Orpington SE depot

[Doorbit]

Hi there

I am currently awaiting an interview with the driver manager at SE Orpington depot for a trainee driver role with a start date in January, I have been reading a lot of things online about this depot and just want some advice on if Orpington is a good depot to work out of? & also how long roughly is the training?
thanks

 

[DA1]

It’s not a bad depot with routes covering most, if not all of the metro areas, which will mean some intense stopping work but someone who’s already on mainline might be able to give a better perspective. They should’ve provided you with a pack outlining the training programme but essentially it lasts approximately 12-18 months depending on how you progress and availability of DIs. My start date is in January.

 

[Doorbit]

It’s not a bad depot with routes covering most, if not all of the metro areas, which will mean some intense stopping work but someone who’s already on mainline might be able to give a better perspective. They should’ve provided you with a pack outlining the training programme but essentially it lasts approximately 12-18 months depending on how you progress and availability of DIs. My start date is in January.

Hi there thank you for your response,

the only things I was sent from the HR department was a leaflet on tpws and how to get to the depot? I really hope I get offered the position to start in January!

 

[DA1]

Hi there thank you for your response,

the only things I was sent from the HR department was a leaflet on tpws and how to get to the depot? I really hope I get offered the position to start in January!

Make sure you look at that TPWS sheet because they will ask you questions.
With training you do a week of induction/PTS, around 50 days rules, around 17 days traction and then you go with an instructor for a minimum 225 hours.

Good luck!

 

[PringlePopper1]

Hi there thank you for your response,

the only things I was sent from the HR department was a leaflet on tpws and how to get to the depot? I really hope I get offered the position to start in January!

the TPWS information is something they ask you on in the interview, so read it, absorb it and learn it. As when you do have your DMI they will be asking all of the usual competency questions and also things on TPWS.

I’ve heard from an ex-Orp driver that orpy is a good depot, loads of variety, all traction that SE cover (minus the high speed) and of course the incoming 707s when they arrive. Good luck

 

[Railway123321]

Sorry to jump in, but do you guys have anything to say about the Ashford? I have a DMI coming up for there. Very excited

 

[PringlePopper1]

Sorry to jump in, but do you guys have anything to say about the Ashford? I have a DMI coming up for there. Very excited

trained with a few Ashford drivers, they love it there. Met loads whilst on a PN and sounds to me like a good depot, again - see loads going down to Ramsgate, Dover, Folkestone and all the way up to London. Good luck on your interview

 

[Need2]

I’ve heard from an ex-Orp driver that orpy is a good depot, loads of variety, all traction that SE cover

All I hear is moan moan moan! Don't let me put you off!
And they only drive 376, 465 and 466. They do not drive 375 or 377.

 

[PringlePopper1]

All I hear is moan moan moan! Don't let me put you off!
And they only drive 376, 465 and 466. They do not drive 375 or 377.

Oh yes you’re right! People moan wherever they’re based but it’s a good depot I think, especially to get your key. I still find it weird they don’t drive 375s as they’re the same as a 376 apart from being able to walk through and a toilet

 

[Horizon22]

Be prepared for intensive DOO metro work out of Orpington. Plenty of early starts although don't think its as bad as Grove Park up the road.

 

[Railway123321]

trained with a few Ashford drivers, they love it there. Met loads whilst on a PN and sounds to me like a good depot, again - see loads going down to Ramsgate, Dover, Folkestone and all the way up to London. Good luck on your interview

Ahh that's great thank you for the info

 

[43066]

I’ve heard from an ex-Orp driver that orpy is a good depot, loads of variety, all traction that SE cover (minus the high speed) and of course the incoming 707s when they arrive. Good luck

Sadly less variety since they lost the TLK work to the new GTR depot next door, and also lost their Gillingham and Tunbridge Wells work to other SE depots. Orpy is now a solely metro depot doing all the metro routes apart from the Bromley North poppers (but that’s a good thing, as the poppers are like death by 1000 cuts). Some early starts and late finishes (first book on around 0415 to around 0130 latest finish), although GPK is a little worse, as someone else has said.

Orpy and Groovy Park are the best of the SE metro depots; Dartford and Slade Green sign less and tend to do a lot of Cannon St “rounders”.

It’s very intensive, mostly all stations, all DOO work. There’s a high turnover of staff (but that’s standard for SE metro). A lot of SE drivers either move to coastal depots for cheaper house prices and better work, or simply leave for better work/pay in the London area (sadly SE’s pay lags well behind other TOCs and the gap has increased over the last few years).

Sorry to jump in, but do you guys have anything to say about the Ashford? I have a DMI coming up for there. Very excited

Ashford is a mainline depot and would offer better quality guarded mainline work. SE’s mainline fleet (apart from the sub fleet of 377s) does not have incab monitors so it seems unlikely that it will to DOO anytime soon, but that cannot be ruled out as it’s in the drivers’ contracts.

I still find it weird they don’t drive 375s as they’re the same as a 376 apart from being able to walk through and a toilet

Simply because they don’t do any mainline work, and 375/7s are never used on metro services.

