Trainee train drivers wanted...

Trainee train drivers wanted...

Author
Discussion

Chicken Chaser

7,744 posts

223 months

Monday 16th November 2015
quotequote all
audikentman said:
Good luck with it. I hope it goes ok.

What company?
FTPE

W124Bob

1,744 posts

174 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
Good luck to anyone applying, I've never done or even seen how the current interview process works as I started in'78 following an ad in the Leicester Mercury for drivers assistants! I was 16 and fresh out of school. The biggest challenge is accepting the shifts, no 2 days start at the same time and you'll be working a lot of weekends so your social life has to take second place. Be prepared for a unionised environment, It's the depot ASLEF reps who put the(drivers) links that you work in together in conjunction with local management. Know the company, example DB Schenker own Chiltern, Arriva Trains Wales and Cross Country as well the former EWS freight operator. Once you have a job don't be afraid to ask questions it's what your instructor/mentor driver are there for, the rest of us old codgers know a bit as well. This time of year will also make you realise what "leaves on the line" is all about.

itcaptainslow

3,694 posts

135 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
quotequote all
^^^^ couldn't agree more with that, the old hands have some great advice and experience to pass on to us pups.

Chicken Chaser

7,744 posts

223 months

Thursday 19th November 2015
quotequote all
Well I passed the telephone interview, but it'll be a graded pass so I don't know whether or not i'll get an assessment invite.

Shift work is nothing new to me, done it the last 10 years and it'll actually be a refreshing change to have a strong union rather than one which I pay for yet offers nothing.

With regards to the shift starts on a morning, would it be fair to say that some of the starts are in the middle of the night? My dayshift is a 7am start and the latest start time is 10pm for a nightshift which lasts until 7am. If they are, it'll be that element (getting into work for 4am) which will probably be the hardest to prepare for!

I'll start having a look on line at testing for the assessment centre in case i'm fortunate to get an invite.


RB5Bird

502 posts

194 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
itcaptainslow said:
Don't over prepare for the interview/assessments-familiarise yourself with how the assessments will be conducted and their content, but don't try and be too clever. Someone I know spunked a couple of hundred quid on various books, courses etc and got nowhere. The practise material they send you will be more than enough.

Had to take my first day sick in over two years yesterday. Got halfway through my job to my break, I was feeling pretty rough driving the last bit before I got relieved but when I started chucking up and paying frequent toilet visits it was time to throw in the towel. Control fortunately were excellent with me about it-it meant cancelling a train but they quite rightly said they'd rather do that than have an incident on their hands. Still felt guilty though!
Also on sick at the minute, first day (well, weeks) off since starting last May.

Did it properly though, out on my bike on a Friday before being due in the yard for 1700. 29 miles into a 30 mile ride, fell off. Got back on my bike, rode home, bike away, shower and walked to the doctors. Got sent to A&E, broken my ankle and elbow!

Had an aircast boot thing on due to the broken elbow not letting my use normal crutches and needing to put a bit of weight through the ankle, thankfully not a bad break, well it hadn't moved. Boot is now off, and got a medical in London next Monday before I can even go back to work.

Need to be able to work the length of the train (freight) on ballast, and couple/uncouple loco or wagons. That is assuming I can even get on the loco with the elbow, which won't quite go straight yet.


Bored now, just want to get back to work.

Stedman

7,213 posts

191 months

Friday 20th November 2015
quotequote all
W124Bob said:
Good luck to anyone applying, I've never done or even seen how the current interview process works as I started in'78 following an ad in the Leicester Mercury for drivers assistants! I was 16 and fresh out of school. The biggest challenge is accepting the shifts, no 2 days start at the same time and you'll be working a lot of weekends so your social life has to take second place. Be prepared for a unionised environment, It's the depot ASLEF reps who put the(drivers) links that you work in together in conjunction with local management. Know the company, example DB Schenker own Chiltern, Arriva Trains Wales and Cross Country as well the former EWS freight operator. Once you have a job don't be afraid to ask questions it's what your instructor/mentor driver are there for, the rest of us old codgers know a bit as well. This time of year will also make you realise what "leaves on the line" is all about.
This. it's been slippy so far this year.

