Qualified Train Driver - FGW

[tombazro]

Hi all, I'm new on here and just seeing if any of you can help!

Currently a qualified driver in London and have applied for a qualified driver position which is at various locations, closing date 30/07/2013 however the date keeps getting extended so not sure whether I'd ever hear anything...

I can see with trainee positions people are left waiting ages to hear anything - does anyone have any info on whether its the same for the qualified positions?

Whilst on the subject, I gave Bristol as my pref location, anyone have any experience of working out of this depot?

Thanks for your help!

 

[A-driver]

I am fairly certain it's a rolling recruitment at present so the date probably keeps getting extended as its the way the system they use works. I have a mate who moved to reading as a qualified not long ago and I'm pretty sure that was a rolling recruitment and is most likely the same advert.

Ill ask them how long they were kept waiting next time I see him.

First group are slow with recruitment but they will contact you eventually. You could always email them to confirm, I can't see them minding.

 

[tombazro]

Thanks for your reply and help.

What I assume FGW are doing is getting a large collection of applications so as and when they are ready to recruit for various depots they will take that application further then - if it's good enough.

We'll see...!

 

[NHG66]

My guess is that seeing as though you are qualified they are waiting to slot you in with a current trainee course at the traction stage rather than run a course for just one or two people.

 

[bystander]

Nah, with qualifieds it's just a quickie traction conversion course (1 or 2 to one trainer for about 2 weeks), and some handling with a DI - you have nothing to do with trainees after the corporate induction week - and maybe not even then as they run them frequently for all new joiners of any grade / profession etc.

It is a slow process though (five months interview to start date for me, although interview was soon after application).

Hope that helps

 

[A-driver]

Thanks for your reply and help.

What I assume FGW are doing is getting a large collection of applications so as and when they are ready to recruit for various depots they will take that application further then - if it's good enough.

We'll see...!

I believe it's more just a fairly constant need for new drivers. I believe several depots are under establishment and they are just doing a rolling recruitment. When they have a date to hold some interviews they will look at the current applications. So I think it is sort of speculative but I am fairly certain they won't keep you hanging around for too long.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Sorry to put stick my oar in on your thread.
I have moved to Chepstow and have an assessment centre pass that I done privately.
I moved after their trainee recruitment adverts but reading elsewhere ,there will be a lot of courses running this year.
Is it worth me contacting HR with a speculative enquiry or will I be told to register for future vacs etc etc

 

[A-driver]

Sorry to put stick my oar in on your thread.
I have moved to Chepstow and have an assessment centre pass that I done privately.
I moved after their trainee recruitment adverts but reading elsewhere ,there will be a lot of courses running this year.
Is it worth me contacting HR with a speculative enquiry or will I be told to register for future vacs etc etc

Depends which TOC it is. With first you tend to get told to watch the website for vacancies but other companies can vary.

An email/phone call can't hurt though-the very worst they can say is 'look at the website'.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Thanks for reply A-Driver
It would be FGW in Bristol or Gloucester
If anyone has contact details for FGW HR department and not First central centre I would really appreciate a PM.

 

[NHG66]

Nah, with qualifieds it's just a quickie traction conversion course (1 or 2 to one trainer for about 2 weeks), and some handling with a DI - you have nothing to do with trainees after the corporate induction week - and maybe not even then as they run them frequently for all new joiners of any grade / profession etc.

It is a slow process though (five months interview to start date for me, although interview was soon after application).

Hope that helps

Well that is not the case with a qualified chap who came across to FGW from another TOC just recently. He got put with a course of trainees that are doing traction on the 165/6's. Granted he will then follow a different route but it sort of makes sense to add people to traction courses that are already running.

Being a relative newbie trainee myself though this is the only qualified chap I have seen join so perhaps his case was a one off.

 

[bystander]

Well that is not the case with a qualified chap who came across to FGW from another TOC just recently. He got put with a course of trainees that are doing traction on the 165/6's. Granted he will then follow a different route but it sort of makes sense to add people to traction courses that are already running.

