Southern Looking for Trainee Train Drivers - Selhurst

[ushawk]

https://rpayproxy.go-ahead.com/OA_H..._spid=77007&oapc=7&oas=eGCyjPHUa53b3e-gQfQ3fA..

Closing date is 4th October

Good luck to those who apply !!

 

[Crawley Ben]

Also looking for conductors based at Redhill (Surrey) & Horsham (Sussex) same closing date, think I might well apply...

Ben

 

[dglondon]

https://rpayproxy.go-ahead.com/OA_H..._spid=77007&oapc=7&oas=eGCyjPHUa53b3e-gQfQ3fA..

Closing date is 4th October

Good luck to those who apply !!

I notice that the advert for this role states that the 'Minimum Salary' is £22,656 and the Maximum Salary is £30,004. I'm assuming that both these amounts apply to the role of 'Trainee Train Driver' and not once qualified as a full Train Driver, as I believe that the salary for a qualified Train driver with Southern is significantly more than this (btw. does anyone know what the fully qualified salary currently is?).

I was therefore wondering if anyone knows why the salary range for this Trainee Train Driver role is so large ?. What determines if you are paid at the bottom or the top of this range ?.

 

[Lrd]

Ignore me please.

 

[Old-School]

The two salaries given in the advert for trainee driver for Southern would both apply to trainee driver as the lowest salary is when starting the trainee driver course and the higher salary once the first exam (known as formative 1) has been passed if my memory serves me correctly as its been a few years since I became a qualified driver for Southern.

 

[pendolino]

I notice that the advert for this role states that the 'Minimum Salary' is £22,656 and the Maximum Salary is £30,004. I'm assuming that both these amounts apply to the role of 'Trainee Train Driver' and not once qualified as a full Train Driver, as I believe that the salary for a qualified Train driver with Southern is significantly more than this (btw. does anyone know what the fully qualified salary currently is?).

I was therefore wondering if anyone knows why the salary range for this Trainee Train Driver role is so large ?. What determines if you are paid at the bottom or the top of this range ?.

The lower figure is 'pre-Rules', the higher figure 'post-Rules' - after about 3 months on the course trainees are assessed on the knowledge they have acquired about the Rule Book. Those that pass the assessment get a pay rise.

After completing the training course, trainees progress to become a Relief Driver on c.£37k, then to 1st Year Driver on c.£41k, then to Driver on c.£44k. The length of time taken to progress from one step to the next depends on what vacancies are available at the depot and the number of driving turns undertaken (neither of which should present an obstacle at Selhurst).

All the figures quoted above include London Allowance, but don't include Sundays (1 in 3) which are paid extra.

Hope that helps.

 

[dglondon]

The two salaries given in the advert for trainee driver for Southern would both apply to trainee driver as the lowest salary is when starting the trainee driver course and the higher salary once the first exam (known as formative 1) has been passed if my memory serves me correctly as its been a few years since I became a qualified driver for Southern.

The lower figure is 'pre-Rules', the higher figure 'post-Rules' - after about 3 months on the course trainees are assessed on the knowledge they have acquired about the Rule Book. Those that pass the assessment get a pay rise.

After completing the training course, trainees progress to become a Relief Driver on c.£37k, then to 1st Year Driver on c.£41k, then to Driver on c.£44k. The length of time taken to progress from one step to the next depends on what vacancies are available at the depot and the number of driving turns undertaken (neither of which should present an obstacle at Selhurst).

All the figures quoted above include London Allowance, but don't include Sundays (1 in 3) which are paid extra.

Hope that helps.

Thanks !. Yes, that clears things up a lot for me, ta !

One other question I had (for anyone who's a Southern Driver or anyone else who may know), is what are the shift patterns currently for a Southern Driver ?. The advert say's that it's a 35 hour week including earlies/lates + working on BH's & Weekends as required, but I was wondering what the actual shift hours would be and what the shift pattern currently is?. Also, is it normally fairly easy/common for drivers to swap shifts amongst themselves (even to swap shift permanently ? - eg. so as to say only work earlies if that's what you want ?).

 

[Old-School]

The Jpg file shows a sample of the drivers' Rota. Shift lengths can vary from 6hrs 43mins to 9hrs 28mins

There is a good chance that finding a driver to swap with would be reasonably easy.

 

[pendolino]

Thanks !. Yes, that clears things up a lot for me, ta !

One other question I had (for anyone who's a Southern Driver or anyone else who may know), is what are the shift patterns currently for a Southern Driver ?. The advert say's that it's a 35 hour week including earlies/lates + working on BH's & Weekends as required, but I was wondering what the actual shift hours would be and what the shift pattern currently is?. Also, is it normally fairly easy/common for drivers to swap shifts amongst themselves (even to swap shift permanently ? - eg. so as to say only work earlies if that's what you want ?).

It varies a little bit from depot to depot but in general:

It's a 4 day week, averaging out at 35hrs - some weeks you work a lot more, other weeks a lot less.

Shifts are alternate weeks of earlies and lates. 5 day weekend every 3 weeks (Friday to Tuesday) then Weds/Thursday off in the intermediate week between long weekends, plus one Sunday. If you are on early Saturday, then you work early or late Sunday, then into lates from Monday; if you work a late Saturday, Sunday is a rest day then back for earlies on Monday.

Sundays are outside the working week (paid as overtime) but they are what's known as 'committed Sundays' and you are expected to work them unless you can get another driver to cover for you. Bank Holidays are overtime too, or you can choose to take a day in lieu. You won't work every Bank Holiday.

So basically you will work 2 Saturdays and 1 Sundays in every 3 weeks - think carefully if this is for you as this will have an affect on social/family life, as does the shift working in general.

The actual shifts vary; earlies can start from around 3-3.30am and finish late morning/early afternoon; lates can start in the early afternoon/evening and finish at around midnight-2.30am; shift length is anywhere from 7 1/2 hours to 9 1/2 hrs on average. Starts may be a bit later and finishes a bit earlier if you're at a smaller depot like Caterham or Epsom. Selhurst & Victoria have night turns too.

Working permanent lates or earlies is entirely possible, but it relies on you finding another driver with the same route knowledge/in the same link and agreeing a mutual swap.

Feel free to ask if you have any further questions.