Trainee train drivers wanted...

[wobman]

tms996 said:

Think I’ve finally found the right thread here for advice .
Got an assessment coming up with DB cargo. Totally new to me, although I’m used to the transport industry. Looking for more of an insight into the job and the recruitment.

Anyone willing to post here or pm much appreciated. Wasn’t expecting to be having a good stab at a new career after 30 years in the old one but needs must and this looks like a good challenge from reading this.

If you look at www.railforums.co.uk they have loads of advice about the various stages of the assessment process & posts for practice material etc

Hope that helps & good luck 👍

[itcaptainslow]

It’s been touched upon already but just be careful with that forum-it’s full of people who think they know what they’re talking about, but really don’t.

[wobman]

itcaptainslow said:

It’s been touched upon already but just be careful with that forum-it’s full of people who think they know what they’re talking about, but really don’t.

I know from trying to correct some know it alls on that forum, it has a lot of armchair experts with 0 railway experience.

Whatever you do don't reply to bullying on the forum, as you get barred ! Apparently you have to ignore & report them in the correct manner !

Other than the idiots it does have some useful information from some knowledgeable sources, but you have to dig through the posts to find it.

[tms996]

I have tried looking but what there is seems to be posted by people who love acronyms. I have no idea what any of it means when referring to tests or assessments.

Also at least one of the people there seems to be tryign to drive people to an external pay site.

[itcaptainslow]

wobman said:

itcaptainslow said:

It’s been touched upon already but just be careful with that forum-it’s full of people who think they know what they’re talking about, but really don’t.

I know from trying to correct some know it alls on that forum, it has a lot of armchair experts with 0 railway experience.

Whatever you do don't reply to bullying on the forum, as you get barred ! Apparently you have to ignore & report them in the correct manner !

Other than the idiots it does have some useful information from some knowledgeable sources, but you have to dig through the posts to find it.

It becomes quite obvious as they’re usually the ones who hate unions and don’t pass up any opportunity to slate ASLEF or the RMT.

[tms996]

I’ve been unionised for 25 years, doubt that would go down well with me. If only my union had the influence of Aslef ...

[CharlieH89]

tms996 said:

I have tried looking but what there is seems to be posted by people who love acronyms. I have no idea what any of it means when referring to tests or assessments.

Also at least one of the people there seems to be tryign to drive people to an external pay site.

Have you got a psychometric assessment?
If so I took mine 12 months ago so could answer any q’s.
ChocolateFrog could too I guess if he would as he must have had his in the past 12 months too.

I’ve also got software on a usb which you come across on the psychs if I can get it to you somehow.

[Oggs]

tms996 said:

Think I’ve finally found the right thread here for advice .
Got an assessment coming up with DB cargo. Totally new to me, although I’m used to the transport industry. Looking for more of an insight into the job and the recruitment.

Anyone willing to post here or pm much appreciated. Wasn’t expecting to be having a good stab at a new career after 30 years in the old one but needs must and this looks like a good challenge from reading this.

I had 20+ yrs driving trucks before I decided to become a driver at 49.
I passed my assessments with Arriva but failed at the manager interview (passed elsewhere) my advice with the assessment coming up is use the practice materials that were sent, and keep on practicing. For Group Bourbon Railforms.co.uk has that to download to practice.
I certainly don't regret changing careers.
Good luck with the assessment.

[Bathroom_Security]

£58,487 for this jesus

https://careers-gbrailfreight.icims.com/jobs/1737/...

I once knew a train driver, he was absolutely brain dead are you all like that?

[monkfish1]

Bathroom_Security said:

£58,487 for this jesus

https://careers-gbrailfreight.icims.com/jobs/1737/...

I once knew a train driver, he was absolutely brain dead are you all like that?

I think its the person writing the advert thats definitely brain dead.

At the bottom, "if the answer to the 2 questions above is yes..................."

Except, there are 3 questions!

[P5BNij]

Bathroom_Security said:

£58,487 for this jesus

https://careers-gbrailfreight.icims.com/jobs/1737/...