 

[Class2ldn]

Yeah orpy and Grove Park are the better metro depots.
You'll see Victoria and Catford loop a lot lol

 

[43066]

Yeah orpy and Grove Park are the better metro depots.
You'll see Victoria and Catford loop a lot lol

Ha - you might be surprised. Virtually everything on the loop is either GTR stoppers or SE mainliners. SE Metro hardly touch it (at least the Nunhead - Shortlands section). GPK don’t sign it at all, which is surprising as do Orpy-Vics and it’s a useful diversion.

Orpy Link 1 used to drive Sevenoaks/Orpy GTRs around it but lost that work.

 

[Class2ldn]

Grove Park used to sign it in link 1 but yeah I guess TL is the main user down there now so makes sense.
Dont miss the poppers thats for sure lol

 

[RedYellowGreen]

Hello guys

I'm starting Dartford next year (trainee). Please tell me its just as pleasant as Orpington sounds. What's the earliest clock on in Dartford? Are drivers provided with a parking spot? Questions that are not game changers but maybe not for the DMI........

Cheers

Looking forward to it immensely!

 

[Class2ldn]

I wouldn't say the work is as good as Orpington but again its all metro anyway I believe
Not sure on start times but probably around 4-5am.
Asking about parking spots is fine for a dmi.
I believe there is parking but not sure how much.

 

[peakNed]

Ha - you might be surprised. Virtually everything on the loop is either GTR stoppers or SE mainliners. SE Metro hardly touch it (at least the Nunhead - Shortlands section). GPK don’t sign it at all, which is surprising as do Orpy-Vics and it’s a useful diversion.

Orpy Link 1 used to drive Sevenoaks/Orpy GTRs around it but lost that work.

Groovy Park links 1/2 sign it. Like you say though, mad that link 3 don't sign it as a diversion for Orpy-Vics

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Oct 2020 ==

Hello guys

I'm starting Dartford next year (trainee). Please tell me its just as pleasant as Orpington sounds. What's the earliest clock on in Dartford? Are drivers provided with a parking spot? Questions that are not game changers but maybe not for the DMI........

Cheers

Looking forward to it immensely!

Not sure what the book on/off times are, but be prepared for death by rounders and Dartford- Cannon Street. You should get a parking permit though.

 

[RedYellowGreen]

Groovy Park links 1/2 sign it. Like you say though, mad that link 3 don't sign it as a diversion for Orpy-Vics

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Oct 2020 ==


Not sure what the book on/off times are, but be prepared for death by rounders and Dartford- Cannon Street. You should get a parking permit though.

Excellent! Death by rounders, love it.

Cheers

 

[DA1]

Not sure what the book on/off times are, but be prepared for death by rounders and Dartford- Cannon Street. You should get a parking permit though.

Also starting at Dartford next year. Can’t wait for the death by rounders as well!

 

[Class2ldn]

Yep up and down the scum line lol.
Enjoy

 

[43066]

Groovy Park links 1/2 sign it. Like you say though, mad that link 3 don't sign it as a diversion for Orpy-Vics

I think links one and two take yonks to get into? Do any of the GPK senior men go all the way to the coast, or do they all stop at Ashford these days?

Excellent! Death by rounders, love it.

You won’t be saying that in a year or two .

Seriously, Dartford isn’t a bad depot AIUI. A little less variety and and a little more intensity than Orpington, but the metro only depots are much of a muchness.

 

[diego1234]

What's the likelihood of SE catching up in terms of pay with other London toc's e.g Southern / SWR in the not too distant future? Any deal on the horizon?

 

[ComUtoR]

zero

 

[diego1234]

lol. Currently work for GWR but relocating soon so just looking at what's out there.

 

[PringlePopper1]

zero

Why not?

 

[BluePenguin]

Simply because they don’t do any mainline work, and 375/7s are never used on metro services.

Class 375s calling at all stations between Rochester and Bromley South then via Catford to Victoria must surely count as metro. Particularly the stop at Denmark Hill!

 

[ComUtoR]

Why not?

First and foremost, a very weak Company Council.

Secondly, they are very far behind the curve. Going on numbers alone it needs a good 10% rise in pay to catch up with other London based TOCs. 10% in this climate ? or even in future ones ? That is a LOT of ground to recover. Even if you went 1% above local TOC rises it will still take years to catch up. Nobody at SE believes ASLEF will negotiate a 10% pay rise. Not now or in any climate.

Thirdly, there is little to give away. It has already been bought and paid for. SE could literally get rid of Guards at the stroke of a pen. DOO is already in SE Driver contracts. Sundays are in the week so they cant be given away either. Their leave is one of the worst and they already gave away any additional rates.

Staff turnover is very high and the company still do not care. The old addage about queues out the door to replace people is very true. Where you have staff retention issues you have a situation where those who are recent joiners tend to be happy with what they get because most have had a significant jump in wages and as they don't really know the ropes yet the impact to their lives is minimal. Who is gonna walk out a job they just got where they get paid significantly higher ?

Add Covid and the drop in passenger numbers and nobody is looking at any significant rises in the near or short term future.

 

[diego1234]

Cheers, appreciate the insight. Obviously pro's & con's everywhere but good to get an account from people who actually work there & know what the reality is!

 

[Class2ldn]

What is their basic now?