Question for drivers re: overtime

[djsmith200]

Hi guys/girls

As someone deeply researching the role of train driver i would love to know from people who currently work at TOCs and their experience of overtime. I have tried to research this but to no avail so please forgive me. I just wondered whether you get much opportunity to do so often, how much extra you could realistically earn, and how it works?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[cawky22]

It's a secret, if I tell you I will have to eliminate you ??????

 

[Andy-mc]

Half the problem with Southern is that they rely on overtime , It's hard to say how much overtime you could get though as it all depends on the company and Depot. Also it depends on the people you work with as some will stay away from overtime and others will snap it up as quick as possible.

chances are though you could average a few hours extra a week.

 

[ComUtoR]

So much overtime. Golden days.

I've never seen it dry up and even at its lowest there is still plenty available.

TOC/Depot dependent as always but the railway is notorious for running on overtime.

 

[Gemz91]

Reckon I could get a minimum of four over time turns a month if I wanted it. But I'd much rather have the time off to relax, so when I do have to work, I know I'll be fit and not tired.

The company know they can phone me if they need cover though, if no one else will do it I'll do it, I'm a company man like that.

Sure others will tell you, you should always budget on your basic salary and not rely on overtime, in case for what ever reason you can't work the overtime (sickness, broken leg and so on).

 

[Minilad]

At my TOC it can be quite seasonal and also dependent on other factors such as the amount of training taking place. We are in a very quiet time at the moment as not many people are on annual leave so RDW would is hard to come by. Extra Sunday work is usually pretty abundant all year round though. During school holidays and the peak summer period there is usually a lot more to go round

 

[Dave1987]

Never plan to rely on overtime. You can be off the road on basic pay for reasons out of your control like medication from your doctor.

 

[dctraindriver]

Just concentrate on getting the job first. You'll be earning more than a firefighter once productive. And don't do that if I earn an extra £500 a month I could save etc etc.

Work on the assumption things will go wrong and it'll mean no overtime.

Less time driving the less chance of something going wrong and you being scrutinised.

 

[driver9000]

Working of rest days is controlled through equalisation so everyone gets a fair share. Generally you make yourself available and enter a rest day pool and the rostering clerk will allocate the overtime. You can make yourself not available for particular days as required and they won't mark you up for those days. Don't rely on RDW being an evergreen feature in your wages.

Generally if there is an agreement with the unions for rest day working then you can make hay while the sun shines but without a rest day agreement there will be no overtime given to anyone, we once went over 4 years without rest days being worked. I don't chase them but I do work them limiting myself to working a couple of days each month.

 

[tiptoptaff]

With the TOC I resource, there's peaks and troughs, so don't think you can rely on it. There are times when you could work all 7 days of your rest week if you were so inclined (whilst adhering to hidden, of course) but other times we don't call anyone at a depot out because there's not very much training or annual leave happening.

Another thing to consider regarding over time is how flexible you can be. We in resources will also quite often ask if you can come in early to cover the end of a turn or extend to finish one off, or cover a move putting your unit to shed. If you can be flexible then there is that opportunity for OT - not a whole RDW with your 8hours minimum, but maybe a couple extra here and there. Plus, if you can be flexible for resources and help them out quite often, they will soon become flexible to help you out when they can!

 

[Bromley boy]

Hi guys/girls

As someone deeply researching the role of train driver i would love to know from people who currently work at TOCs and their experience of overtime. I have tried to research this but to no avail so please forgive me. I just wondered whether you get much opportunity to do so often, how much extra you could realistically earn, and how it works?

Many thanks in advance!

Obviously TOC dependent but plenty available where I am. Book on fee and then hourly rate so earnings per shift are £250-£300 depending on shift length. No restrictions on how much you do so long as you remain compliant with the Hidden regs.

Lots of flexibility with it. Something I'm looking at doing this month is booking a day's annual leave and working a rest day in the same week, so effectively earning 5 days' pay for 4 days' work.

 

[beavercreek]

At my TOC there is quite a lot of RDW.
We get a set amount at just over £400 regardless of the shift length.
If you are unlucky it could be close to 10hrs or 5hrs if you lucky.
We sometimes get easier jobs like taking a couple down the yard when STPs are in place.

 

[TheVicLine]

We get offered a couple of rest days a month, the shifts are anything from an hour, if you get lucky, through to a full 10 hour shift. A couple of rest days will give you about £600 extra take home.
Overtime is usually just given if you get a longer job than your spare turn and probably averages a hour per month.
Rest day working is optional but most people make themselves available to do it because it's very good money.

 

[Gemz91]

We get offered a couple of rest days a month, the shifts are anything from an hour, if you get lucky, through to a full 10 hour shift. A couple of rest days will give you about £600 extra take home.
Overtime is usually just given if you get a longer job than your spare turn and probably averages a hour per month.
Rest day working is optional but most people make themselves available to do it because it's very good money.

I would say your last line is probably depot specific. I'm at quite a small depot compared to some, and rosters often struggle to cover vacant jobs because most people at our place aren't interested in rest day work.

 

[djsmith200]

thanks everyone for all your replies. great to hear from a wide range of you and the detail too which gives me a great insight.some good advice offered (one of you even 'guessed' my current job).
cheers

 

[tiptoptaff]

I would say your last line is probably depot specific. I'm at quite a small depot compared to some, and rosters often struggle to cover vacant jobs because most people at our place aren't interested in rest day work.

Works both ways though - I can get some guards at our smallest depot to do anything for a RDW because there's so few of them and so few turns, they really don't get much chance for it.

Goes to show how depot specific it is, I guess