SouthEastern Conductors

[PaulJ]

Hi all. I quite like the idea of applying to be a conductor right now with SouthEastern. There is a job advert available, but the location appears to me to be ambiguous. Can anyone clarify for me? The advertised job title is ‘Trainee Conductor - Ramsgate - Opportunities for 2019/20’ but appears to be based in Hastings. Does this mean that the training takes place in Hastings with eventually becoming a conductor based on trains running from Ramsgate - or vice versa?
Secondly, the application states that applications must live within 15 miles of the location. How hard and fast are SouthEastern with this? I live 20 miles from Ramsgate, but right next to the dual carriageway, so driving time is only 30 minutes.

 

[PringlePopper1]

I think that’s a typo on their part mate, the code for the job is something like RM2509 or whatever so the job is definitely at Ramsgate. Training is done in Ashford for your rules. Then at Ramsgate with a CI until you pass out. With regards to living within a distance they are fairly strict, but sometimes it’s either 15 miles OR 40 minute travelling time, so just apply as you’ve got nothing to lose

 

[PaulJ]

Thanks for that. Indeed you are correct - SouthEastern have now amended the wording of their ad, so I’ve submitted an application. Wish me luck!

 

[PaulJ]

So - after many months I had a formal interview yesterday for which I had an e-mail this morning stating that I’ve been successful. I guess I’m now waiting for a suitable opening and a date for a medical. Wish me luck!

 

[joshuan542]

So - after many months I had a formal interview yesterday for which I had an e-mail this morning stating that I’ve been successful. I guess I’m now waiting for a suitable opening and a date for a medical. Wish me luck!

good luck! I’m awaiting my interview for a conductor role at southern, could you let me know the questions you were asked mainly ? The standard will be set by GTR most likely

 

[PaulJ]

good luck! I’m awaiting my interview for a conductor role at southern, could you let me know the questions you were asked mainly ? The standard will be set by GTR most likely

Presumably you’ve already attended an assessment day? So my interview was video based because of Covid and the technology was a little problematic! There were initial qs about general knowledge of SouthEastern - aims and vision, London termini served etc. It will be really useful for you to research this via Southern’s website. The rest of the questions were more specific looking at your experience and matching your skills to what they are looking for as a conductor. Questions were about teamwork, attitude towards procedure, how would you react to certain circumstances on a train. For example, dealing with anxious passengers, rude/unruly groups, how you’d deal with passengers of the train is held up between stations etc. The interview lasted the best part of 2 hours - would have been less had the technology held up!!
Best of luck in your ambitions - keep in touch.

 

[joshuan542]

Presumably you’ve already attended an assessment day? So my interview was video based because of Covid and the technology was a little problematic! There were initial qs about general knowledge of SouthEastern - aims and vision, London termini served etc. It will be really useful for you to research this via Southern’s website. The rest of the questions were more specific looking at your experience and matching your skills to what they are looking for as a conductor. Questions were about teamwork, attitude towards procedure, how would you react to certain circumstances on a train. For example, dealing with anxious passengers, rude/unruly groups, how you’d deal with passengers of the train is held up between stations etc. The interview lasted the best part of 2 hours - would have been less had the technology held up!!
Best of luck in your ambitions - keep in touch.

Awesome thanks for some further info! I actually already work for GTR on the Thameslink line but due to a move to the south coast i'm now hopping across to Southern instead so company info etc.. is no issue to myself. I have the interview, which luckily was setup for me by another manager, then i'll need to sit the group bourdon as all assessments are up to date except the GB, as I've only done the SCAAT test.

Let me know when you get given a course date, hopefully soon! 2 hours WOW here was me expecting an hour at most. I hope it is an in depth interview as It gives a huge chance to really sell yourself more, glad you got the job though as conductor and Train driver are definitely the harder roles to get.

 

[RPOMan]

So - after many months I had a formal interview yesterday for which I had an e-mail this morning stating that I’ve been successful. I guess I’m now waiting for a suitable opening and a date for a medical. Wish me luck!

Congrats on passing the interview! In my experience so far, SE are a good company to work for! I also recently sat a video interview for another role, it was quite difficult to get the tech up and running also! Good luck with your training etc when it starts!

 

[PaulJ]

Congrats on passing the interview! In my experience so far, SE are a good company to work for! I also recently sat a video interview for another role, it was quite difficult to get the tech up and running also! Good luck with your training etc when it starts!

Thanks very much indeed! Where are you based?

 

[ComUtoR]

SE are a good company to work for!

And have one of the worst reputations in the industry :/

 

[donpoku]

And have one of the worst reputations in the industry :/

Swings & roundabout m8, all TOC's have their good & bad..

 

[ComUtoR]

Swings & roundabout m8, all TOC's have their good & bad..

Oh for sure.

Are you aware that all SE Drivers have DOO written into their terms and conditions and that DOO could be implemented accross their entire network at the swish of a pen.

 

[donpoku]

Oh for sure.

Are you aware that all SE Drivers have DOO written into their terms and conditions and that DOO could be implemented accross their entire network at the swish of a pen.

TOC's follow DfT directives who gives/extend the franchise/contract...

 

[RPOMan]

Thanks very much indeed! Where are you based?

I am based at Ashford.

 

[RPOMan]

And have one of the worst reputations in the industry :/

As I said, in my experience so far... Every company has good and bad parts.

 

[43066]

Swings & roundabout m8, all TOC's have their good & bad..

Their reputation is particularly bad, though.

