Training Facilities

[Mark282]

Hello,
I just wondered, how to TOC's go about training their new drivers? Do all companies have their own training facilities, or is it contracted out to training providers?
Just curious!...
Mark

 

[156441]

I assume its going to be different per TOC.
Northern have two 'Training academy's' one in Bolton one in Leeds. Most of the training is done there with some depot specific stuff done at the home depots.
Northern have an agreement with TPE to use there simulator for driver training as we don't have one.

 

[daddy_badger]

Several academies about most of it is classroom based. Usually a week induction about the company followed by team building exercises, trip to signal boxes and depots. There's a blog somewhere for a trainee driver for southern that outlines his training. How to become a train driver also has some info on academies for each toc.

 

[Vicpaul]

The new course southern is implementing is basically self learning. Issued an iPad very little classroom work lots of driving. Scary

 

[sw1ller]

http://www.traindriver.org/trainee-drivers-blog.html

I believe this is what daddy badger was talking about. I think its a very good read and well written too. If anyone knows of any others could you please share the links? I find these very interesting to read. Thanks.

 

[tylerdurden86]

http://swtdriver.blogspot.co.uk/

or this one

 

[Dave1987]

After doing module 1a and 1b I spent two weeks on front end turns then 6 weeks in the classroom with death by powerpoint! didn't actually touch a train for ages!! When I started my traction training the first thing my DI did was get us to drive a 321 so we could get our first drive out of our system. For GA all training is in house at the academy, using powerpoint, CBT and the simulators.

Ive heard that Virgin have state of the art sims that actually simulate movement like aircraft sims, anyone know if that is true or not??

 

[A-driver]

The new course southern is implementing is basically self learning. Issued an iPad very little classroom work lots of driving. Scary

Seriously? So no going to the school at Selhurst or Worthing for weeks then? Sounds like a completely new approach!

 

[TDK]

After doing module 1a and 1b I spent two weeks on front end turns then 6 weeks in the classroom with death by powerpoint! didn't actually touch a train for ages!! When I started my traction training the first thing my DI did was get us to drive a 321 so we could get our first drive out of our system. For GA all training is in house at the academy, using powerpoint, CBT and the simulators.

Ive heard that Virgin have state of the art sims that actually simulate movement like aircraft sims, anyone know if that is true or not??

Apparently they have, VT that is but they do not use the motion on the sims. Most companies do their training in house.

1st week is induction
Then you may have a week at the depot geting familiarised
Front end turns
Rules 5 or 6 weeks
Traction, varies on the traction you will need to sign, usually 3 weeks
225 hours with a DI over core routes, this can take a long time depending on availability of the DI's
A weeks pass out

The total isn't usually short of 10 months to 1 year

 

[SkinnyDave]

When you are training during the summer, does it take longer in reality to complete your hours because of the requirement to do a percentage of night driving?

 

[Latecomer]

When you are training during the summer, does it take longer in reality to complete your hours because of the requirement to do a percentage of night driving?

That can happen, yes. The required number of night time hours is a relatively small percentage of the total though so most people get the night hours done by the time the 225 is complete even in summertime unless you are unlucky.

 

[A-driver]

When you are training during the summer, does it take longer in reality to complete your hours because of the requirement to do a percentage of night driving?

A lot of depots will have drivers who normally work permanent nights and if one of those is a minder then they will often put you with them for a week of nights if you are short of dark trips. It also helps with getting driving hours in yards, unusual shunts etc to as there is normally more 'unusual' work on nights.

 

[TDK]

That can happen, yes. The required number of night time hours is a relatively small percentage of the total though so most people get the night hours done by the time the 225 is complete even in summertime unless you are unlucky.

40 hours in darkness is required

 

[Vicpaul]

Southern have three simulators at the training school, being an ex driver i personally don't like them from a driving stand point. however being able to simulate rules such as single line working and temporary block working is good.

Dark hours isn't a lot, sure we've been told 50. not sure if it varies from TOC to TOC.

Southern also wants "you as a trainee" to split your hour between different traction as equally as you can.