What job can I do?

[ChrisEJ1993]

I'm really interested in the railways, but unfortunatly me eye sight is dreadful. And for that reason I know I won't pass PTS which discounts me from becoming a driver or a conductor on the trains. This is dissappointing, but I don't want to get down about it. I'm determined to get a job somewhere on the trains, and that's where I'd like your help.

With not good eye sight, what job's CAN I do in the train industry? Please ignore the fact I'm 16, I'm talking about when I am old enough and have finished college in 2 years time.

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[GB]

How bad is your eye sight can it be corrected with glasses?

I hate to say but poor eye sight can count you out of most...if not all, safety critical roles.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

I completely understand the safety critical thing. With these eyes, I'd rather I didn't go in those areas myself anyway.

I have glasses to assist with my vision, but I'm almost blind in my right eye and canno't see long distances or very small writing with the left.

I have no problems communicating, using compluters, or anything like that

 

[driver9000]

I completely understand the safety critical thing. With these eyes, I'd rather I didn't go in those areas myself anyway.

I have glasses to assist with my vision, but I'm almost blind in my right eye and canno't see long distances or very small writing with the left.

I have no problems communicating, using compluters, or anything like that

have you considered a TOCs operations control room?
booking office could be suitable
buffet car steward/first class host (not PTS trained)

These vacancies crop up from time to time on the websites of the various operators and Network Rail. The RailNews paper and website also has a recruitment section.

Good luck with your career.

 

[dan_atki]

Completely depends which aspect of the company you want to work in I think.

If you're going for frontline, customer serving, roles then I think you'll be pretty much confined to booking office and gateline assistance which are not safety critical.

Then there are a whole plethora of behind-the-scenes jobs you'd be able to do in management grades. Yes, they often require some progression through the ranks but it's not uncommon for TOCs to advertise externally for things like Train Planning or even Financial Assistants. They also need people to work in their Customer Relations department - vacancies, for which, often crop up.

Obviously, these are non safety critical office jobs which may not be your cup of tea! However, as you can probably imagine, they are rather important roles for a limited company such as a TOC to have.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

have you considered a TOCs operations control room?
booking office could be suitable
buffet car steward/first class host (not PTS trained)

These vacancies crop up from time to time on the websites of the various operators and Network Rail. The RailNews paper and website also has a recruitment section.

Good luck with your career.

Thanks for your ideas and suggestions. What's this 'The RailNews paper' you mentioned? I'd like to take a look at that.

Completely depends which aspect of the company you want to work in I think.

If you're going for frontline, customer serving, roles then I think you'll be pretty much confined to booking office and gateline assistance which are not safety critical.

Then there are a whole plethora of behind-the-scenes jobs you'd be able to do in management grades. Yes, they often require some progression through the ranks but it's not uncommon for TOCs to advertise externally for things like Train Planning or even Financial Assistants. They also need people to work in their Customer Relations department - vacancies, for which, often crop up.

Obviously, these are non safety critical office jobs which may not be your cup of tea! However, as you can probably imagine, they are rather important roles for a limited company such as a TOC to have.

Thanks for those suggestions of background roles. Those are really things I want to look at. And the first class host etc. sounds good, because it would be on a train which is even better. But I'm not the kind of person who get's put off by office work, I enjoy it!

 

[LilLoaf]

In my opinion bad eye sight should not count you out of any role except driver. However if you have to tell the company this on the application form they will probably not proceed with your application. Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but there is a lot of people looking for jobs on the railway so company's can afford to be picky.

However on the bright side you could do some volentery work for private railways, like keeping platforms clean, assisting in vistor enquiries, you may even be able to work on the train as like a guide (on your left you will see this, on your right you'll see that), that sort of thing. I suggest now would be a good time to ask private railways if they want any help over the summer if you are on college holidays.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

In my opinion bad eye sight should not count you out of any role except driver. However if you have to tell the company this on the application form they will probably not proceed with your application. Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but there is a lot of people looking for jobs on the railway so company's can afford to be picky.

Luckily, theres equal oppotunitys, so they can NOT discount me for that reason. But I can see where you're coming from, and I need to make sure any applications I do decide to make really sell myself, and put amphasis on my qualities and experiance. Concentrate more on what I CAN do rather than what I can't.

