Southeastern Grove Park Depot

[Chou]

Hi everyone!

Anyone on here working for Southeastern at Grove Park Depot?

I’ve been driving with a different TOC for 10 years and I’d like to apply to Grove Park, as it’s very close to where I live now.

I was wondering if it’s difficult to get into and also what routes they sign and what the work is like?

Also, is there night work at this depot, or is that covered by a night link?

Thanks.

 

[craigybagel]

Routes and traction from the thread I created here.

From what I've gathered from other posters it's the kind of depot people want to transfer away from rather than to but I understand the temptation of an easy commute!

Grove Park
Traction:
465,466,375,376, 377 (Link dependant), 707
Routes:
London Terminals - Dartford/Gravesend 4 ways - via Greenwich or Lewisham then Woolwich, via Bexleyheath, via Sidcup
London Terminals - Orpington 2 ways - via Grove Park, via Penge East
Hayes Line
Grove Park - Bromley North
Orpington - Sevenoaks
Catford Loop (link dependant)
Blackfriars (link dependant)
Sevenoaks - Ashford (Link dependant)
Tonbridge - Tunbridge Wells (Link dependant)

 

[NSEWonderer]

Why not look at Overground at New Cross or Southern at London Bridge? Both depots not too far. Understandable however if its a direct doorstep to work requirement.

 

[FR510]

Hi everyone!

Anyone on here working for Southeastern at Grove Park Depot?

I’ve been driving with a different TOC for 10 years and I’d like to apply to Grove Park, as it’s very close to where I live now.

I was wondering if it’s difficult to get into and also what routes they sign and what the work is like?

Also, is there night work at this depot, or is that covered by a night link?

Thanks.

I think the work at Grove Park is a bit more palatable than SEs other Metro depots. There's a fair bit of walking time on some diagrams due to the distance from the Depot to the station.

There will be night turns, but not many, so they shouldn't come round very often.

 

[43066]

Hi everyone!

Anyone on here working for Southeastern at Grove Park Depot?

I’ve been driving with a different TOC for 10 years and I’d like to apply to Grove Park, as it’s very close to where I live now.

I was wondering if it’s difficult to get into and also what routes they sign and what the work is like?

Also, is there night work at this depot, or is that covered by a night link?

Thanks.

Metro routes for the first few years, some mainline work in the higher links. Early starts, late finishes, lots of walking time. And of course the Bromley North popper!

A reasonable way to get a key but, as mentioned above, if you can get into LO at New Cross Gate for circa. £20k+ more I’d do that.

 

[Horizon22]

Hi everyone!

Anyone on here working for Southeastern at Grove Park Depot?

I’ve been driving with a different TOC for 10 years and I’d like to apply to Grove Park, as it’s very close to where I live now.

I was wondering if it’s difficult to get into and also what routes they sign and what the work is like?

Also, is there night work at this depot, or is that covered by a night link?

Thanks.

Which TOC? Because whilst Grove Park might be nearby you’d probably be taking a pay cut, a potentially significant one at that.

There’s a reason SE metro struggles with driver retention with Overground, SWR, GTR, Elizabeth Line and probably depots of inter-city TOCs with a London terminus all commutable and with better route cards and overall work.

 

[Chou]

Thank you all very much for your replies. Very helpful indeed.

Regarding the point about lower wages; will the pay deal just passed not bring SE up on line with everyone else?

 

[Horizon22]

Regarding the point about lower wages; will the pay deal just passed not bring SE up on line with everyone else?

Nope. It’s just a % rise on the current salary. If anything, the gap will be larger.

 

[Class2ldn]

Quite enjoyed my time at Grove Park tbf, good crowd there, fair mix of work, link 2 sign down to Ashford and Tunbridge Wells.
With this pay deal they're probably be on 63,64k ish so if you can live with that then its not too bad.
I know a few who've left to go to LO as obviously moneywise its a big increase but they've had to increase their commute for it so its swings and roundabouts.
They exclusively do the Grove park to Bromley shuttle i think still which is mind numbing tbh but you are out the way and away from the hassle of the mainline.
When I was there nights was just 1 job for link 3 and 1 for link 2.
Link 3 was prep about 5 trains then do the first Hayes up to London and then down to Orpington pass back.
Link 2 was cover for maintenance moves to slade Green.
Whether thats still the case I dont know.
If it was on my doorstep I would go there tbh, there's a lot to be said for having a short commute.
Used to be 25 mins walking time to and from station which always knocked a bit of time off if you weren't taking one out or in to the depot.
I dont think they have any sign off time.
It used to be 20 mins walking to the shed but if you finished in there then that's the time you signed off basically might have been 2 minutes leeway but that was it.
9h15 max day, not sure if that's been reduced since.
Sundays are inside the week.

 

[Chou]

Nope. It’s just a % rise on the current salary. If anything, the gap will be larger.

Oh dear, good point. Certainly something I’ll need to consider. The Overground and London Bridge options seem like better possibilities.

Thanks for your reply!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Sep 2024 ==

Quite enjoyed my time at Grove Park tbf, good crowd there, fair mix of work, link 2 sign down to Ashford and Tunbridge Wells.
With this pay deal they're probably be on 63,64k ish so if you can live with that then its not too bad.
I know a few who've left to go to LO as obviously moneywise its a big increase but they've had to increase their commute for it so its swings and roundabouts.
They exclusively do the Grove park to Bromley shuttle i think still which is mind numbing tbh but you are out the way and away from the hassle of the mainline.
When I was there nights was just 1 job for link 3 and 1 for link 2.
Link 3 was prep about 5 trains then do the first Hayes up to London and then down to Orpington pass back.
Link 2 was cover for maintenance moves to slade Green.
Whether thats still the case I dont know.
If it was on my doorstep I would go there tbh, there's a lot to be said for having a short commute.
Used to be 25 mins walking time to and from station which always knocked a bit of time off if you weren't taking one out or in to the depot.
I dont think they have any sign off time.
It used to be 20 mins walking to the shed but if you finished in there then that's the time you signed off basically might have been 2 minutes leeway but that was it.
9h15 max day, not sure if that's been reduced since.
Sundays are inside the week.