Stedman

7,213 posts

191 months

Monday 23rd November 2015
quotequote all
RemyMartin said:
Yes it has.

One PQA driver has slid through a station already.
Bad times. We had a 10 car hit the buffers today and the front set fall off; I suspect LRA played a large part in it.

itcaptainslow

3,694 posts

135 months

Monday 23rd November 2015
quotequote all
Stedman said:
RemyMartin said:
Yes it has.

One PQA driver has slid through a station already.
Bad times. We had a 10 car hit the buffers today and the front set fall off; I suspect LRA played a large part in it.
Ouch! redface we had a trainee hit the stops a couple of months ago, poor bloke. frown

Chicken Chaser

7,744 posts

223 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
Well, I surprised myself by getting through the telephone interview and I now have to complete an assessment day with group bourdon, Tea-occ and trainability for rules tests. Only a weeks notice isn't ideal as I may not be able to get time off work! I do believe that if I'm successful at the assessment then further interviews take place after Christmas with a view to a medical and job offer.

I'd like to know how our resident drivers deal with fatigue? Its no doubt a long day in the cab by yourself and staying alert is the highest priority. How do you deal with it? I am well aware of how tired you can become working shifts, I have experienced fatigue whilst a driving a car on long straight roads and if I'm honest, its probably the biggest worry when considering a role like this.

itcaptainslow

3,694 posts

135 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
quotequote all
In no particular order, these help for me;
-On a boring, samey job, I break it down into segments-e.g. with four trips and I've done one trip, that's 1/4 of the job gone.
-Always carry a bottle of water with you, and sip it regularly
-Talk to yourself, I find Risk Triggered Commentary works for me and it keeps the mind focused when it needs to be e.g. to mitigate the risk of a stop short or SPAD-you're telling yourself out loud where the red signal is, or how long your train is, where you stop it on the platform and what side the door release will be
-On your break (PNB), do something totally unrelated to the railway-get away from the station if possible, read a book/mag, or shut your eyes for 30 minutes-power naps are really helpful to me on early shifts
-A big one-take pride in the job, let the little things amuse you; I take great pleasure in a lovely smooth stop, moving the brake controller the minimal number of times. Also thinking ahead, and using gradients to coast and control the train's speed-e.g. on our route, on the fast line at New Southgate approaching London at a certain point the line speed drops from 100mph to 95mph-some drivers use the brake. However I know if I shut off between Hadley Wood South tunnel and the Barnet tunnel (depending on the type of unit I'm driving) the speed will drift down perfectly to 95mph. Yes-I'm sad biggrin

Chicken Chaser

7,744 posts

223 months

Wednesday 2nd December 2015
quotequote all
itcaptainslow said:
In no particular order, these help for me;
-On a boring, samey job, I break it down into segments-e.g. with four trips and I've done one trip, that's 1/4 of the job gone.
-Always carry a bottle of water with you, and sip it regularly
-Talk to yourself, I find Risk Triggered Commentary works for me and it keeps the mind focused when it needs to be e.g. to mitigate the risk of a stop short or SPAD-you're telling yourself out loud where the red signal is, or how long your train is, where you stop it on the platform and what side the door release will be
-On your break (PNB), do something totally unrelated to the railway-get away from the station if possible, read a book/mag, or shut your eyes for 30 minutes-power naps are really helpful to me on early shifts
-A big one-take pride in the job, let the little things amuse you; I take great pleasure in a lovely smooth stop, moving the brake controller the minimal number of times. Also thinking ahead, and using gradients to coast and control the train's speed-e.g. on our route, on the fast line at New Southgate approaching London at a certain point the line speed drops from 100mph to 95mph-some drivers use the brake. However I know if I shut off between Hadley Wood South tunnel and the Barnet tunnel (depending on the type of unit I'm driving) the speed will drift down perfectly to 95mph. Yes-I'm sad biggrin
That's great! I'm quite good in my own company, seem to spend a lot of time by myself out of work these days due to shiftwork. It's just staying alert and awake which worries me.

