Trainee Infrastructure Monitoring Train Driver - Colas Rail

[wills]

Does anyone know if this position is/is likely for a certain class/division of the IM fleet? Obviously the NMT is one set in the fleet, but could they say later down the line, this position is actually for a tamper driver e.t.c?

And does anyone have an idea of the training schedule?

Thanks!

The advert was specifically for the Infrastructure Monitoring side of the business

 

[CreswellSig]

Does anyone know what the training salary is for Trainee IM Train Drivers at Colas Rail?

The original advert didn't give any details, it just said "a competitive salary."

 

[Railworker101]

Around the 23/24k mark, quite low.

 

[CreswellSig]

Around the 23/24k mark, quite low.

Ok, thanks. Do you know if that rises as you progress through different stages of training or it rises when fully qualified?

 

[wills]

Ok, thanks. Do you know if that rises as you progress through different stages of training or it rises when fully qualified?

Yes, it does. It'll rise as various milestones are reached.

 

[Stigy]

Colas are a joke. Even though I passed the Assessments. They made me sit mini Assessments (their own made up ones) same but shorter tests before the interview.

Not sure I'd apply again for them.

Lots of companies have their own assessments

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2024 ==

I’ve always wondered about the salary for this? It’s always listed as about £25k, which seems very low for most jobs, let alone a train driver? I understand it’s a different type of driving, but are you still a drive, and obtain a ETDL and sit full rules courses etc?

 

[Class2ldn]

That will be the training wage. Full salary is about 65k I think?

 

[wills]

Lots of companies have their own assessments

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2024 ==

I’ve always wondered about the salary for this? It’s always listed as about £25k, which seems very low for most jobs, let alone a train driver? I understand it’s a different type of driving, but are you still a drive, and obtain a ETDL and sit full rules courses etc?

The £25k is going to be the initial training wage from what I've heard. Full pay is a bit above the earlier quoted £65k.

It's 'proper' train driving just like if you were working a freight train or working a passenger train.

Driving Infrastructure Monitoring trains is pretty much like driving a passenger train without the passengers. You'll do a mix of high speed driving (PLPRs/NMT) and low speed driving (UTUs) and everything in between - light locos, VIUs, wheel lathe jobs etc. There's extra stuff to know and of course one of the major parts of the job is making sure you're always on the correct route - it's no good whizzing along the 'fast' if you're meant to be recording the 'slow'!

You do a full rules course, you're a fully qualified train driver and you get a UK TDL issued by the ORR - European licences are not issued since we left the EU.

With all the above in mind, I'd just like to reiterate I am not involved with any of the recruitment for this role so any info I've given may change or be completely wrong as things can change on the railway at the drop of a hat.

 

[Stigy]

The £25k is going to be the initial training wage from what I've heard. Full pay is a bit above the earlier quoted £65k.

It's 'proper' train driving just like if you were working a freight train or working a passenger train.

Driving Infrastructure Monitoring trains is pretty much like driving a passenger train without the passengers. You'll do a mix of high speed driving (PLPRs/NMT) and low speed driving (UTUs) and everything in between - light locos, VIUs, wheel lathe jobs etc. There's extra stuff to know and of course one of the major parts of the job is making sure you're always on the correct route - it's no good whizzing along the 'fast' if you're meant to be recording the 'slow'!

You do a full rules course, you're a fully qualified train driver and you get a UK TDL issued by the ORR - European licences are not issued since we left the EU.

With all the above in mind, I'd just like to reiterate I am not involved with any of the recruitment for this role so any info I've given may change or be completely wrong as things can change on the railway at the drop of a hat.

Thanks, I think what confused me was that the ads I’ve seen on their site don’t specify it’s a trainee position so I wondered about the salary.

 

[CreswellSig]

Yes, it does. It'll rise as various milestones are reached.

Thanks wills. Your knowledge and input into this thread has given me a greater understanding of what to expect in this role.

 

[Tyrion]

Does anyone know what the current salary is for this role now fully qualified now?

 

[Sometrainguy]

H

Most work is Monday-Friday but there is also quite a bit of weekend work about as well. For example, there's recovery shifts which run at the weekend which might get any mileage not recorded during the normal shift. Then there's booked work on a Sunday such as the NMT which heads North off of Derby.

Hi a few questions to ask please,

What vans/vehicles are colas infrastructure monitor drivers given?

How often are Saturdays and Sundays to be worked ?

Is there a premium for overtime?

How often do drivers have to lodge out On average?

What is the average amount of days worked per week?

Thank you in advance.

 

[wills]

H

Hi a few questions to ask please,

What vans/vehicles are colas infrastructure monitor drivers given?

How often are Saturdays and Sundays to be worked ?

Is there a premium for overtime?

How often do drivers have to lodge out On average?

What is the average amount of days worked per week?

Thank you in advance.

We mostly get Fiesta vans, however, as Ford no longer make the Fiesta van, some new drivers have got Peugeot Partners or equivalents. The vans are for business use only though so no personal use.

Saturdays/Sundays are a regular part of the working week and so if you're not on RD, you can expect to be working those days. On occasions, you may get an 'Additional Rest Day' if there's no work for you, although you can only get a maximum of 2 in a 4 week period.

Rest days are paid at time and a quarter. No extra for doing overtime.

As for lodging, it's difficult to say, some drivers lodge more than others depending on where you are based in the country. You need to be ok with lodging though as it is a part of the job.

It's a 35 hour week which averages at 7 hours per day. You'll likely work more than this though unless you specifically state no rest days and no more than basic hours. Generally unless you're RD, you'll be rostered to do something, even if it's only route refreshing/learning as the job requires you have a sizeable route card.

 

[Sometrainguy]

Ok thanks for all the information you’ve given so far, it’s much appreciated, I have a few more questions if you don’t mind.