Oh for sure.

Are you aware that all SE Drivers have DOO written into their terms and conditions and that DOO could be implemented accross their entire network at the swish of a pen.

That’s true but, given what’s happened on SWR, seems somewhat less likely now than previously.

Given everything else that’s currently going on it’s difficult to see the DfT wanting to pick another (bloody and expensive) fight over DOO for the foreseeable future.

 

[ComUtoR]

Given everything else that’s currently going on it’s difficult to see the DfT wanting to pick another (bloody and expensive) fight over DOO for the foreseeable future.

Which is my point. There is no fight to be had. It is already written into their contracts so DOO Could be implements at a moments notice and the "fight" has already been lost. A bit like the situation with SE 12 cars and Thameslink DOO. You can't fight what has already been agreed.

Personally I think Guards at SE are there but by the grace of God. Corona may have just saved their short term future.

 

[43066]

Which is my point. There is no fight to be had. It is already written into their contracts so DOO Could be implements at a moments notice and the "fight" has already been lost. A bit like the situation with SE 12 cars and Thameslink DOO. You can't fight what has already been agreed.

Personally I think Guards at SE are there but by the grace of God. Corona may have just saved their short term future.

Yes that’s all true, but SWR also had it in their contracts, yet that didn’t prevent guards being saved for the foreseeable/long term future (albeit inner SWR drivers, despite continuing to have a guard, will now assume DOO door responsibilities for the requisite £££). SE metro drivers have been DOO for yonks and have little left to sell.

SWR mainline drivers are in a similar position to SE mainline drivers. Until SE’s (mid life) Electrostar fleet is wholesale replaced with stock with in-cab monitors, they’re unlikely to see any meaningful change.

 

[ComUtoR]

SWR mainline drivers are in a similar position to SE mainline drivers. Until SE’s (mid life) Electrostar fleet is wholesale replaced with stock with in-cab monitors, they’re unlikely to see any meaningful change.

Hope Vs Fear

Not the best way to live at the moment. DCO is the way forward and SWR have set the standard. I would like to see DCO as a minimum for ALL services. SE has always been the whipping boy. crap pay, poor conditions and continually being sidelined for others. 2yrs under a Management contract is a huge unknown. Living in limbo isn't healthy.

 

[43066]

DCO is the way forward and SWR have set the standard.

I hope not .

From a driver’s point of view I’d rather have a fully qualified guard on board than an “OBS” but, if I’m doing the doors anyway, it’ll make little difference to my day to day life. At least SWR drivers will be paid “danger money” to take on the risk!

SE has always been the whipping boy. crap pay, poor conditions and continually being sidelined for others. 2yrs under a Management contract is a huge unknown. Living in limbo isn't healthy.

Completely agree with you there. It’s toxic and unhealthy. Any update on that?

 

[donpoku]

I get it, SE and some other London metro TOC's is not some ppl cup of tea atm but I'll take it over being a cleaner and a security guard any day of the week, sry but I try to count my blessing every day.

 

[43066]

I get it, SE and some other London metro TOC's is not some ppl cup of tea atm but I'll take it over being a cleaner and a security guard any day of the week, sry but I try to count my blessing every day.

Don’t look down, look up!

 

[ComUtoR]

Completely agree with you there. It’s toxic and unhealthy. Any update on that?

Nope. Just another reason to dislike how SE operate.

but I'll take it over being a cleaner and a security guard any day of the week, sry but I try to count my blessing every day.

Agreed. I feel blessed every day. I was speaking to a colleague over at TFL. Both of us were saying how lucky we are. I'm very grateful to be a Key worker.

I worry about the long term future for my colleagues. Especially because some people are blind to what is possible. I'm very vocal about supporting the Guard grade but at SE I just see the Sword of Damocles hanging over them :/

 

[43066]

Agreed. I feel blessed every day. I was speaking to a colleague over at TFL. Both of us were saying how lucky we are. I'm very grateful to be a Key worker.

I agree with this. Up to a point. Then again, I wouldn’t ever have considered a job as a cleaner, nor as a security guard, and driving trains for a living is orders of magnitude different to both of those roles, so why on earth would I compare this job to those?!

I most probably earn a good deal more than the Tesco cashier who just served me, and the Deliveroo bloke who delivered my order earlier, but that doesn’t mean I won’t moan about my own Ts and Cs, when they annoy me!

Otherwise it becomes a race to the bottom.

I think people in this industry can be too unwilling to move when it suits them. Weigh it all up: atmosphere; location; Ts and Cs; pay; quality of work. There may well be better options on your doorstep (or at least within comUTaBLe distance ).

If it suits you to do so, leave. Don’t atrophy where you are.

 

[donpoku]

I agree with this. Up to a point. Then again, I wouldn’t ever have considered a job as a cleaner, nor as a security guard, and driving trains for a living is orders of magnitude different to both of those roles, so why on earth would I compare this job to those?!

I most probably earn a good deal more than the Tesco cashier who just served me, and the Deliveroo bloke who delivered my order earlier, but that doesn’t mean I won’t moan about my own Ts and Cs, when they annoy me!

Otherwise it becomes a race to the bottom.

I think people in this industry can be too unwilling to move when it suits them. Weigh it all up: atmosphere; location; Ts and Cs; pay; quality of work. There may well be better options on your doorstep (or at least within comUTaBLe distance ).

If it suits you to do so, leave. Don’t atrophy where you are.

Please understand Not everyone thinks or want what you have/want.