Will be practicing the tests over the weekend. This is usually the area where I excel (don't like interviews) so I'll see what the standard is like. I think FTPE is an enhanced pass so it'll be high.

itcaptainslow

3,694 posts

135 months

Wednesday 2nd December 2015
quotequote all
You will be expected to develop your own "Personal Protection Strategy" (industry buzzword at the minute) to help mitigate the risk of various incidents. Those are just some of mine-different things work for different people.

I didn't see the merit in practising away until blue in the face at the tests-they're not something that can be learnt. You can either do it, or you can't-they're designed to select candidates who have the attributes to be good drivers, not those who have practised the most. However, it's good to get a grasp at how the assessment day will run-the practise material they send you will be enough for that. Someone I know spunked £100 on books and a day's course, then failed the tests on the day. As a bloke once said-"Chill Winston" biggrin

Chicken Chaser

7,744 posts

223 months

Wednesday 2nd December 2015
quotequote all
itcaptainslow said:
In no particular order, these help for me;
-On a boring, samey job, I break it down into segments-e.g. with four trips and I've done one trip, that's 1/4 of the job gone.
-Always carry a bottle of water with you, and sip it regularly
-Talk to yourself, I find Risk Triggered Commentary works for me and it keeps the mind focused when it needs to be e.g. to mitigate the risk of a stop short or SPAD-you're telling yourself out loud where the red signal is, or how long your train is, where you stop it on the platform and what side the door release will be
-On your break (PNB), do something totally unrelated to the railway-get away from the station if possible, read a book/mag, or shut your eyes for 30 minutes-power naps are really helpful to me on early shifts
-A big one-take pride in the job, let the little things amuse you; I take great pleasure in a lovely smooth stop, moving the brake controller the minimal number of times. Also thinking ahead, and using gradients to coast and control the train's speed-e.g. on our route, on the fast line at New Southgate approaching London at a certain point the line speed drops from 100mph to 95mph-some drivers use the brake. However I know if I shut off between Hadley Wood South tunnel and the Barnet tunnel (depending on the type of unit I'm driving) the speed will drift down perfectly to 95mph. Yes-I'm sad biggrin
That's great! I'm quite good in my own company, seem to spend a lot of time by myself out of work these days due to shiftwork. It's just staying alert and awake which worries me.

Will be practicing the tests over the weekend. This is usually what I'm better at (don't like interviews) so I'll see what the standard is like. I think FTPE is an enhanced pass so it'll be high.

wobman

Original Poster:

89 posts

185 months

Monday 4th January 2016
quotequote all
Atw looking for trainee train drivers CHESTER / HOLYHEAD & LUDO JN, Applications will close soon once quota reached www.comeaboard.co.uk good luck

Chicken Chaser

7,744 posts

223 months

Monday 4th January 2016
quotequote all
Didnt update my progress, unfortunately had to pull out of the Assessment centre as there were no dates that I could fulfil at such short notice. I couldnt get the days off work and its not in my nature to pull sick days. Hopefully there'll be another intake within the timeframe so that my passes so far can stand.

Chicken Chaser

7,744 posts

223 months

Wednesday 6th January 2016
quotequote all
RemyMartin said:
Sorry to sound like I'm pissing in your cornflakes but the job won't just land in your lap, you're going to have to really want it and if that means a serious reschedule of life to do the tests then so be it. At the end of the day, thousands of applicants apply for these jobs and they don't come up to often. You should soul search and see how much you want the job.
I certainly don't expect the job to land in my lap but I'm coming from a position of strength at present with the role I'm in currently. Nobody needs to spell it how how rare these jobs are but I'm not in some dead end job where I can just take the day off if I feel like it. If I'm off and they can't get someone else in at short notice then our operations effectively cease.

audikentman

632 posts

241 months

itcaptainslow

3,694 posts

135 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
audikentman said:
Mate of mine is a driver trainer there. Looks a good company to work for.

audikentman

632 posts

241 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
No doubt they will have already robbed the pension pot before it even starts.

Rick101

6,959 posts

149 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35293307

Nothing anybody in the industry doesn't already know.
I think playing catchup with drivers is far more of an issue than people realise.