Virgin Onboard CSA roster patterns

[peter2013]

Hi - I am new to the Forum, and am applying for a CSA job at Manchester. I was just wondering if anyone could give me an idea of the roster patterns I am likely to work to, if successful. For instance, a "typical" week, if such a thing exists; is it generally a 5-on, 2-off pattern; how many trips a day would I expect to work?
Many thanks.

 

[the red engine]

Hello and welcome!

Im based at euston so cant say 100% about manchester but theyre pretty similar id imagine. you'd usually get 2 in 3 weekends off (or one of the days at least) and if your on 2 long days (10hours+) then yes you'd usually get a 3rd day off in the week.
Some days on my schedule i go to manchester Piccadilly 3 times a day so just a heads up that some days will be longer than average, whereas some days i go to bham and back which is very short. It pretty much is random and always subject to change so flexibility is the name of the game! from manchester though theres some routes you wont do such as the holyhead run, and also some days you'll be 'spare' so you'd just get to the office, and wait to be prepared to cover sickness/any absence. if your not needed to cover then you go home. yay!

hope that helps, if you need any more info ill be happy to (try) and help!

 

[craigybagel]

What the Red Engine said sums it up pretty well. Most of Manchester's work is on Manchester Euston trains, with a small amount of W Patterns to Liverpool or Birmingham (Manchester-Euston-Liverpool/Birmingham-Euston-Manchester) or variations on that theme. They aren't trained on Voyagers, they only work Pendolinos. Some days you'll just have a single trip to London and back which in the case of Manchester should only take 6 hours including turn-around and booking on and off times. Your roster will usually vary from week to week but it will all balance out over a certain amount of weeks that you average at whatever your contracted hours are (normally 41 per week for a full time onboard CSA).

I'm open to correction on this, but I believe Manchester is one of the depots where you work both earlies and lates, so be prepared to be able to get yourself to Piccadilly before 5 am and get home well after midnight. It's worthwhile though, it's a fantastic job.

 

[FManc]

What the Red Engine said sums it up pretty well. Most of Manchester's work is on Manchester Euston trains, with a small amount of W Patterns to Liverpool or Birmingham (Manchester-Euston-Liverpool/Birmingham-Euston-Manchester) or variations on that theme. They aren't trained on Voyagers, they only work Pendolinos. Some days you'll just have a single trip to London and back which in the case of Manchester should only take 6 hours including turn-around and booking on and off times. Your roster will usually vary from week to week but it will all balance out over a certain amount of weeks that you average at whatever your contracted hours are (normally 41 per week for a full time onboard CSA).

I'm open to correction on this, but I believe Manchester is one of the depots where you work both earlies and lates, so be prepared to be able to get yourself to Piccadilly before 5 am and get home well after midnight. It's worthwhile though, it's a fantastic job.

At Manchester new starters are normally put on the afternoon/late links (but not always the case) as they are the 35 hour links which is the contract type new starters are put on. If you're put onto a 41 hour morning link you'll get paid 6 hours overtime every week as far as I'm aware. There are also a small number of links where you get a mix of both early and late turns.

Mon-Fri you'll only really do London-Manc turns but on the weekend there is more variation with Birmingham and Liverpool turns thrown into the mix. Each link is very different in terms of weekend working e.g. in one link you work 2 full weekends in 9 weeks plus one Sat or Sun but in another link you work 4 weekends in 6 weeks but you only work the Sat or Sun.

 

[peter2013]

Many thanks to all of you for your replies - really helpful. The thing that keeps coming across is how much everyone enjoys the work - so, am very hopeful!

 

[Mattm123]

Ive gone for this position too! not heard anthing yet though

 

[the red engine]

Many thanks to all of you for your replies - really helpful. The thing that keeps coming across is how much everyone enjoys the work - so, am very hopeful!

yup. if you enjoy the job after 6 months, your on the railway for life. let me know how you get on and if you need any help feel free to ask

 

[peter2013]

Thanks red engine, will do - though like Mattm123 have not heard anything yet.

 

[Northernboy67]

Good Morning People,

I have just submitted my application for this role too, Based at London Euston.
It might take a while before I hear. I was interested myself in the shift pattern in some ways. After working 22 years in Security, and my current job being of one with no prospects, I need a change. Bearing in mind I have been applying for different railway jobs over the past 30 years.

David R.

 

[Mattm123]

I received a text message this morn saying that I have been invited to an assessment day and to check my emails but so far I have had no emails lol
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I have now got the email.. it says there will be a role play involved in the recruitment process. Anyone done this for Virgin? I hate role plays haha

 

[craigybagel]

From an answer I gave in an earlier thread about role plays at Virgin:

"Normally, you are all put in a room together, and you get given a story. It's usually something along the lines of your boat has sunk and you have to pick which objects are the most important to survive, or the world is about to end and you have to choose from a list which people you would save. You get given a few minutes to make your own rankings, then you all discuss it as a group and try to reach a consensus together. It's a good way of seeing which people are too quiet or timid to get their voice heard, and which people are too dominant. Communication and team working skills are vital so thats what you really need to demonstrate."

Don't worry about it too much, with these things it's usually the more relaxed you are the better you will do! Virgin like their staff to be warm and outgoing, and relaxed, so if you can show all that you're already half the way there. And I know it's hard to be relaxed at a recruitment event (especially when normally you have to do a few written tests first just to get through to the group exercise), but the recruitment team are pretty great at putting you at ease. If it's a Manchester position I'm assuming you're assessment is at Crewe? It's a really nice venue and it also helps keep you relaxed!

Also, bear in mind the fact that hundreds will have applied for this job and only a few get invited to an assessment day, so thats another big step you've already taken.

Good luck

 

[Mattm123]

Thanks for your help mate. Really appreciate it.

I have done lots of group excercises, so lots of experience in that just hate role plays but what you have described sound okay.

Yes it is for Manchester I currently work for cross country doing the same job.