’t see why Northern would want to progress an “East” MDD to mainline on £38004 when they can pay somebody off the street £23326 Not to mention the cost of training the replacement MDD on top

 

[Fred Dinenage]

I believe it’s called “promotion”. Most workplaces have it.

 

[tiptoptaff]

I believe it’s called “promotion”. Most workplaces have it.

I thought it was universal that you kept your wage if you took a new role with a higher salary but lower training salary. Evidently not, although IMO that typifies Northern's culture as a business for you.

 

[60074]

I believe it’s called “promotion”. Most workplaces have it.

Great to hear that it still happens! (Albeit very slowly for Heaton MDDs)

 

[Stigy]

I thought it was universal that you kept your wage if you took a new role with a higher salary but lower training salary. Evidently not, although IMO that typifies Northern's culture as a business for you.

Depot Drivers at SWR keep their driver salary, but any other internal transfers have to start on the training salary.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Sep 2020 ==

I believe it’s called “promotion”. Most workplaces have it.

Is it promotion? It’s not a grade with supervisory responsibility? I guess it’s down to interpretation.

 

[Fred Dinenage]

Higher wage, more extensive training, greater responsibility... I’d consider that to be promotion.

Doesn’t really matter to anyone else but the MDD attaining a mainline role. I know some of them consider it so.

 

[craigybagel]

Can’t see why Northern would want to progress an “East” MDD to mainline on £38004 when they can pay somebody off the street £23326 Not to mention the cost of training the replacement MDD on top

It's less of a gamble. With internal candidates, Northern already have a good idea of what they're getting - in terms of reliability, sickness and safety records and so on. With external candidates, they're relying solely on what they can discern from an application and interview. When it costs a 5 figure sum for each person they train up as a mainline driver, they want the best chance of picking people who will have successful careers. That's not to say external candidates are all bad, or internals all good, but it's easier to predict how an internal will do.

 

[Red Devil]

Plenty of MDD's from Allerton have gone mainline