NXEA Depot Driver role

[Drew83]

Hi all

I recently applied for the above role, and have been invited to the assessment day. Over the moon with this.

However, this role will involve a drop in salary of around £10-15k a year. When I applied this wasn't going to be an issue, however I've just found out that my wife is pregnant. Obviously this changes things.

I really do want a change of career and to become a train driver, but feel if i don't make the change soon then I wont have the option again. The flip side of this is that I can't afford to take a risk with income for very long.

If I was successful in my aapplication for this role, what is the likely timespan before being able to step up to driving commuter trains, and what kind of salary would come with that?

Any information would be great!

Thanks

Andy

 

[E&W Lucas]

Depot driving is just that. It's not an automatic progression grade towards mainline driving, and there is absolutely no guarantee that someone selected for it would end up driving for real. You would go in the mix with all the other applicants for any trainee driver jobs that arose, and would have to go through exactly the same training package at the end of it. For the umpteenth time in here, trainee drivers do not need any form of railway experience, and most do not have any. What's needed is aptitude, responsible attitude, and a bit of life experience.

In your circumstances, stick to trainee driver jobs. They are still out there and suitable candidates are still getting them quite easily. Don't worry about age either. You get trainees in their 50's.

Company information - http://www.aslef.org.uk/information/102222/102225/companies/

Click on the company name for the details.

Feel free to pm if you want to know anything else.

 

[GB]

If this is the one based at Crown Point then don't waste your time. You will start at the bottom of the link and being as there are many depot drivers already at various depots on the GE side that are in the queue for mainline driving it will be a few years at least before you get your shot. From what I understand it is a bit of a dogs body job for not much more than the minimum wage.

I wouldn't even consider this if you were single let alone with a child on the way!