Trainee Driver course questions?

[keegans]

Hi there, I have been offered a Trainee Driver position for Northern Rail and my training starts in April at the Leeds Training Academy.

I have so many questions its hard to know where to begin for example:

Is there anyone currently training at Leeds and what is the training like? what is your honest opinion of the training so far?

As the course gets closer I wonder what happens (hopefully not) if I fail a stage of the course? Are you out for good or do you get another opportunity?

What is the best/cheapest way to get from Scunthorpe to Leeds and back for training. Which I assume is Mon to Fri 9-5 ish? However, I am guessing here and may be wrong

Any advice in general for me on my course?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Paul

 

[D3910]

Evening,

I am still in the recruitment process but just wondered when did you apply for Northern and pass the assessment etc?

 

[keegans]

Hi there, I applied back in June 2014 I believe and I had previously passed assessments so didnt need to do them again but everyone else had to do it in Jan in Doncaster, Carr Hill.

When did you apply etc.

Paul

 

[ComUtoR]

On our TOC if you fail at any point you are usually offered a place elsewhere in the company subject to suitability.

As for advice.

Go in with an open mind and blank out any preconceptions. Listen carefully and make lots of notes. Never be afraid to ask questions and no question is a stupid one.

Everyone studies differently and there are various study techniques you can use. On the course itself a few of us worked really well together and bounced questions off each other. Remember that all of you on your course are in the same position. I learned a lot from our little group. We pushed and tested each other and I firmly believe that got me through.

Oh and have fun.

 

[keegans]

Hi ComUtoR, I appreciate your advice and hope this is the case with Northern just as a back up as no one wants to move from a full time job to a trainee position and fail and then be unemployed!

I will take the advice on board about working in groups as I think this is a great idea. I am probably making preconceptions as you say and shouldn't and just go work hard and enjoy it.

How long you been driving and how do you find it now you have passed? easy, challenging etc?

Thanks Paul

 

[ComUtoR]

How long you been driving and how do you find it now you have passed? easy, challenging etc?

Thanks Paul

10+ yrs and its a weird kind of purgatory.

Try not to think about the long term future and listening to others experiences can be more detrimental. Concentrate on the course and what is being taught. You will get bombarded with anecdotes about the rule book and "real driving" etc.

The failure rate is refreshingly low and the TOC will make every effort to help you to pass. The hard part is over and it is time to relax. It is more of a personality clash and the culture shock that affects people and causes failure than anything else.

There is A LOT to take in over a short period but I promise you that it does sink in and click into place eventually.

 

[D3910]

Hi there, I applied back in June 2014 I believe and I had previously passed assessments so didnt need to do them again but everyone else had to do it in Jan in Doncaster, Carr Hill.

When did you apply etc.

Paul

I applied in December and I have my assessment centre coming up. I assume that all of the positions in the April course have been filled? Do you know how often then run the courses at Leeds?

 

[Llama]

The best advice people can offer is to listen to your trainers (and instructors when you are out one-to-one later in the course) and your driver manager. We know what it takes to pass and more importantly to be a competent driver. The job of train driver is one of the hardest to obtain and also one of the easiest to lose.

And enjoy it.

 

[keegans]

ComUtoR, thanks for taking the time to reply to me you have made me feel better about what's coming and will do my best. I'm happy I passed everything and got passed the hard bit of being selected and will now work hard. Like you say they don't want you to fail it's the opposite

Again thanks for the advice.

D3910 - Hi, I don't know if it is full or how often they are sorry. Although I think there was an intake in Jan and mine is April so could be few months or more but just guessing.

When's your assessment?

Paul

 

[Polar]

Hello

I dont work for your toc but have my final rules exam next week. I found the first few weeks the worst as getting into whole learning process was a bit overwhelming.
After them few weeks you settle in and just knuckle down yes its hardwork. Im doing revision for several hours in the evening mon to thurs and we are then tested every friday. But everyone in our group is getting 95% on most tests and none of us are exceptionally gifted we just put in the work.
They are also really anal on the terminology and theres alot of you must never do this except!
But we still have a good laugh! If i can do it anyone can!.

 

[D3910]

D3910 - Hi, I don't know if it is full or how often they are sorry. Although I think there was an intake in Jan and mine is April so could be few months or more but just guessing.

When's your assessment?

Paul[/QUOTE]

I have it next week! fingers crossed I'll get through it, because it doesn't look easy!!! Hope the training goes alright for you!

 

[ComUtoR]

They are also really anal on the terminology and theres alot of you must never do this except!

