Thameslink - Trainee Process

[john71]

Hi all,

Hope someone could answer a couple of trainee driver questions for me please.

1) Does anyone know the structure of the training for trainee driver for Thameslink? How much is classroom based and how much would be at your depot and out driving? I know it is dependant on getting instructor etc but roughly how long is it he training?

2) Does anyone know the rest day pattern once passed?

Many thanks in advance

 

[Mattydo]

14 weeks rules classroom (includes 4 weeks of front ending - watching a driver drive but no driving), 5 weeks traction includes 5 hours into to handling - touching the train controls!), 1 week principles of route learning classroom and going out to look at 'stuff'... theoretically then 6 months with a driving instructor learning your line of route and how to drive it with various progress tests before a final summary check. You'll also pop back to the classroom to do operational risk awareness one week. If you hadn't covered ETCS in your initial rules you'll attend a 2 day theory course and simulator for that followed by practical training with your DI. Realistically depending on your timing you'll be waiting for a DI or waiting for a DI that can teach you your line of route south of London whilst handling on the midland route only with a senior DI. This has meant that an overall 12 month course looks more like 18 to 24 months. Some have taken longer but that was mostly due to COVID etc.

Good luck and enjoy. But don't get too stressed by timelines. You'll have plenty.

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As for rest day pattern it runs in set cycles on TL side. 4 day week, Sundays outside but with 12 committed. "long weekend" (5 days) every three weeks. 5 off, 4 lates, Sunday, 2 lates , 2offs, 2 earlies, Sunday, 4 earlies 5 off. Repeat until you retire or Sundays are brought inside

 

[john71]

That is excellent. Thank you very much for that. Very helpful.
So could you be on the training wage for 2 years?

 

[43066]

That is excellent. Thank you very much for that. Very helpful.
So could you be on the training wage for 2 years?

Unless things have changed, you’d go to full money after a defined period, whether or not you’ve passed out. That’s certainly how it used to work for TL.

 

[john71]

Thanks again for that. Much appreciated. Are you a driver with them now?

 

[Class2ldn]

What depot are you looking at as that may define how long you stay as a trainee ?

 

[john71]

Brighton

 

[Class2ldn]

I believe there is a few trainees already at Brighton but normally you shouldn't have too many issues getting a DI once you've done your rules etc.
Have you got a start date?

 

[john71]

Yes. As long as I pass medical it will be mid Jan. Are you a driver yourself?

 

[Class2ldn]

I am yes.

 

[john71]

Nice. Which depot if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[Class2ldn]

Not brighton lol

 

[john71]

lol

Thank you all for your answers so far. Very helpful. Much appreciated

 

[Class2ldn]

Drop me a message if you need more help

 

[john71]

Drop me a message if you need more help

Thank you very much for that. I definitely will. Much appreciated

 

[SteamingB]

Morning John, like you, subject to medical I'll be starting mid Jan for driving course. Look forward to seeing you there.

 

[john71]

Morning John, like you, subject to medical I'll be starting mid Jan for driving course. Look forward to seeing you there.

Morning. Excellent. Yes look forward to it. Where will you be based?

 

[SteamingB]

Will be based in Brighton, how about yourself?

 

[Twotwo]

Training is quite long here. Rules is about 14 weeks which also includes 4 weeks of front end turns. This is usually at an office near monument Station or near kx Station.

Traction will be at your home depot.

Don't think it will be a long wait for you to get a di. The GN side is up to 4 months wait lol.

 

[john71]

Will be based in Brighton, how about yourself?

Same!!

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Training is quite long here. Rules is about 14 weeks which also includes 4 weeks of front end turns. This is usually at an office near monument Station or near kx Station.

Traction will be at your home depot.

Don't think it will be a long wait for you to get a di. The GN side is up to 4 months wait lol.

Thanks for that mate. Other people have said could take up to 18-24 months. Is that about right?

 

[Class2ldn]

Same!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Nov 2022 ==


Thanks for that mate. Other people have said could take up to 18-24 months. Is that about right?

Its possible yes, think they are putting everyone through ato and etcs training aswell before you get a DI or you won't be able to drive through the core

 

[Twotwo]

Same!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Nov 2022 ==


Thanks for that mate. Other people have said could take up to 18-24 months. Is that about right?

Sorry yes. I'm 15 months. I'm on 110 hours. I was waiting for a di for about 5 months. But things are getting better now.

 

[Mattydo]

That is excellent. Thank you very much for that. Very helpful.
So could you be on the training wage for 2 years?

Could be but that is probably past the extreme end now. I'd plan for 18 months though just in case, Brighton mightn't be quite as long. You are on a trainee wage until you pass out, however any excessive wait for a DI should result in back pay.

However once you have the DI, the back pay calculation would stop however long it then takes to pass out, so long story short, don't count on it. Mostly it applies to the GN trainees as they were waiting quite a long time after traction to start their handling at one point. The Trainee wage is better than at a lot of TOC's though.

You'll get a feel for how quickly things are moving when you start but it can all change. Trust me there may be times you get frustrated waiting for one thing or another but it will all eventually come together and you'll be off to spend 8 days with a driver manager having your brains and driving picked apart and then just as suddenly you'll have a key and, sadly, a roster from the resource manager, who is far less flexible than your Instructor about start and finish times. Good luck!

 

[john71]

Thank you for that mate. Much appreciated