deldez
New Member
I was a tube driver for 10 years, does that count for anything on the mailnline?
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Train Driving
- Thread starter deldez
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
321446
Member
Depends how long "was" was ago. Probably help in the sifting of applicants. However, they may wonder why you "was" and are not now. Which would be covered in interviews.
Short answer; probably, but.
Short answer; probably, but.
deldez
New Member
But all Underground drivers are NVQ qualified and mainline only instructors are
ralphchadkirk
Established Member
Doesn't make a difference. A competency in driving underground, although it may help, is not a competence to drive mainline.
Wrong.
There are quite a few freight drivers with NVQ Level 2 in Train Operations (Driving).
- Joined
- 21 Jan 2010
- Messages
- 5,555
I suppose it helps in the fact that you are able to work alone for long periods of time?!
Southern Dvr
Member
- Joined
- 13 Oct 2010
- Messages
- 988
Officially it would count for little, if anything.
However, as with any job, if you have some form of relevant experience you will stand out from the other (modt likely large number of) candidates!
However, as with any job, if you have some form of relevant experience you will stand out from the other (modt likely large number of) candidates!
If you've been a driver, you should know that that will have no relevance whatsoever! An NVQ does not equip you to drive at 125 in thick fog and dodgy railhead conditions, any more than a tube ticket will.
You'll only find out by applying, and even then, they'll be very interested to find out why you're no longer driving. It's not an occupation that people leave...
CarterUSM
Established Member
Perhaps not nowadays due to the inflated wages in the industry, but many used to leave pre-privatisation.
Why the negativity?
Candidate A currently works in the banking industy.
Candidate B is an ex-tube driver / ex-freight driver with the NVQ 2 mentioned earlier.
Neither have experience of 'driving at 125mph in fog' but,all things being equal, which candidate would interest an employer more?
For the record,there are many TOC's using units that aren't capable of 125 anyway!
It's a personal view on the dubious value of pseudo - academic qualifications.
Train driving is a practical skill; the recognition of your proficiency in it, is your Certificate of Competence from your employer. Anything else is just "fluff".
There's nothing to stop a tube driver putting in for mainline work, but as has been stated above, expect some questions as to why you're not doing it anymore, and recognise that you will be starting at the beginning again.
Train driving is a practical skill; the recognition of your proficiency in it, is your Certificate of Competence from your employer. Anything else is just "fluff".
There's nothing to stop a tube driver putting in for mainline work, but as has been stated above, expect some questions as to why you're not doing it anymore, and recognise that you will be starting at the beginning again.
notadriver
Established Member
- Joined
- 1 Oct 2010
- Messages
- 3,735
So in your eyes E&W Lucas when is a train driver a train driver? Not tube drivers and judging from your previous posts not Heathrow Express drivers. What other drivers are not train drivers ?
Read what's been written by myself & others above. Underground, or any other light rail competence, doesn't count towards mainline rail competence.
It's train driving of a kind, but what was being asked initially, was did that "count for anything" on the mainline. The correct answer is no, you would have to undergo the same training as any other new starter. Would you find aspects of that training easier than someone who's never been near a train before? Undoubtedly, but that isn't the issue. The same could be true of someone who'd been driving trams, or for a heritage outfit. I know people who've gone from the tube to the mainline, but they've had to take the salary drop for their training.
We'll have to agree to differ on Heathrow Express. Look at the money though; should indicate something to you.
It's train driving of a kind, but what was being asked initially, was did that "count for anything" on the mainline. The correct answer is no, you would have to undergo the same training as any other new starter. Would you find aspects of that training easier than someone who's never been near a train before? Undoubtedly, but that isn't the issue. The same could be true of someone who'd been driving trams, or for a heritage outfit. I know people who've gone from the tube to the mainline, but they've had to take the salary drop for their training.
We'll have to agree to differ on Heathrow Express. Look at the money though; should indicate something to you.
Taking your argument to it's logical conclusion...
A freight driver with 15 years experience requires training before driving passenger stock.
Even an ex-Virgin driver moving to EC requires training.
Is your position still "It counts for nothing"?
I think you're missing the point here - does it count for ANYTHING?
Surely the answer is yes,but...
Sorry, but you're totally missing the point. Underground driving doesn't give any exemptions from any part of mainline driving training. That is FACT. Yes, it may help at the application & interview stage, but the tube's a different world.
There's no comparison with a mainline driver moving between TOC's, who transfers his existing competence & safety record. He merely adds to it with training on new routes & traction.
There's no comparison with a mainline driver moving between TOC's, who transfers his existing competence & safety record. He merely adds to it with training on new routes & traction.
deldez
New Member
Nice debate experience counts for more than qualifications tube drivers drive over mainline and have rail knowledge the RSB states there should be easy transfer between tube and mainline with the TOC establishing what training needs are required, therefore this suggests I should not have to start at the begining. To answer some of the blogs I stopped driving underground in 2009.
If so, that's new, but there's some sense in that approach. How much by way of NR rules did you get trained in? I still think a TOC would put you through the full course; the real issue is if they would pay you as a qualified driver in training, as opposed to a trainee, whilst they did so. That is something that should be looked at, else the tube is a career dead end.
Exactly - it counts for something.
Now,go read the OP and decide who's missed the point
You may have read it that way but the way I read the OP was that he was asking if his previous experience counted towards anything. ie the application process etc etc
I dont believe for one minute he was asking if he would have an automatic right to get the job let alone start driving mainline trains without due process.
Some of the replies here seem to be jumping the gun a bit. Employers are now frequently looking at past work experience when sifting through candidates and I'm certain that there are a number of relevant transferrable skills between tube and mainline driving.
notadriver
Established Member
- Joined
- 1 Oct 2010
- Messages
- 3,735
One thing I will say is that from what I understand Tube Drivers on trainee driver courses do not necessarily have an advantage over others because its completely different. The signalling is different, the rule book is different. When it comes to train handling they may have an advantage but even here I believe its different as tube trains stop a lot quicker than main line trains. In fact i think a Conductor/Guard working for the same TOC has more of an insight into the driving role than a Tube Driver would.
Some people panic when it comes to the actual practical handling part of driving, tube drivers have this experience already, so will have an advantage over a guard.
notadriver
Established Member
- Joined
- 1 Oct 2010
- Messages
- 3,735
Really? Do you know of any conductor/guards that have panicked?
westcoaster
Established Member
That's may well be true, but a guard going to driving with the same toc will then have the advantage over the tube driver, as they are already know the route, where signals take you, which box your under, speeds # and so on all they don't know is how to drive and control the train.
# dependent on toc, but I'm sure you would know some speeds for certain places.
CarterUSM
Established Member
I'm a guard and at my TOC in relation to route knowledge and speeds i am supposed to know the max speed of lines i work over and location of ESR's and TSR's as appropriate .
CarterUSM
Established Member
That's it in a nutshell. Best of luck to the OP if applying.
- Status