Rightfully so. There is a difference between "setting back" and "other than the leading cab" as well as "Single line working" and "working of a single line" Being able to differentiate between a Semi/Auto/Controlled/IBH signal is very important. Silly things like knowing if the Eros indicator is correctly illuminated or if the AWS was a "right side" or "wrong side failure" might just come in handy. The railway also loves acronyms and it is important to learn all them too.


Being anal on the railway is a good thing. TTFN

 

[Trainguy590]

How long is a course typically, and then how long after that until fully qualified?

 

[keegans]

Hello

I dont work for your toc but have my final rules exam next week. I found the first few weeks the worst as getting into whole learning process was a bit overwhelming.
After them few weeks you settle in and just knuckle down yes its hardwork. Im doing revision for several hours in the evening mon to thurs and we are then tested every friday. But everyone in our group is getting 95% on most tests and none of us are exceptionally gifted we just put in the work.
They are also really anal on the terminology and theres alot of you must never do this except!
But we still have a good laugh! If i can do it anyone can!.

I imagine it is for a few weeks, thank you for the advice and good luck on your final test. 7 hours revision is that after your day at the training academy? That's dedication! What's the training week set out like times etc?

Thanks Paul
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Rightfully so. There is a difference between "setting back" and "other than the leading cab" as well as "Single line working" and "working of a single line" Being able to differentiate between a Semi/Auto/Controlled/IBH signal is very important. Silly things like knowing if the Eros indicator is correctly illuminated or if the AWS was a "right side" or "wrong side failure" might just come in handy. The railway also loves acronyms and it is important to learn all them too.


Being anal on the railway is a good thing. TTFN

Thank you for your advice.

Paul
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The best advice people can offer is to listen to your trainers (and instructors when you are out one-to-one later in the course) and your driver manager. We know what it takes to pass and more importantly to be a competent driver. The job of train driver is one of the hardest to obtain and also one of the easiest to lose.

And enjoy it.

Hi there, are you a trainer or instructor? Thanks for your input I will do and will keep what you say in mind.

Paul

 

[Daz9284]

I applied in Dec 2014, had my interview the other month, and was told courses are Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug and maybe Oct.


I passed by assessments with a FOC, ands received an e-mail last week saying that they will be in touch again once the other candidates have sat the assessments.

Good luck!

regards,
Darryl

 

[302PS]

Don't jump ahead, on day 2 you will get a rake of literature and plenty of handouts as you go along, don't be tempted to read ahead as you will blow your mind, read what your told as and when, it all starts to click and these trainers have designed the programme themselves so that it flows...
It's one big jigsaw and one big memory game

 

[keegans]

Don't jump ahead, on day 2 you will get a rake of literature and plenty of handouts as you go along, don't be tempted to read ahead as you will blow your mind, read what your told as and when, it all starts to click and these trainers have designed the programme themselves so that it flows...
It's one big jigsaw and one big memory game

Thanks, I won't read ahead I'll just do exactly what's asked of me because I guess if you read ahead a learn wrong it will be harder to re learn it.

Loving the advice everyone, gicing some great pointers to help me and others who read this.

Anyone know what the training times are like at the training academies?

Paul

 

[Jamesb1974]

The best piece of advice I could pass on is that if you are an enthusiast and have some knowledge of terminology etc, don't write off learning it anyway. Just use your background knowledge as an aid to learning, rather than thinking "I know that, I don't need to learn it again".

Good luck.

 

[keegans]

The best piece of advice I could pass on is that if you are an enthusiast and have some knowledge of terminology etc, don't write off learning it anyway. Just use your background knowledge as an aid to learning, rather than thinking "I know that, I don't need to learn it again".

Good luck.

Hi there, yeah I'm totally new to the rail industry so I'll be learning from the beginning. Thanks for your advice.

Paul
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Does anyone know roughly what the training day times are 9-5 or 8-4 etc if your currently on a course at Leeds or anywhere else for a general idea please let me know.

Thanks paul

 

[Polar]

Several hours not 7!
We do 9 till 4 Monday to Friday while in classroom.
U will probably also have a few weeks doing front end turns where you could be doing any shifts shadowing a driver.

 

[Joof]

Thanks, I won't read ahead I'll just do exactly what's asked of me because I guess if you read ahead a learn wrong it will be harder to re learn it.

Loving the advice everyone, gicing some great pointers to help me and others who read this.

Anyone know what the training times are like at the training academies?

