Train Driver Age

[FusionRail]

Does anybody know the minimum age or a train driver? and do you get a 'priv' if you work on army trains?

 

[Coxster]

To work as a depot driver/shunter you need to be 18. To work as a mainline driver you need to be 21. Take a look at this website for further information on becoming a train driver, or here for a former trainee driver's weblog.

 

[Tom]

If you want to work as a train op on LU - the minimum age is 18, but join as a CSA and work up the ranks is probably the best idea.

The MOD contract is currently with EWS so you'd be best off looking with them.

 

[Juniper Driver]

I take it you are going to become a train driver mr coxster?

The training is a bit different from when I did it in the late 80's.

 

[Coxster]

I take it you are going to become a train driver mr coxster?

Never know - maybe one day. Would quite like to start as a guard first though.

 

[TheSlash]

Does anybody know the minimum age or a train driver? and do you get a 'priv' if you work on army trains?

By Army trains, do you mean the Army's transport regiment?
You don't get Priv for anything now, but some TOC's have they're own schemes which are at they're discretion. Once you have worked for a TOC for 6 months, you are entitled to an ATOC card which allows you various discounts on other companies.

 

[FusionRail]

By Army trains, do you mean the Army's transport regiment?

yes, the Royal Logistics Corps, job title: Driver/Railway Operator

 

[class 313]

Does anybody know the minimum age or a train driver? and do you get a 'priv' if you work on army trains?

You don't just drive MOD trains IIRC, normal EWS drivers are used which drive from the depot they are based at.

 

[TheSlash]

I'd strongly advise you join the proper railway or the proper Army. We've got an ex logistics bloke in our gang and what he knows about railways you could write on the back of a penny.
The train driving side will be in places like Iraq and any future war zones

 

[FusionRail]

I'd strongly advise you join the proper railway or the proper Army. We've got an ex logistics bloke in our gang and what he knows about railways you could write on the back of a penny.
The train driving side will be in places like Iraq and any future war zones

probably will skip that one then, the only advantage is you can drive a train at 17, not 21, as on NR, which is annoying because i dont want to wait that long..

 

[Coxster]

You could always join the railway before you're 21 as a station assistant, guard, ticket office clerk, revenue protection etc. Once you're in the company you'll have access to the internal vacancies list. Not all jobs are advetised externally (to the public). You'd also have knowledge of the company and how the railway is operated which would surely be an advantage.

 

[pedned]

Im thinking about leaving school straight into the railways.
But im still not 100% sure.
Damon what did you do to get your wpork experience (Well with the franchise change it'll proabbly be harder now)
As id like to do work experience for a TOC. My nearest stations coventry so that mean it'll be either Virgin or Govia. Any ideas on whos best to go for and how i'd go about see if i can do W.E? (Its in March)

 

[VTDan]

Virgin always get quite funny about work experience...But worth a try get a load of free goodies

 

[Daniel]

After 9 months VT told me they don't take work experience placements other than in offices due to health and safety regarding abusive passengers.

 

[pedned]

Ok will bare that in mind, thanks... anyone got an email adress for govia? or are they not contactable until the franchsie change?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Ive jsut found their email adress on the web,
so an email should be in their inbox right now.

Hopefully i get a reply... fingers crossed.

 

[class 313]

Ok will bare that in mind, thanks... anyone got an email adress for govia? or are they not contactable until the franchsie change?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Ive jsut found their email adress on the web,
so an email should be in their inbox right now.

Hopefully i get a reply... fingers crossed.

You don't want to contact Govia, you want to email the TOCs ran by Govia...

 

[pedned]

Yeah i contacted London-Midland (who are taking over from central trains), sorry for not making it clear :roll:

 

[VTDan]

Yeah good luck mate. I would have advised another TOC to Virgin anyway but yeah go for it!

 

[voyagerdude220]

After 9 months VT told me they don't take work experience placements other than in offices due to health and safety regarding abusive passengers.

Exactly the same happened to me!! hock:

I wrote to Virgin, luckily with plenty of time before the actual work experience began, and took agggeeess for them to respond.... (With exactly the same reasons why not)

I spoke to 2 or 3 TMs about it on various Voyagers and Pendos, but they said that VT were normally very good with responding to work experience requests... Yeah right!!! :roll:

At least I got a really good placement in the end with M&S......

Edit: What annoyed me most though, is the fact that at least one person on here has done a very successful work experience with SWT, which proves that Health and Safety doesn't actually have to be so very strict regarding work experience on trains (As long as you are with another fully trained member of staff at all times)

 

[pedned]

Damon whats your secret?

 

[VTDan]

Exactly the same happened to me!! hock:

I wrote to Virgin, luckily with plenty of time before the actual work experience began, and took agggeeess for them to respond.... (With exactly the same reasons why not)

I spoke to 2 or 3 TMs about it on various Voyagers and Pendos, but they said that VT were normally very good with responding to work experience requests... Yeah right!!! :roll:

At least I got a really good placement in the end with M&S......

Edit: What annoyed me most though, is the fact that at least one person on here has done a very successful work experience with SWT, which proves that Health and Safety doesn't actually have to be so very strict regarding work experience on trains (As long as you are with another fully trained member of staff at all times)

I have to say i completely agree with Virgins decision about work experience all round. Keeps a high level or professionalism and dedication. If i was a passenger it would really **** me off if this geek/or whatever was walking up and down with the TM. Dont know why. But yeah i agree.

 

[Coxster]

Damon whats your secret?

I guess SWT are just less strict/picky (Plug!)

 

[Tom]

Someone said plug?

 

[FusionRail]

Someone said plug?

haha i have one exact same as that for one my amplifiers!

 

[Lewisham2221]

plug veg!

 

[FusionRail]

plug veg!

whats with the 'veg' saying? whats it mean?

 

[Tom]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UK_railfan_jargon#V

 

[VTDan]

What a stupid ridiculous name for a Virgin Voyager "Vermin" + "Vomit Comets"<<< How very very sad....

 

[AlexS]

Back in the day some people enjoyed these lovely old carts that while they broke down fairly often - yes, I do mean carriages breaking down rather than just the spoons - didn't smell of poo, had a luggage van and a buffet, rather than a shop that's shortly to depart anyway, as well as some rather comfortable seats!

Hence the derogatory nicknames arising from some quarters

That said, some of the more pleasant journies I've done have actually been on Voyagers - Wolves to Edinburgh and return and so forth.

But so have some of the least pleasant *shrug*

 

[pedned]

I bet theres a lot of video veg on her that'll be stood at platform ends watching 40145 thundering past on saturday... I'll try and remember to give you all a bellow!

Hopefully i get areply form Govia soonish, but if i dont does anyone know any other TOC near to coventry i could contact...
Damon SWT are a bit far away before you try to plug them