Is the meal allowance for staying out paid into the wages or is it a voucher/ credit at the hotel?

Is the RDW readily available or quite hard to come by?

Also do we relieve drivers from yards and they drive back with the work vehicles or are the vehicles kept with one driver the whole time, for business use.

Once again thanks in advance, it’s much appreciated

 

[wills]

We mostly get Fiesta vans, however, as Ford no longer make the Fiesta van, some new drivers have got Peugeot Partners or equivalents. The vans are for business use only though so no personal use.

Saturdays/Sundays are a regular part of the working week and so if you're not on RD, you can expect to be working those days. On occasions, you may get an 'Additional Rest Day' if there's no work for you, although you can only get a maximum of 2 in a 4 week period.

Rest days are paid at time and a quarter. No extra for doing overtime.

As for lodging, it's difficult to say, some drivers lodge more than others depending on where you are based in the country. You need to be ok with lodging though as it is a part of the job.

It's a 35 hour week which averages at 7 hours per day. You'll likely work more than this though unless you specifically state no rest days and no more than basic hours. Generally unless you're RD, you'll be rostered to do something, even if it's only route refreshing/learning as the job requires you have a sizeable route card.

Sorry I made a mistake writing the above, I was trying to look after children and type out a reply at the same time

Rest days are paid separately at the normal rate except for between 2200 Friday and 0600 Monday when it's paid at time and a quarter.

 

[Sometrainguy]

Sorry I made a mistake writing the above, I was trying to look after children and type out a reply at the same time

Rest days are paid separately at the normal rate except for between 2200 Friday and 0600 Monday when it's paid at time and a quarter.

Cheers mate, I know some FOCS pay RDW annually is colas the same?
This is my last questions, I promise

 

[wills]

Ok thanks for all the information you’ve given so far, it’s much appreciated, I have a few more questions if you don’t mind.

Is the meal allowance for staying out paid into the wages or is it a voucher/ credit at the hotel?

Is the RDW readily available or quite hard to come by?

Also do we relieve drivers from yards and they drive back with the work vehicles or are the vehicles kept with one driver the whole time, for business use.

Once again thanks in advance, it’s much appreciated

Meal allowance is via the hotel, so you get a certain amount per night to spend at the hotel you're staying at. If you choose to eat out elsewhere, you still get an allowance but it is significantly less than if you eat at the hotel.

There's always RDW about if you fancy it from my experience.

Infrastructure monitoring is different to the freight side of the business. Your van is your van, it stays with you. So, for example, I may drive to location A, pass to B, prep/relieve the train and then work it to A, get relieved and drive home. Next driver may drive to location A, work the train to location C and then taxi back to the van at location A and drive home. Hopefully that makes sense. Relieving points are almost always at a station. Occasionally I might get asked to relieve at somewhere like Toton, but it's not the norm.

You get your RDs paid each payday for the previous 4 week period worked.

 

[Sometrainguy]

Meal allowance is via the hotel, so you get a certain amount per night to spend at the hotel you're staying at. If you choose to eat out elsewhere, you still get an allowance but it is significantly less than if you eat at the hotel.

There's always RDW about if you fancy it from my experience.

Infrastructure monitoring is different to the freight side of the business. Your van is your van, it stays with you. So, for example, I may drive to location A, pass to B, prep/relieve the train and then work it to A, get relieved and drive home. Next driver may drive to location A, work the train to location C and then taxi back to the van at location A and drive home. Hopefully that makes sense. Relieving points are almost always at a station. Occasionally I might get asked to relieve at somewhere like Toton, but it's not the norm.

You get your RDs paid each payday for the previous 4 week period worked.

Thank you so much for the information, this has helped me a lot.

 

[spodface]

Anyone else here got their Physcometric tests booked in. got my early September. fingers crossed all goes well!

 

[CreswellSig]

Anyone else here got their Physcometric tests booked in. got my early September. fingers crossed all goes well!

Is this for the Trainee Infrastructure Monitoring Train Driver job at Derby?

Did the tests in July and waiting for the next stage.

 

[spodface]

This I believe is the next stage as these are at their assessment center just before interviews according to the emails.

 

[CreswellSig]

This I believe is the next stage as these are at their assessment center just before interviews according to the emails.

Ah ok. I passed the Psychometrics Tests and MMI Interview at OPC in Watford in July and was told that they were waiting for other candidates to complete the tests before progressing to the next stage.

 

[spodface]

Ah smashing then! You were early! I think late September is the last date. So not too long now

 

[BrokenSam]

Really keen on trying this role one day. Seems different. Hopefully once out of PQA they will be recruiting up in the north west/Wales area.

 

[Driver068]

Hi All,

Currently a Qualified Driver so apologies foe.usimg this thread, quick question if anyone is in the know.

Currently advertising the Infrastructure Monitoring role for LNE area. Says home based but details register in London.

I live in the North of England and sign the ECML - would I fall in or out of its requirements. Again apologies for hijacking the thread.

 

[Bohdi2020]

Is there anyone on here who does this role in Scotland? Or can vive more information with operating in that area.
Thank you

 

[wills]

Is there anyone on here who does this role in Scotland? Or can vive more information with operating in that area.
Thank you

Yes, there are drivers who are based in Scotland that cover that area.

There are drivers for IM based all over the country in various places and between all of us we cover the whole country.

 

[Zontar]

This has probably been asked loads, but what have drivers coming from tocs that had rps do ?

How do they fill the difference for brass and pension?

 

[Bohdi2020]

Yes, there are drivers who are based in Scotland that cover that area.

There are drivers for IM based all over the country in various places and between all of us we cover the whole country.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Dec 2024 ==

Wills, would it be possible to enquire about job content or diagrams for Scotland with yourself?