Train Driver Application...

[Badgerboy]

Evening chaps,

My girlfriend has expressed interest in becoming a train driver, and they are recruiting locally. She works for BTP so is pretty clued up on some of the processes and terminology and I've told her she should give it a shot.

Any advice from those who have been there and done that?

I'm assuming I can get a ride in the cab if she does make it

[SlimRick]

There's a good thread here that she might want to have a read of:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[RemyMartin]

You won't get a cab ride unless you have the relevant cab pass. Its a sackable offence.

Let her get the job first and get friendly with her driver manager.

[Badgerboy]

Thanks, she's is having a good read of the thread now.

[RB5Bird]

I stumbled across the above thread, followed the link to a DBSchenker advert. Now drive freight trains. Best job ever, get her to read the thread and go for it!

It's not the easiest to get into, but if you don't try. . . .

[W124Bob]

I don't know your location but London Midland , TPE and Northern all seem to be recruiting at the moment. Be aware that the freigth side is not as secure as the passenger, also far more nights/weekends on freight. Basically passenger work is a job for life if you keep you're nose clean , accept the loss of a normal social life. Just because you start at company which is a commuter outfit doesn't mean you have to stay. If you're GF is uniform then tell her to start talking to any drivers she meets, the younger drivers will have more knowledge of the current recruitment process. I've been doing the job 38 years this summer, still get a buzz doing 125 .

[Baz Tench]

I drive/operate Tampers.

Some of the new guys coming through report that the psychometric test has been made a bit easier over the last few years, as the failure rate was too high before, leading to a shortage of drivers.

I don't know how true that is, but I did mine 13 years ago and the failure rate was high then.

I still love it though, even though the machines only reach a leisurely 60mph. There's no other job I'd rather do tbh.

[tight5]

W124Bob said:

Be aware that the freight side has far more nights/weekends .

That will vary depending on which company we are talking about and also which depot.

RemyMartin said:

You won't get a cab ride unless you have the relevant cab pass.

Last time I heard of anyone getting a ride was with the Area Managers permission and a Driver Manager accompanying the guest.

Badgerboy said:

Any advice from those who have been there and done that?

Lots of applications !

Badgerboy said:

I'm assuming I can get a ride in the cab if she does make it

You might not want to let anyone see you two doing that !

[Stedman]

There is another thread on here that I created when I got the job. It's worth a search as there's loads of info on there. If she has specific questions, get her to post in this thread (and others) and i'm sure we'll do our best to answer them.

Where are you both based?