Being a relative newbie trainee myself though this is the only qualified chap I have seen join so perhaps his case was a one off.

Ok fair enough! Was just going by my, and the six other qualified joiners in the last couple of years whom I know's experiences.

 

[tombazro]

Thanks for everyone's help.

I'll just be a little more patient and hope to hear from them in the near future!!

 

[455driver]

Well that is not the case with a qualified chap who came across to FGW from another TOC just recently. He got put with a course of trainees that are doing traction on the 165/6's. Granted he will then follow a different route but it sort of makes sense to add people to traction courses that are already running.

Being a relative newbie trainee myself though this is the only qualified chap I have seen join so perhaps his case was a one off.

If he was an "electric traction" driver then he will need a full (diesel) traction course, if he was already a diesel driver then a couple of days conversion would have sufficed.

I would say he was a juicer driver.

 

[bystander]

If he was an "electric traction" driver then he will need a full (diesel) traction course, if he was already a diesel driver then a couple of days conversion would have sufficed.

I would say he was a juicer driver.

Not the world's most vital debate, but as it happens, six out of the seven whom I mentioned above came from electric to diesel and we all did a seven / eight day course only. Since you already have knowledge of the key systems (apart from fire) and - more importantly - the principles of fault finding, DOTE rules and isolations etc, it really is just a quick conversion.

 

[455driver]

Not the world's most vital debate,

Well excuse me! :roll:

 

[notadriver]

Just as an aside I was asked why an external qualified driver should get more than a trainee driver since the qualified still had to do traction, route learning and time with an instructor ?

 

[A-driver]

Just as an aside I was asked why an external qualified driver should get more than a trainee driver since the qualified still had to do traction, route learning and time with an instructor ?

If by more you are referring to money then its mainly union agreements since privatisation. Putting qualified trainees on less money opens all sorts of floodgates for pay on training days, spare turns, road refresh etc etc.

Although there are certainly 1 or 2 companies who pay less to qualified drivers without routes or traction-virgin certainly do according to recent adverts and FCC do if you need too much training (ie if going from freight to FCC they have been known to pay less until productive).

 

[455driver]

Also less qualifieds would jump ship if that was the case.

 

[Beveridges]

Trainee T&C's probably just don't appeal to qualified drivers. So they wouldn't jump ship as said above.

Christ, trainee T&C's don't appeal to Maintenance Depot Drivers either, but we would have to take them thats the difference. So many don't move.

 

[TDK]

Hi all, I'm new on here and just seeing if any of you can help!

Currently a qualified driver in London and have applied for a qualified driver position which is at various locations, closing date 30/07/2013 however the date keeps getting extended so not sure whether I'd ever hear anything...

I can see with trainee positions people are left waiting ages to hear anything - does anyone have any info on whether its the same for the qualified positions?

Whilst on the subject, I gave Bristol as my pref location, anyone have any experience of working out of this depot?

Thanks for your help!

Firstly it is essential that you let the companies you have applied for that you are willing to relocate with evidence to prove this, if you have not your chances are very slim unless you actually live within 45 minutes of a chosen depot.

As for chances it would be ideal that you have 5 years driving experience without any safety of the line incidents however if the company you are applying to is in need of drivers and they do not get a good response you may get taken on with just 2 years, you certainly do not want to currently be under the SMD procedure either.

For example I went for a qualified position and there were 22 applicants for 2 positions so the competition is very tough, however good luck.

 

[A-driver]

Firstly it is essential that you let the companies you have applied for that you are willing to relocate with evidence to prove this, if you have not your chances are very slim unless you actually live within 45 minutes of a chosen depot.

As for chances it would be ideal that you have 5 years driving experience without any safety of the line incidents however if the company you are applying to is in need of drivers and they do not get a good response you may get taken on with just 2 years, you certainly do not want to currently be under the SMD procedure either.

For example I went for a qualified position and there were 22 applicants for 2 positions so the competition is very tough, however good luck.

