Routes

[intercitypete]

Hi guys im new to this forum thankyou for any replies in advance.My question is to drivers,do you drive the same routes all the time or do the toc's put you on different routes sometimes??

 

[W230]

Hi guys im new to this forum thankyou for any replies in advance.My question is to drivers,do you drive the same routes all the time or do the toc's put you on different routes sometimes??

I think it will depend on the TOC. I will only be driving 2/3 different routes when I qualify (with some diversionary routes added on later) but that's all we have! The joys of working for a commuter TOC.

Some TOC's have more varied routes and often the greater variability is based on "progression up the links" (ie - how long you've been with the company). I think at Northern's Leeds depot (for example) you start off doing very local stuff, Bradford maybe Sheffield too and then as you move up the links you get to do more, such as runs to Blackpool, Carlisle etc...

Again it will depend on the TOC though as XC/Virgin would probably have a greater route knowledge (distance wise) but wouldn't be stopping at every local station on route.

I should add, that to me it seems like variability in the routes you drive would seem like a good thing but it's expensive to keep drivers route knowledge up to date for routes that they never (or only very occasionally drive). I understand that since privatisation, drivers route cards have genererally shrunk in size by quite a bit because as the railway has become franchised, the need to go onto other routes has dwindled.

 

[Dave1987]

Hi guys im new to this forum thankyou for any replies in advance.My question is to drivers,do you drive the same routes all the time or do the toc's put you on different routes sometimes??

Different depots at each TOC sign different routes, different links at each depots can even sign different routes. For example at Colchester Depot link 1 drivers sign Ipswich - Peterborough but link 2 drivers don't. You have to have a lot of knowledge about the routes you sign so the more you sign, the more you have to remember.

 

[Silv1983]

Drivers' learn the 'same' set of 'different' routes relative to their TOCs services. This varies in number dependant on which depot you work out of. Eventually all TOCs want their drivers' to sign every route as they are more useful when 'spare' or on overtime etc. At Manchester Victoria for example, under Northern, a driver will eventually work between 10 and 15 "routes". Before I was a driver I thought there were hundreds of different combinations of routes, but now im in the job - it's clear that the rail network isn't actually that big!

 

[evoluzione]

Drivers' learn the 'same' set of 'different' routes relative to their TOCs services. This varies in number dependant on which depot you work out of. Eventually all TOCs want their drivers' to sign every route as they are more useful when 'spare' or on overtime etc. At Manchester Victoria for example, under Northern, a driver will eventually work between 10 and 15 "routes". Before I was a driver I thought there were hundreds of different combinations of routes, but now im in the job - it's clear that the rail network isn't actually that big!

Hi Silv,

What are the core routes I'll need to learn from Victoria?

I've asked a few people and got different answers.

Thanks

 

[Silv1983]

Hi Silv,

What are the core routes I'll need to learn from Victoria?

I've asked a few people and got different answers.

Thanks

I've had a letter from ASLEF stating my core routes, as agreed with the LDC (local management I think), are Vic to Clitheroe / Wigan Wallgate / Rochdale (including Newton Heath). These 3 routes will be what we new drivers pass out on. However, once passed out, I believe Ops management will assign the routes which need cover most - and it spirals from there. I don't know if this is for all intakes, or it changes each time! You won't know until you're at depot mate.

 

[evoluzione]

I've had a letter from ASLEF stating my core routes, as agreed with the LDC (local management I think), are Vic to Clitheroe / Wigan Wallgate / Rochdale (including Newton Heath). These 3 routes will be what we new drivers pass out on. However, once passed out, I believe Ops management will assign the routes which need cover most - and it spirals from there. I don't know if this is for all intakes, or it changes each time! You won't know until you're at depot mate.

Thanks Silv, I along with the other 3 newbies are at Vic next week, got our first big assessment with DTM's on Friday, should be fun as we don't know which DTM we have yet

 

[Beveridges]

I've know cases where drivers have just learned 2 or 3 "core routes" then are stuck with those for years, loads of stuff they need to sign but the company won't bother putting them on further route learning due to staff shortages. They are bored and find it very monotonous.
However it appears that even for a qualified driver it takes 3 weeks to learn a 40 mile route in Northern. The training requirements at somewhere like DB Schenker who sign so much must be immense.

 

[Silv1983]

Thanks Silv, I along with the other 3 newbies are at Vic next week, got our first big assessment with DTM's on Friday, should be fun as we don't know which DTM we have yet

Haha pm me when you know and I'll give you the heads up