Very helpful, thanks a million

 

[Class2ldn]

What toc are you at now if you don't mind me asking ?

 

[Chou]

What toc are you at now if you don't mind me asking ?

SWR

 

[Class2ldn]

Well you'll have to weigh up whether the move is better for you personally, id say the routes at swr will be better and pretty much all of se is doo especially at grove park, think the tunbridge and ashford runs have guards after sevenoaks so factor that in.

 

[Horizon22]

SWR

Interesting, from discussions I've seen here most people are looking (or have already) moved to places like SWR from Southeastern. This is not to say the allure of a very easy commute isn't a big one, but ultimately there are lots of factors on what makes a 'good' job and salary / location / commute are some but they all have different weight to different people.

You might find there are people at your depot who are ex-SE as well who you could ask.

 

[Chou]

Interesting, from discussions I've seen here most people are looking (or have already) moved to places like SWR from Southeastern. This is not to say the allure of a very easy commute isn't a big one, but ultimately there are lots of factors on what makes a 'good' job and salary / location / commute are some but they all have different weight to different people.

You might find there are people at your depot who are ex-SE as well who you could ask.

Very good points indeed, thanks. Yes, the temptation of a very short commute (5 minute cycle in this case) is very tempting, but the lower salary and type of work etc is always worth bearing in mind. I’ll ask around and see if anyone knows any ex-Southeastern drivers.

 

[Val3ntine]

Assuming you’re Waterloo based, or at least have PNB’s at waterloo, there will be many ex southeastern drivers to speak with there. But you are talking a 20k or so pay drop here, not even sure that’s really worth seriously considering?

 

[NSEWonderer]

Assuming you’re Waterloo based, or at least have PNB’s at waterloo, there will be many ex southeastern drivers to speak with there. But you are talking a 20k or so pay drop here, not even sure that’s really worth seriously considering?

Depends how much they're spending on getting to Waterloo in both time and monetary expenses.

 

[Economist]

I know Grove Park fairly well, you'd start in Link 3 which is all DOO suburban work. Once you're in the top 50% or so of drivers (6-7 years a couple of years back) you'll add Class 375s, Ashford and Tunbridge Wells in Link 2. There's Link 1 which has later starts and earlier finishes but it's apply for a vacancy based on seniority. The people at the depot are good but the work is fairly tough. I don't know if things have changed but SE ASLEF isn't very strong.

I'm currently on guarded intercity work and 95% of the time it's less stressful. ASLEF where I work seems to be much more powerful too. The short commute may be handy but if I were the OP I'd be tempted by a move to an intercity depot outside of London. Of course, it may be different if there's family connections to the local area to think about etc.

 

[Chou]

Assuming you’re Waterloo based, or at least have PNB’s at waterloo, there will be many ex southeastern drivers to speak with there. But you are talking a 20k or so pay drop here, not even sure that’s really worth seriously considering?

Thanks. No, I wouldn’t consider it for a 20k pay drop. I thought the new pay deal would level things up, but someone mentioned above that it’ll still be lower than many other TOC’s.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Oct 2024 ==

I know Grove Park fairly well, you'd start in Link 3 which is all DOO suburban work. Once you're in the top 50% or so of drivers (6-7 years a couple of years back) you'll add Class 375s, Ashford and Tunbridge Wells in Link 2. There's Link 1 which has later starts and earlier finishes but it's apply for a vacancy based on seniority. The people at the depot are good but the work is fairly tough. I don't know if things have changed but SE ASLEF isn't very strong.

I'm currently on guarded intercity work and 95% of the time it's less stressful. ASLEF where I work seems to be much more powerful too. The short commute may be handy but if I were the OP I'd be tempted by a move to an intercity depot outside of London. Of course, it may be different if there's family connections to the local area to think about etc.

Thanks for the info. From what others are saying, the pay cut sounds like a dealbreaker for Grove Park, so probably better off staying where I am.

 

[Class2ldn]

Well what are swr on after the pay deal?

 

[Val3ntine]

Well what are swr on after the pay deal?

With all allowances included I believe around the 82/83k mark

 

[Class2ldn]

Yeah so it is a fair old drop

 

[whoosh]

With all allowances included I believe around the 82/83k mark

It's not that much. You're forgetting that SWR already had a pay rise in 2022 as the last year in a multi year deal.
They are only getting the 4.75% for 2023 and 4.5% for 2024.
So roundabout £76k for a Waterloo driver.

 

[43066]

It's not that much. You're forgetting that SWR already had a pay rise in 2022 as the last year in a multi year deal.
They are only getting the 4.75% for 2023 and 4.5% for 2024.
So roundabout £76k for a Waterloo driver.

Do they then get a London weighting, though? That will bump it up.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Do they then get a London weighting, though? That will bump it up.

They do and another depot weighting

 

[Val3ntine]

It's not that much. You're forgetting that SWR already had a pay rise in 2022 as the last year in a multi year deal.
They are only getting the 4.75% for 2023 and 4.5% for 2024.
So roundabout £76k for a Waterloo driver.

A waterloo driver was already on circa 73k (all allowances included which is what I was alluding to as I prefer to state the full figure). But yes base salary probably will be roundabouts what you stated I imagine.