Paul

Hi mate. I'm at Leeds at the moment. It's fantastic. The instructors are great and give you all the info you need. It is very intense and a lot n I mean a lot to learn and take in. However, this doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. Quite the opposite. It's brilliant. The atmospher the people the training everything. Your so lucky to get this opportunity so enjoy it. My head is pickled with the amount of information I'm having to remember but at the same time it's so good to be here. You'll have John or glen. Both great people and full of knowledge and experience. Remember!!! They want you to succeed!!! Nobody is trying to catch you out from this point onwards, they just want you to pass. Put the graft in n you'll be fine. Best of luck and enjoy it.

 

[keegans]

Several hours not 7!
We do 9 till 4 Monday to Friday while in classroom.
U will probably also have a few weeks doing front end turns where you could be doing any shifts shadowing a driver.

Lol I thought it sounded like an impossible feat 7 hours. Several hours now makes sense

 

[Joof]

Lol I thought it sounded like an impossible feat 7 hours. Several hours now makes sense

 

[keegans]

I'm only a few weeks into it. No I don't live in leeds. I live about 20 miles out. There isn't one person in our group who lives in leeds. We all come from all over. A really good mix of people from different back grounds. Some are internal conductors and some external. It's a 50 50 split really between the 2. I have never worked in the rail industry so it's great having the conductors with us cos they help explain certain things. You'll love it. Wait till you walk in the depot mess room at Leeds station in ya normal clothes before your uniform is issued haha. Everybody looks at you like you've got 2 heads hahahaha. It's fine tho. They're all great people and will help you if they can. It's the best decision I ever made coming into the railway n I'm even luckier that I've got the chance to train as a driver. I'm still pinching myself when I get up in a morning!!!

Oh cool so the Conductors like you say will be able to help me too. I live near Scunthorpe so debating whether to drive or if Ill be able to get trains in but I think it has to be Northern rail trains I use to get it free.

I bet it felt strange getting your uniform

Yeah we have a great opportunity don't we so I just need to knuckle down, work hard and everyone work together to help each other out.

Is there free parking on site?

Thanks Paul

Good luck on your course by the way and well done on getting in.

 

[Joof]

Oh cool so the Conductors like you say will be able to help me too. I live near Scunthorpe so debating whether to drive or if Ill be able to get trains in but I think it has to be Northern rail trains I use to get it free.

I bet it felt strange getting your uniform

Yeah we have a great opportunity don't we so I just need to knuckle down, work hard and everyone work together to help each other out.

Is there free parking on site?

Thanks Paul

Good luck on your course by the way and well done on getting in.

There is no free parking While training so can be expensive. We all get trains in. If u can't get a northern train to work they will sort it so you can get another train into leeds with another operator. Only if there's no alternative. You'll sort free travel either way. Just things you gotta ask about on your first days. I'll see you there then mate. Enjoy.

 

[keegans]

There is no free parking While training so can be expensive. We all get trains in. If u can't get a northern train to work they will sort it so you can get another train into leeds with another operator. Only if there's no alternative. You'll sort free travel either way. Just things you gotta ask about on your first days. I'll see you there then mate. Enjoy.

Thanks for the info sounds great, Ill look forward to meeting you then. Take care.

Paul

 

[driver9000]

You will be able to use Northern Rail free to and from work but you can also ask for a Residential pass between two nominated points (home station and training school/home depot) which is valid on TPE.

 

[keegans]

You will be able to use Northern Rail free to and from work but you can also ask for a Residential pass between two nominated points (home station and training school/home depot) which is valid on TPE.

That would be cracking, I'll ask on my first days there.

Best regards

Paul

 

[Llama]

Hi there, are you a trainer or instructor? Thanks for your input I will do and will keep what you say in mind.

Paul

-Driver Instructor based on the other side of the hills. As others have said, don't read too far ahead on things, it is better to learn them at the pace the course is designed to run at. You will need to do at least some revision each evening, always better to recap on stuff you have covered that day. Don't go overboard though, if you are having to spend hours and hours each night revising then that would sound alarm bells to me. An hour or so on average per evening/day should be sufficient to recap on the day's subjects, and that should be your aim throughout the classroom based training as well as during your practical handling - you will have to keep your rules and traction knowledge simmering while with your minder you crack on with developing driving skills and learning your core routes.

 

[WCMLaddict]

Keegans, where are you supposed to be based? Which depot?

As far as I remember, if your home depot is over 90 minutes away (by Northern Rail train) from training place, you will be placed in a hotel during class room based part of training.