Applied recently for trainee driver position (Talent Pool) for Thameslink and was just wondering what depot is considered better out of Orpington and Gillingham in terms of rosters and days off and lines that I could be working. Any other information about either depot is appreciated as well.
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Thameslink Orpington or Gillingham depot?
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If its the same as other depots on TL they all the have the same rest days, all fixed days so will be the same depending which colour shift you go on. 4 day week with sundays outside.
Im not sure exactly what start and finish times they do. Pretty sure Orpington do nights but not sure about Gillingham.
Shifts swap over after the Wednesday and Thursday rest day from late to early and long weekend always starts after earlies and you come back on lates to give maximum time off.
If you work the sunday you'll work 7 in a row before at least 2 days off or the long weekend.
Im not sure exactly what start and finish times they do. Pretty sure Orpington do nights but not sure about Gillingham.
Shifts swap over after the Wednesday and Thursday rest day from late to early and long weekend always starts after earlies and you come back on lates to give maximum time off.
If you work the sunday you'll work 7 in a row before at least 2 days off or the long weekend.
whoosh
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Orpington do Sevenoaks to Blackfriars trips, and Orpington to Kentish Town, which are shorter journeys than Gillingham's Rainham to Luton trips.*
If you'd like to stretch your legs more often, then consider Orpington.
A couple of years ago both had a similar range of start times (earliest at both depots was 03-something).
Gillingham there's about 60 drivers there. Orpington I'd take an educated guess at 45-48.
Gillingham did have nights then, but less than Orpington spread over more drivers. Night diagrams at both didn't look to bad as far as work content was concerned.
*Saying that, some Gillingham diagrams were Gillingham to Rainham and back a couple of times, and then to London Bridge, and then back with a different train, which would give plenty of leg stretching and tea making opportunities! It's just the main trip to Luton thats a long time in the chair.
They are both 'all stations' type work, and both have the same rest day pattern as described above.
If you'd like to stretch your legs more often, then consider Orpington.
A couple of years ago both had a similar range of start times (earliest at both depots was 03-something).
Gillingham there's about 60 drivers there. Orpington I'd take an educated guess at 45-48.
Gillingham did have nights then, but less than Orpington spread over more drivers. Night diagrams at both didn't look to bad as far as work content was concerned.
*Saying that, some Gillingham diagrams were Gillingham to Rainham and back a couple of times, and then to London Bridge, and then back with a different train, which would give plenty of leg stretching and tea making opportunities! It's just the main trip to Luton thats a long time in the chair.
They are both 'all stations' type work, and both have the same rest day pattern as described above.
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