I don't agree with you on the 5years experience bit-I know tons of drivers still PQA or just past PQA that have moves as a qualified to other companies including TPX, FGW, FCC, GAT EX and even east coast.

Many prefer less experience as you are easier to 'mould' and less militant/set in your ways. May be different at your company but from what I have seen and people I know experience really doesn't count for much.

 

[notadriver]

Maybe the more prestigious intercity / long distance TOCs are more picky?

 

[TDK]

I don't agree with you on the 5years experience bit-I know tons of drivers still PQA or just past PQA that have moves as a qualified to other companies including TPX, FGW, FCC, GAT EX and even east coast.

Remember I have recruited qualified drivers and would always take a driver with 5 years and a clean record and would have never take a PQ unless there was no others available. As I did say you can get in after 2 years but if you are up agains a driver with a clean record for 5+ years you would have no chance pending references and sickness record. I don't think you understood my post. If you have under 5 years and are up agains a driver with say 7 years and both have clean records the one with the 7 years has a much better chance of the job.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Maybe the more prestigious intercity / long distance TOCs are more picky?

It's not a point of being picky really, it is the quality of the applicants, VT for instance can take their pick and many Q driver apply because of the money, the same goes with EC but companies on the average salary btween 40-45k will take the best of the bunch, if the applicants are all PQ then yes a PQ will possibly get the job however you would stand a much better chance with more experience.

 

[reapz]

Remember I have recruited qualified drivers and would always take a driver with 5 years and a clean record and would have never take a PQ unless there was no others available. As I did say you can get in after 2 years but if you are up agains a driver with a clean record for 5+ years you would have no chance pending references and sickness record. I don't think you understood my post. If you have under 5 years and are up agains a driver with say 7 years and both have clean records the one with the 7 years has a much better chance of the job.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


It's not a point of being picky really, it is the quality of the applicants, VT for instance can take their pick and many Q driver apply because of the money, the same goes with EC but companies on the average salary btween 40-45k will take the best of the bunch, if the applicants are all PQ then yes a PQ will possibly get the job however you would stand a much better chance with more experience.

What about if i have 5 years and live 10 mins from the depot and the other driver has 7 years and has to relocate?

 

[E&W Lucas]

Just as an aside I was asked why an external qualified driver should get more than a trainee driver since the qualified still had to do traction, route learning and time with an instructor ?

Aside from a traction course, which will be somewhat more relaxed with experienced drivers, and a few hours handling, the qualified driver virtually self - trains. The ability to route learn, is paert of your competence, or it should be!

Plus the small matter of them being a known quantity, and having a wealth of situational experience. Even in a couple of years, you will have had to put most of the Rule Book into practice, and dealt with a range of traction faults.

 

[A-driver]

Remember I have recruited qualified drivers and would always take a driver with 5 years and a clean record and would have never take a PQ unless there was no others available. As I did say you can get in after 2 years but if you are up agains a driver with a clean record for 5+ years you would have no chance pending references and sickness record. I don't think you understood my post. If you have under 5 years and are up agains a driver with say 7 years and both have clean records the one with the 7 years has a much better chance of the job.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


It's not a point of being picky really, it is the quality of the applicants, VT for instance can take their pick and many Q driver apply because of the money, the same goes with EC but companies on the average salary btween 40-45k will take the best of the bunch, if the applicants are all PQ then yes a PQ will possibly get the job however you would stand a much better chance with more experience.

I know you have experience at this but so have I-I worked in railway hr before becoming a driver and also, as mentioned, know a fairly sizeable amount of PQA drivers who have moved tocs as a qualified with no problem. As mentioned, FCC, FGW and TPX especially have no issue recruiting PQA drivers and have taken quite a few on. I also know an east coast driver who joined as a qualified with 3 years experience so just because you wouldn't take someone on it doesn't mean it's the way every company thinks! And as the OP was referring to FGW specifically then I can assure you that being PQA won't be an issue.

