Traffic Manager - Crossrail

[Dispatcher999]

Hi all does anyone have any idea what the shift pattern is or likely to be for this role? I’m going to apply anyway but would be great to get an idea because it’s quite a commute for me to Romford. Just wanted to check whether it’s feasible based on the shifts. Cheers

 

[Madness]

Hi all does anyone have any idea what the shift pattern is or likely to be for this role? I’m going to apply anyway but would be great to get an idea because it’s quite a commute for me to Romford. Just wanted to check whether it’s feasible based on the shifts. Cheers

I have been looking all over the forum, but no luck. I would like to know what the rota is like aswell.

Have had any replies from tfl yet?

 

[Horizon22]

I have been looking all over the forum, but no luck. I would like to know what the rota is like aswell.

Have had any replies from tfl yet?

There's a 24-7 roster over a 7 week pattern. That includes some spare shifts.

 

[Dispatcher999]

A member shared this roster pattern with me. Hope that helps. Have you been invited to the online assessments yet?

 

[Madness]

Thank you both

I received the online tests today morning.

I might do them tonight while on night shift.

Do you know what to expect from the online tests?

 

[tiptoptaff]

A member shared this roster pattern with me. Hope that helps. Have you been invited to the online assessments yet?

Two weeks of GPR in a 7line link? Brutal.

 

[Horizon22]

Two weeks of GPR in a 7line link? Brutal.

Seems like you could theoretically pick up a lot of nights! Also odd to see 12h Fri as well as Saturday and Sunday.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Seems like you could theoretically pick up a lot of nights!

Yep! I used to pick up a lot of nights on my spare week in my previous role, before our roster got changed.

Considering the pattern, it's a poor roster IMO. With the two weeks of GPR placed as they are, it removes the opportunity for at least another booked long weekend of say 5 or 6days.

 

[Dispatcher999]

Yep! I used to pick up a lot of nights on my spare week in my previous role, before our roster got changed.

Considering the pattern, it's a poor roster IMO. With the two weeks of GPR placed as they are, it removes the opportunity for at least another booked long weekend of say 5 or 6days.

Do you think this is a realistic roster? The person who shared it said it might be out of date.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Do you think this is a realistic roster? The person who shared it said it might be out of date.

No reason it wouldn't be. I have no idea what TfL have in place in terms of rostering agreements.

 

[Dispatcher999]

Seems like you could theoretically pick up a lot of nights! Also odd to see 12h Fri as well as Saturday and Sunday.

Do you mean pick up overtime or be allocated night shifts to work on your GPR? Also is there a max amount of hours they can give you per week during those two weeks of “anything goes”

 

[tiptoptaff]

Do you mean pick up overtime or be allocated night shifts to work on your GPR? Also is there a max amount of hours they can give you per week during those two weeks of “anything goes”

Pick up a lot of nights off GPR

 

[Dispatcher999]

Pick up a lot of nights off GPR

What does GPR mean and what do you mean by pick up lots of nights?

 

[tiptoptaff]

GPR stands for "general purpose relief" and essentially they can give you any shifts and any RD pattern in the gpr weeks.

To "pick up" a shift means be given it when you're on the gpr.

Basically you could find yourself being given a lot of extra nights on the days that say "cover" and you won't know in advance of the roster being done what shifts or days off you'll get that week

 

[Dispatcher999]

GPR stands for "general purpose relief" and essentially they can give you any shifts and any RD pattern in the gpr weeks.

To "pick up" a shift means be given it when you're on the gpr.

Basically you could find yourself being given a lot of extra nights on the days that say "cover" and you won't know in advance of the roster being done what shifts or days off you'll get that week

Damn ok, thanks for the info.. It doesn’t look so attractive if they give you two sets of weekend nights over the GPR weeks and then another couple midweek.

 

[Horizon22]

Damn ok, thanks for the info.. It doesn’t look so attractive if they give you two sets of weekend nights over the GPR weeks and then another couple midweek.

The curse of any roster! Especially if you end up opposite someone who hates nights and constantly takes them off and its your spare week.

 

[tiptoptaff]

The curse of any roster! Especially if you end up opposite someone who hates nights and constantly takes them off and its your spare week.

As happened to me!