However on the bright side you could do some volentery work for private railways, like keeping platforms clean, assisting in vistor enquiries, you may even be able to work on the train as like a guide (on your left you will see this, on your right you'll see that), that sort of thing. I suggest now would be a good time to ask private railways if they want any help over the summer if you are on college holidays.

Thats a good idea. This 12 week summer holiday between high school and college is really boring. Voulenteering doesn't get any money, but it's experiance and that looks excellent on a CV. It will go well with the other placement I have planned up in London with a charity called Blind in Business.

Thanks

 

[33056]

You might try a signallers job.

Although safety critical, they don't often need PTS these days and I do know of people with relatively poor uncorrected eyesight in the signalling grades. Please bear in mind that you do need to have normal colour vision and good vision wearing glasses (I presume that you do wear glasses?)

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

I do wear glasses, bu vision is not brilliant at all with them. But I have no problem at all with colours. But often, they want you to have good vision in BOTH eyes, which I don't have.

 

[GB]

You might try a signallers job.

Although safety critical, they don't often need PTS these days and I do know of people with relatively poor uncorrected eyesight in the signalling grades. Please bear in mind that you do need to have normal colour vision and good vision wearing glasses (I presume that you do wear glasses?)

I would say that based what Chris has said about his eye sight and that he his almost blind in one eye with poor vision (even with the aid of glasses) in the other, that a signallers job would be out too Im afraid.

Of course this is my opinion but I do know how strict railway companies can be with new entrants and medical conditions. Its always worth a shot though.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

I think the restrictions are perfectly understandable.

 

[driver9000]

RailNews is an industry newspaper published monthly distributed free among most TOCs staff but you can buy it at some shops such as Ian Allen and its about £1.95 I think. If you cant find a printed copy they also have a website www.railnews.co.uk there is a recruitment section along the top of the page.

 

[anthony263]

RailNews is an industry newspaper published monthly distributed free among most TOCs staff but you can buy it at some shops such as Ian Allen and its about £1.95 I think. If you cant find a printed copy they also have a website www.railnews.co.uk there is a recruitment section along the top of the page.

I cant fully remember but when i purchased the last copy of railnews about a month ago i am sure it was about £2.10

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Thanks for the info

 

[martyn29]

I might be able to get hold of a copy if you want one

 

[devon_metro]

I was under the impression you could be guard/driver with glasses? I often see people who are in these jobs wearing them.

 

[GB]

I was under the impression you could be guard/driver with glasses? I often see people who are in these jobs wearing them.

You can.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

I might be able to get hold of a copy if you want one

That would be extremely helpful if you could do that

I was under the impression you could be guard/driver with glasses? I often see people who are in these jobs wearing them.

You can do the job with glasses, but you still have to pass a sight test which I will fail.

 

[devon_metro]

Oh, I see.

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

Oh, I see.

Pun intended?

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Oh dear... Lmao.

 

[16CSVT2700]

In my opinion bad eye sight should not count you out of any role except driver.

OK tell me this, how would you do a Dispatch job with bad eyesight?
How would you see the RA/CD/OFF indicators are showing the correct letters?
How would you know which signal accounts for what line?
How you you be able to tell apart the signals if you are colourblind?

Eyesight accounts for everything a dispatcher (and indeed every other role) does, be it seeing and reading the CIS boards to ensure the correct train is next etc etc.

Glasses - yes you can be a driver/guard/dispatcher with glasses as long as you pass the eyesight test with them in situ. I passed the eyesight test with my glasses and I have to wear mine 100% of the time during duty. Which I knew already, as I've worn glasses since I was 9.

The bottom line is, as long as you pass the medical you should be fine.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

I won't pass the medical, but my eyesight is not as bad as some of the descriptions in your post.

 

[16CSVT2700]

I won't pass the medical, but my eyesight is not as bad as some of the descriptions in your post.

If it's not as bad as some I described, you at least have a chance at passing, even for non-safety critical roles.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Im hoping so. I'd be happy in a ticket office, so hoping I can at least do that. Or work at head office, or in the customer service centre in Tonbridge or something.