I know for a fact that one particular driver recently joined FCC at the end of their first year of PQA when interviewed and beat 21 other qualifides to the job. I'm pretty sure the other 21 didn't have less experience or a huge number of incidents!

 

[TDK]

What about if i have 5 years and live 10 mins from the depot and the other driver has 7 years and has to relocate?

You will get the job
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I know you have experience at this but so have I-I worked in railway hr before becoming a driver and also, as mentioned, know a fairly sizeable amount of PQA drivers who have moved tocs as a qualified with no problem. As mentioned, FCC, FGW and TPX especially have no issue recruiting PQA drivers and have taken quite a few on. I also know an east coast driver who joined as a qualified with 3 years experience so just because you wouldn't take someone on it doesn't mean it's the way every company thinks! And as the OP was referring to FGW specifically then I can assure you that being PQA won't be an issue.

I know for a fact that one particular driver recently joined FCC at the end of their first year of PQA when interviewed and beat 21 other qualifides to the job. I'm pretty sure the other 21 didn't have less experience or a huge number of incidents!

You will find that the other most likely had form to be honest, you would be surprised at the amount of qualified drivers who do not come up to the expectations of the panel. As I said I would always take on a driver with 5 years over someone on PQ if they both had clean records.

 

[A-driver]

You will find that the other most likely had form to be honest, you would be surprised at the amount of qualified drivers who do not come up to the expectations of the panel. As I said I would always take on a driver with 5 years over someone on PQ if they both had clean records.

Yes, but as I say not all companies and managers work in the same way you do and experience isn't always the most desirable quality.

And I find it almost impossible to believe that 21 drivers who had made it through to the interview stage all had safety of the line incidents which would mean a company like FCC wouldn't touch them (they do take on drivers with incidents on their record).

They take the interview itself into account and not the number of years you have been on the job. PQA isn't the barrier to moving tocs you seem to say it is.

 

[TDK]

Yes, but as I say not all companies and managers work in the same way you do and experience isn't always the most desirable quality.

And I find it almost impossible to believe that 21 drivers who had made it through to the interview stage all had safety of the line incidents which would mean a company like FCC wouldn't touch them (they do take on drivers with incidents on their record).

They take the interview itself into account and not the number of years you have been on the job. PQA isn't the barrier to moving tocs you seem to say it is.

PQ takes up a lot more of a managers time with assessments and statistically a driver is more likely to have an incident between year 3 and year 5 of their driving career. Here is a scenario for you!

22 qualified drivers apply for a job at a certain depot. Out of those 22 12 need to relocate or more than 45 minutes from the depot, this is the nature of train driving as you know!. This leaves 10, out of those 10 7 have had safety of the line incidents, you have 3 left! This is how it works and you maybe correct some TOC's may take on a PQ driver however this will ONLY be done if there are not any drivers that fit the ideal criteria, and the ideal criteria is 5 years plus with no safety of the line incidents! Ask you DM at work and see what he says, I bet he will say the same!

 

[A-driver]

PQ takes up a lot more of a managers time with assessments and statistically a driver is more likely to have an incident between year 3 and year 5 of their driving career. Here is a scenario for you!

22 qualified drivers apply for a job at a certain depot. Out of those 22 12 need to relocate or more than 45 minutes from the depot, this is the nature of train driving as you know!. This leaves 10, out of those 10 7 have had safety of the line incidents, you have 3 left! This is how it works and you maybe correct some TOC's may take on a PQ driver however this will ONLY be done if there are not any drivers that fit the ideal criteria, and the ideal criteria is 5 years plus with no safety of the line incidents! Ask you DM at work and see what he says, I bet he will say the same!

I have spoken to my DM about this and I can assure you that I am not making it up when I say that some tocs (including those I mentioned) like PQA over experienced drivers for the reasons I have stated. I'm not just saying this, it is the truth. And the scenario I talked about in my last post with the PQA beating over 20 experienced drivers many of those drivers were already at that depot but with another toc.

As I say, you may favour experience over PQA but not dry where does.