SLC Operations

[Mr Maybe]

Hello I am 53 and looking at a career change. SLC Operations offer 'Street to Seat' driver training in "around 26 weeks". Does this sound viable? I have no experience in the rail industry and I wonder what SLC's reputation is and whether there is work out there for a a newly qualified driver of my age?
Any Advice welcome.

 

[HeritageSussex]

Do you know how much the training costs?
C2C were using the same phrase 'Street to Seat' for training new drivers - wonder if they use the training scheme?

 

[Darandio]

I'm not sure this is something available to external candidates, on their page for this training it states you must be already employed by a 'rail operator'. It seems they offer this service to train companies with the view to shortening the whole process of driver training down to 26 weeks.

Vacancies for trainee drivers do appear periodically, your best bet is to sign up for alerts with any TOC's (train operating companies) in your vicinity. In terms of your age it's not uncommon to see newly qualified drivers of a similar age entering the industry.

 

[Stigy]

Not sure how this would work as most TOCs don’t take on drivers with less than at least a couple of years driving experience? If it’s endorsed by a TOC or FOC as a way of recruiting new drivers, I guess that’s a possibility?

How does this work for practical train handling?

 

[Firestarter]

Not sure how this would work as most TOCs don’t take on drivers with less than at least a couple of years driving experience? If it’s endorsed by a TOC or FOC as a way of recruiting new drivers, I guess that’s a possibility?

How does this work for practical train handling?

Railadventure RailAdventure – Spezialtransporte und Probefahrten von Zügen

Europaweiter Marktführer im Bereich Test- und Überführungsfahrten von Schienenfahrzeugen

www.slcoperations.com

 

[ComUtoR]

Their website really isn't clear on the details. I'd certainly be interested in how everything happens in reality. If anyone has any experience or contacts with this company, please feel free to share.

 

[dctraindriver]

Set up in 2020. You can see details on Companies House. I guess they will be providing the option of outsourcing training from some TOCs/FOCs in due course? Appears it’s specified at companies rather than individuals.

Looks like you still need to apply to a train company and get the job. And no you’re not too old to join.

 

[Atishyou]

This has dangerous written all over it.

You simply can't do your rules, training, traction and full handling in 26 weeks, then route learning without cutting corners.

Some FOC courses are at least around 10 weeks classroom, plus 2 weeks SIM, plus 150 hours wheels turning.

Some TOC courses are at least 15 weeks classroom, then over 200 hours driving.

 

[Mr Maybe]

I'm not sure this is something available to external candidates, on their page for this training it states you must be already employed by a 'rail operator'. It seems they offer this service to train companies with the view to shortening the whole process of driver training down to 26 weeks.

Vacancies for trainee drivers do appear periodically, your best bet is to sign up for alerts with any TOC's (train operating companies) in your vicinity. In terms of your age it's not uncommon to see newly qualified drivers of a similar age entering the industry.

Thanks for the advice. I am trying to get my head around whether they train newbies independently or can help place a trainee with a TOC, I just phoned them. The person on the phone said had no idea and I should try again on Monday when someone who knows about training "might" be in!

 

[choochoochoo]

Where are they getting their DIs from ? Our TOC struggles to get their own DIs ? Haven't seen any recruitment ads in the usual rail media.

If they're offering silly money to their DIs, which is the only way they'd lure them away from a TOC/FOC, then I've not heard about it

 

[Stigy]

This has dangerous written all over it.

You simply can't do your rules, training, traction and full handling in 26 weeks, then route learning without cutting corners.

Some FOC courses are at least around 10 weeks classroom, plus 2 weeks SIM, plus 150 hours wheels turning.

Some TOC courses are at least 15 weeks classroom, then over 200 hours driving.

Agreed, which is what I don’t understand. 26 weeks for me was my rule and traction and maybe 50 hrs of the 225 hours required handling.

 

[ComUtoR]

If you did 5hrs a day with a 5 day week - 25hrs per week. 10 weeks and your at 250hrs. That still leaves 16 weeks for rules/traction. It's reasonable because they are a dedicated training school.

 

[43066]

This is a little strange. I can only imagine they’re targeting smaller OA and freight/charter/odd ball outfits like ROG etc. who need drivers, but aren’t big enough to justify running their own trainee programme.

I wonder how long it will be until they start producing glossy adverts along the lines of:

“Only £50k* for your street to seat train driver training programme, combined with assistance finding a job when you finish**
*payable by the candidate
**but no guarantees”

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Nov 2021 ==

If you did 5hrs a day with a 5 day week - 25hrs per week. 10 weeks and your at 250hrs. That still leaves 16 weeks for rules/traction. It's reasonable because they are a dedicated training school.

On the assumption they farm the handling side out to TOCs (which they must be, how else could they do it?) it would be hard to get 5 hours per day consistently, day + 80 hours night driving, and all the other bits required as you know as a DI. It sounds like quite a tall order?

 

[ComUtoR]

On the assumption they farm the handling side out to TOCs (which they must be, how else could they do it?)

The information they are presenting on their website isn't clear enough. I can see it all working; in theory. The reality of it just seems a little off. For them to have an Operators licence is significant. I'm very intrigued to know what's happening on the ground.

it would be hard to get 5 hours per day consistently, day + 80 hours night driving, and all the other bits required

I can see the operational difficulties; it's pretty clear to see some of the practical issues.

as you know as a DI. It sounds like quite a tall order?

Not a DI I'm afraid.

 

[Elecman]

SLC Based In 2 portacabins in Kings Norton Yard by the OTM Shed

 

[357]

SLC Operations do the test train and commissioning on the Isle of Wight D stock.

Interview with one of their drivers here (26:39):

 

[New York Giant]

28 train driver jobs up for grabs in the West Midlands - and they have a £62,000 salary

This article did the rounds about a fortnight ago and seems to have gone undetected, or been ignored. Perhaps of no help to the OP but interesting reading.

 

[Horizon22]

28 train driver jobs up for grabs in the West Midlands - and they have a £62,000 salary

This article did the rounds about a fortnight ago and seems to have gone undetected, or been ignored. Perhaps of no help to the OP but interesting reading.

Not sure how the two issues are all that related in that article - talking about immediate WMT shortages due to Covid & then SLC hiring and training new drivers which will take months. Seems like pretty poor "journalism"; someone just smashed the two issues together because 'trains'.

 

[Efini92]

Thanks for the advice. I am trying to get my head around whether they train newbies independently or can help place a trainee with a TOC, I just phoned them. The person on the phone said had no idea and I should try again on Monday when someone who knows about training "might" be in!

I’d give them a wide berth mate. It’s unlikely it would lead to a placement with a toc as this was tried a few years ago and ASLEF told the tocs if they hired any of them they would be in dispute.