Qualified Drivers

[Driver068]

I am having a debate with someone at home regarding what constitutes as a qualified driver, I have asked this question before so I am looking for someone in the know who can put this too bed. Can london underground, Tyne & Wear drivers, Glasgow subway and other metro systems in the uk, are there drivers classed as qualified drivers and are they able to apply for qualified train driver positions advertised on TOC and FOC websites, or do they go down the trainee driver route like everyone else.

Many thanks in advance

 

[TDK]

I am having a debate with someone at home regarding what constitutes as a qualified driver, I have asked this question before so I am looking for someone in the know who can put this too bed. Can london underground, Tyne & Wear drivers, Glasgow subway and other metro systems in the uk, are there drivers classed as qualified drivers and are they able to apply for qualified train driver positions advertised on TOC and FOC websites, or do they go down the trainee driver route like everyone else.

Many thanks in advance

A qualified driver is a driver who has passed out to drive trains (heavy rail) on Network Rail infrastructure. If you leave you are classed as a qualified driver up to 5 years after leaving the grade then after that you are the same as off the street. Tyne and Wear metro I believe have to work trams on NR infrastructure but I am not sure they cover the full rules structure, LU drivers are not classed as qualified drivers for the purpose of recruitment.

 

[Frankfurt]

I am having a debate with someone at home regarding what constitutes as a qualified driver, I have asked this question before so I am looking for someone in the know who can put this too bed. Can london underground, Tyne & Wear drivers, Glasgow subway and other metro systems in the uk, are there drivers classed as qualified drivers and are they able to apply for qualified train driver positions advertised on TOC and FOC websites, or do they go down the trainee driver route like everyone else.

Many thanks in advance

I believe it may differ amongst TOCs/FOCs as in some might and others might not see them as qualified, with regards to drivers on Tyne and Wear Metro that is. We've had a few leave over the years to take up roles as qualified drivers with other companies, Grand Central, Freightliner, DBS and Chiltern if I recall correctly.

 

[O L Leigh]

A qualified driver will be assumed to be competent in the rules and regulations for the national rail network and can slot straight into the position of driver once they have completed the necessary traction and route learning. This knowledge will be backed up by their record from their previous employer. Therefore any LUL or light rail driver would not be considered "qualified" by any mainline operator because they do not work to the same rules and regulations.

It may be that T&W Metro drivers can be considered to be "qualified" if they are required to be competent in NR's rules due to shared running on the NR network, but they are the oddity. No other light rail network that I know of operates under these conditions. Where LUL's Met Line shares it's routes with Chiltern it is operated under LUL's rules rather than NR's rules and, therefore, it is the NR drivers who have to show competence with LUL's rules. Perhaps under these circumstances a former Chiltern driver would be considered to be "qualified" by LUL where drivers from other NR TOCs would not.

O L Leigh

 

[londonboi]

hmmm interesting

as LUL drivers who drive on the bakerloo drive on NR infrastructure and rules and procedures between Queens park and Harrow wealdstone

also on the District line between East Putney - Wimbledon and between Gunnersbry and Richmond

so the drivers on them lines would have needed to pass NR rules and procedures as well as LUL rules and procedures

 

[142094]

AFAIAA there are only a few things that Tyne and Wear Metro drivers are not trained on - semaphore signalling and AWS/TPWS. Rules for operating over the Sunderland Extension are the same as mainline drivers, although there are separate rules for the Metro-only infrastructure.

 

[nick40uk]

Something occurred to me the other day. What about going the other way? If you were a qualified driver on NR mainline and wanted to go, for example, on to London Underground, would they look at you more favorably or would you be considered as a new driver? Just curious

 

[Met Driver]

hmmm interesting

as LUL drivers who drive on the bakerloo drive on NR infrastructure and rules and procedures between Queens park and Harrow wealdstone

also on the District line between East Putney - Wimbledon and between Gunnersbry and Richmond

so the drivers on them lines would have needed to pass NR rules and procedures as well as LUL rules and procedures

They do not undergo a full NR rules course, they only learn those that apply to LU trains on these sections of railway and those that differ from LU's own rules.

Something occurred to me the other day. What about going the other way? If you were a qualified driver on NR mainline and wanted to go, for example, on to London Underground, would they look at you more favorably or would you be considered as a new driver? Just curious

Hopefully they'd be offered appropriate psychiatric help.

In all seriousness, no, the situation is the same in reverse, they would not be viewed more favourably and would undergo the same training as any other successful candidate (usually sourced internally from station staff). Like I found when I passed the old style driver assessments when flirting with the notion of going mainline, previous experience would probably help them through the recruitment process in terms of providing relevant examples at interview, etc.

 

[notadriver]

How long is the actual tube driver training course these days Met Driver?