 

[matt_world2004]

Aren't 12 hour night shifts illegal ? Limit is 10 with a legal average of 8 under working time regulations

 

[tiptoptaff]

Aren't 12 hour night shifts illegal ? Limit is 10 with a legal average of 8 under working time regulations

No

 

[Dispatcher999]

Aren't 12 hour night shifts illegal ? Limit is 10 with a legal average of 8 under working time regulations

I’ve been doing 16 hour night shifts for 5 years so no lol

 

[Horizon22]

Aren't 12 hour night shifts illegal ? Limit is 10 with a legal average of 8 under working time regulations

Since when? Signallers and controllers and various other staff have been doing them for decades!

 

[matt_world2004]

Since when? Signallers and controllers and various other staff have been doing them for decades!

I'm going on the road transport workers regulations sorry. Although they are supposed to average out at 8 hours for every one

 

[Horizon22]

I'm going on the road transport workers regulations sorry. Although they are supposed to average out at 8 hours for every one

There's certainly breaks within those 12h mandated - and signallers can't sit on the desk too long anyway.

 

[matt_world2004]

I would argue that a signaller job involves one of high concentration and mental strain that would mean the maximum shift length at night is limited to 8 hours

 

[PlentyofOrange]

The roster is current and valid.

Shifts for the cover weeks are locked down 11 days in advance, once published it can’t be changed without agreement (usually).

Most people avoid taking weekends off due to the draw on hours (33 hours - Fri, Sat, Sun).

The roster is pretty decent to work, covers can be a pain of course but you do know what you’ll be working.

Cover weeks are a max of 72 hours.

 

[godfreycomplex]

I would argue that a signaller job involves one of high concentration and mental strain that would mean the maximum shift length at night is limited to 8 hours

An unfortunate negative

Because of the rules arising from the hidden report, the number of consecutive 12 hour shifts a signaller (or any safety critical railway worker) can work is strictly limited. Perhaps because of this, evidence indeed suggests that rosters based on 12 hour shifts have significantly fewer incidents than those based on 8 hour shifts

 

[Madness]

The roster is current and valid.

Shifts for the cover weeks are locked down 11 days in advance, once published it can’t be changed without agreement (usually).

Most people avoid taking weekends off due to the draw on hours (33 hours - Fri, Sat, Sun).

The roster is pretty decent to work, covers can be a pain of course but you do know what you’ll be working.

Cover weeks are a max of 72 hours.

Thanks for confirming, do you know what the day to day entails.

 

[Horizon22]

Thanks for confirming, do you know what the day to day entails.

You are in effect a multi-skilled signaller; so as well as normal signalling (although it is mostly automatic in normal operation), there's electrical control operator and also timetable management / delay attribution. You won't do all of them from day 1 though and it can take 12+ months to do learn all of them.

 

[Madness]

You are in effect a multi-skilled signaller; so as well as normal signalling (although it is mostly automatic in normal operation), there's electrical control operator and also timetable management / delay attribution. You won't do all of them from day 1 though and it can take 12+ months to do learn all of them.

Thanks mate

 

[PlentyofOrange]

Thanks for confirming, do you know what the day to day entails.

Yep as mentioned, you would be multi skilled, with the official title being Traffic Manager.

You will be a signaller (TM1), so doing the normal day to day monitoring of the network, actively intervening to protect the service and dealing with any incidents as they crop up. This is using one of the latest digital signalling products in the UK, using CBTC. This will stand you in good stead to go elsewhere and even around the world with CBTC being applied to more and more places.

The second role will be TM2, electrical control. This is similar to a NR ECO, controlling traction, HV, LV power systems, along with monitoring security systems and controlling the tunnel vent system both during normal operations, maintenance periods and incident modes. This role is busier during the nights than during the day (day time is reactive mostly). Again the tech used here is more modern than others with some automation on power turn off for engineering works.

The third role is TM3, this is editing/amending the timetable, either for extra trips that the TOC wish to run or due to service disruption, it only deals with the Central Operating Section and not the NR lines on the east or west. This role may also deal with train delay attribution.

TM3 Can now be seen as the entry level role, then you would progress on to TM1 or TM2 training, once that is complete then it would be the other role TM1/2, to complete your full multi skulking journey.

This can take up to 24 months.

I wouldn’t expect to be MS in all 3 roles in less than 12 months (as mentioned above), each role is 2-3 months training, then consolidation/coaching/mentoring followed by passing out, gaining your authority to work and then a period of working independently.

It’s a good place to work, the people are great, it’s a small team so almost has a family feel plus it works with some of the latest technology, which will stand you in very good measure for any future role, if you wished to progress in the railway.

Not many can say they have operated a 24tph mainline railway.

Good luck.