Shift patterns

[TRain87]

Evening all

As a signaller, what shift patterns do you work? Interested to see the different shifts all round the country, as I understand each area can do it differently etc.

I understand it's roughly a 35 hour week, but how is this split up? Currently working a 48 hour week, doing 4 night shifts, followed by 4 rest days.

Thanks

 

[Llanigraham]

Depends on the Box, but on the Marches we worked 12 hours, 0600 - 1800 - 0600, and did 14 shifts in every 28 days, and every 12th week got an extra day off, to bring the 35 hour/week average into practice.
Scottish 12 hour Boxes seem to do 1200 - 2400 - 1200.

 

[Sunset route]

Evening all

As a signaller, what shift patterns do you work? Interested to see the different shifts all round the country, as I understand each area can do it differently etc.

I understand it's roughly a 35 hour week, but how is this split up? Currently working a 48 hour week, doing 4 night shifts, followed by 4 rest days.

Thanks

That question is as broad is it as long.

There are 24/7 12hrs rosters
There are 24/7 8hrs rosters
and there were even and still might be a mix 24/7 8/12hrs rosters

Then there are rosters that are not 24/7 and involve opening and closing out the signal box, which can be shifts varying lengths of up 9hrs 45mins.

Some boxes boxes rotate through multiples of 4 weekly rotations with slight variations.

Others are based on how many staff are required to work the roster ie 25 staff = 25 week rotation, 48 staff = 48 week rotation or even 65 staff = 65 week rotation.

The exact pattern of early, middle, lates, nights, 12hrs days or 12hrs nights will be area, or signalling centre specific as negatiated between the local LOMs and Local union reps.

 

[TRain87]

Cheers both! Understand it was long, just wanted a rough idea!

 

[Llanigraham]

Cheers both! Understand it was long, just wanted a rough idea!

To get an accurate answer you really need to ask the LOM for the area you are applying. Giving us an idea of where might also help.

 

[TRain87]

To get an accurate answer you really need to ask the LOM for the area you are applying. Giving us an idea of where might also help.

Currently applied for Eastleigh and Woking. Just wanted a rough idea

 

[Sunset route]

Currently applied for Eastleigh and Woking. Just wanted a rough idea

Hmmm they are so close but far enough away not to know exact details, Eastleigh I believe has three panels on a single link and is probably a 24/7 8hrs with in built GPR.

Working also has three panels, two on one link and the third on a separate link. I also belive that that are 24/7 8hr rosters with external GPR cover.

GPR=General Purpose Relief

 

[TRain87]

Hmmm they are so close but far enough away not to know exact details, Eastleigh I believe has three panels on a single link and is probably a 24/7 8hrs with in built GPR.

Working also has three panels, two on one link and the third on a separate link. I also belive that that are 24/7 8hr rosters with external GPR cover.

GPR=General Purpose Relief

Thank you for the info. I won't take it as gospel, but it's nice to have an idea. Very far off even thinking about shifts yet, but just curious.

**Llanigraham said earlier about working 14 days out of 28, are you able to work overtime the other days or are you required to take these as rest days? How does overtime work out?

 

[Sunset route]

Thank you for the info. I won't take it as gospel, but it's nice to have an idea. Very far off even thinking about shifts yet, but just curious.

**Llanigraham said earlier about working 14 days out of 28, are you able to work overtime the other days or are you required to take these as rest days? How does overtime work out?

You can work overtime if available as long as you don't work more than 72hrs a week or 13 consecutive shifts without a break depending which is reached sooner.

 

[TRain87]

You can work overtime if available as long as you don't work more than 72hrs a week or 13 shift idiot hour a break depending which is reached sooner.

Ok....2 last questions on the subject, before you become annoyed! What does '13 shift idiot hour a break' mean....assuming you mean a 13 hour shift.

And can you work permanent nights, i.e swap with someone, or is the rota set in stone and moves between all 3 of the 8 hour shifts?

Thanks for all your help

 

[Tomnick]

13 consecutive shifts maximum (i.e. without a rest day intervening) is, presumably, the pre-autocorrect edition!

 

[Sunset route]

Ok....2 last questions on the subject, before you become annoyed! What does '13 shift idiot hour a break' mean....assuming you mean a 13 hour shift.

And can you work permanent nights, i.e swap with someone, or is the rota set in stone and moves between all 3 of the 8 hour shifts?

Thanks for all your help

It was late and the auto correct did it's worse, but I've altered it and hopefully it makes sense now. BTW the longest shift we are allowed to work is 12hrs.