Hi all
Just an update really as I'd been away for a while busy seeing out my last few months with the old TOC and then starting for Virgin on the west coast. Made some amazing new friends throughout the recruitment process, many of which as you can imagine were from the freight sector. Well what can I say!.... we are having the time of our lives and this is a place I'd recommend to anybody.
One of the reasons I thought I'd put this in the recruitment section of these boards was because upon leaving my last TOC there was about 95% positive support from former colleagues but all the other 5% went on about were how mad I was because of the terms and conditions etc. Well I'm happy to say that you can tell that half of the nay Sayers had obviously took in the first thing anyone had told them and took it as gospel.... most of what they told me was factually incorrect anyway!
My advice to any qualified driver...... or anyone else for that matter umming and arrrring about coming here is get your bags packed! It's so worth it!.......yes it may be a different rest day pattern or it may be a different style of driving but the positives far outweigh the negatives for me..... the perfect job does not exist and it's very much horses for courses I get that but I can only go by what I've seen.
Just turning up to a mess room where everyone seems more than happy to be there (even at 3am) was something I wasn't used to. We were all made to feel so welcome at the training centre and on depot and genuinely no request from us was too much trouble!
Upon starting my training it was so refreshing to see trains that weren't falling to pieces and I wasn't having to dodge tree stumps, holes in the ground and old tubs of grease to physically get to the train when it's stabled at the depot ready for collection. The next thing I noticed was the workload!..... light years improved on what I was used to. Yes still some long old days but the work that was in it I could tell wouldn't leave me feeling like I've been flogged to death at the end of it.
Suppose what I'm trying to say guys is there's a lot of gnashing of teeth, flapping of gums and negative talk in mess rooms when people even think of a move like this...... but seriously make your own mind up and don't be swayed by the negativity of those types. Already I can tell this is where I am meant to be.... the whole positive mindset of everyone here just totally rubs off on you. Even if you are the type who really does struggle to not think of the t&c's just remember they are train driver t&c's..... how bad can they be.... if you've worked in any other industry this will still be as close to paradise in the work place as you'll see.
All that aside driving the traction here is out of this world! It genuinely felt like stepping out of Del Boys 3 wheeler then starting your training with Captain Kirk as your instructor! Truly was night and day!
I also wanted to say thank you to the guys on here who were ever so helpful with advice etc when I was going through the recruitment process and I honestly doubt I'd of made it through it without you.
Genuinely the happiest guy on the planet at the moment guys!..... get yourselves over here.
Cheers ??????
Just an update really as I'd been away for a while busy seeing out my last few months with the old TOC and then starting for Virgin on the west coast. Made some amazing new friends throughout the recruitment process, many of which as you can imagine were from the freight sector. Well what can I say!.... we are having the time of our lives and this is a place I'd recommend to anybody.
One of the reasons I thought I'd put this in the recruitment section of these boards was because upon leaving my last TOC there was about 95% positive support from former colleagues but all the other 5% went on about were how mad I was because of the terms and conditions etc. Well I'm happy to say that you can tell that half of the nay Sayers had obviously took in the first thing anyone had told them and took it as gospel.... most of what they told me was factually incorrect anyway!
My advice to any qualified driver...... or anyone else for that matter umming and arrrring about coming here is get your bags packed! It's so worth it!.......yes it may be a different rest day pattern or it may be a different style of driving but the positives far outweigh the negatives for me..... the perfect job does not exist and it's very much horses for courses I get that but I can only go by what I've seen.
Just turning up to a mess room where everyone seems more than happy to be there (even at 3am) was something I wasn't used to. We were all made to feel so welcome at the training centre and on depot and genuinely no request from us was too much trouble!
Upon starting my training it was so refreshing to see trains that weren't falling to pieces and I wasn't having to dodge tree stumps, holes in the ground and old tubs of grease to physically get to the train when it's stabled at the depot ready for collection. The next thing I noticed was the workload!..... light years improved on what I was used to. Yes still some long old days but the work that was in it I could tell wouldn't leave me feeling like I've been flogged to death at the end of it.
Suppose what I'm trying to say guys is there's a lot of gnashing of teeth, flapping of gums and negative talk in mess rooms when people even think of a move like this...... but seriously make your own mind up and don't be swayed by the negativity of those types. Already I can tell this is where I am meant to be.... the whole positive mindset of everyone here just totally rubs off on you. Even if you are the type who really does struggle to not think of the t&c's just remember they are train driver t&c's..... how bad can they be.... if you've worked in any other industry this will still be as close to paradise in the work place as you'll see.
All that aside driving the traction here is out of this world! It genuinely felt like stepping out of Del Boys 3 wheeler then starting your training with Captain Kirk as your instructor! Truly was night and day!
I also wanted to say thank you to the guys on here who were ever so helpful with advice etc when I was going through the recruitment process and I honestly doubt I'd of made it through it without you.
Genuinely the happiest guy on the planet at the moment guys!..... get yourselves over here.
Cheers ??????
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