I once knew a train driver, he was absolutely brain dead are you all like that?

Ok I'll bite - no, we're not (honest), but you'd be surprised how many new recruits don't get through the training, or do get through it and then have an incident, or leave within a few weeks or months when they can't take the responsibility of the job or spending so much time on their own.

[Vickers_VC10]

£58k isn't anything to shout about in train driving industry, maybe that's me just used to what TOCs pay rather than FOCs. South west drivers at the tail end of next year will be ok 10k more than that....

As mentioned in this thread AGES ago I do find the vulgarness of wages and stuff is what attracts the 'wrong' stuff to the job and I'm not talking about people doing the job for the money as show me a driver who says they don't care about the decent wages and I'll show you a liar, however if you join thinking it's an easy way of earning big, you'll be in for a ride awakening. Generally the obnoxiously anti social shifts. I have starts where I am at work, ready to go booking on at 3am on the dot, just think about that. Bed by 6pm up at 2am to wake up and get ready and driving trains an hour later. You need to make you are very disciplined in this job with rest and things like drinking due to a a significant lower threshold limit if required to do a blood test.

Not to mention the responsibility of the job and the knowledge you must learn and carry with it. I think I speak for most drivers on here when I say, we truly earn our money in out of course times. When everything is running smooth or you are running on greens. It 'seems' an easy job, things can change in a click of the fingers.

[Stedman]

Vickers_VC10 said:

As mentioned in this thread AGES ago I do find the vulgarness of wages and stuff is what attracts the 'wrong' stuff to the job and I'm not talking about people doing the job for the money as show me a driver who says they don't care about the decent wages and I'll show you a liar, however if you join thinking it's an easy way of earning big, you'll be in for a ride awakening. Generally the obnoxiously anti social shifts. I have starts where I am at work, ready to go booking on at 3am on the dot, just think about that. Bed by 6pm up at 2am to wake up and get ready and driving trains an hour later. You need to make you are very disciplined in this job with rest and things like drinking due to a a significant lower threshold limit if required to do a blood test.

Bang on the money Vickers. It is so disruptive, you get lots of time off but sweet NA quality time off.

[anonymous-user]

Stedman said:

Vickers_VC10 said:

As mentioned in this thread AGES ago I do find the vulgarness of wages and stuff is what attracts the 'wrong' stuff to the job and I'm not talking about people doing the job for the money as show me a driver who says they don't care about the decent wages and I'll show you a liar, however if you join thinking it's an easy way of earning big, you'll be in for a ride awakening. Generally the obnoxiously anti social shifts. I have starts where I am at work, ready to go booking on at 3am on the dot, just think about that. Bed by 6pm up at 2am to wake up and get ready and driving trains an hour later. You need to make you are very disciplined in this job with rest and things like drinking due to a a significant lower threshold limit if required to do a blood test.

Bang on the money Vickers. It is so disruptive, you get lots of time off but sweet NA quality time off.

For that sort of money I certainly wouldn't be complaining

[valiant]

hucumber said:

For that sort of money I certainly wouldn't be complaining

Give it a couple of months of finishing at some ungodly hour in the morning which is now also your restday and then switching straight to dead early shifts where your alarm clock goes off at 3am. Add in a few night shifts to really fk with your body clock for good measure. Oh, and you have to remain fully alert at all times as at any moment the railway or your train will decide to st itself and now you’re on stage front and centre with a controller/signaller whose only help will be ‘follow the appropriate procedure, driver’.

Trust me, you’ll be complaining and moaning like a goodun’ in no time.

[anonymous-user]

I agree it doesn't sound like a bed of roses, but again for the money I wouldn't be complaining. You can do a lot worse jobs for a lot less money

[wobman]

I do find the people who say the role of a train driver is easy have never actually done the job, as previously said having 12hrs between shifts of nearly 10hrs in length are not easy.

I have shifts booking on a 2.30am that are over 9hrs long, with some have main rest breaks in the first hour of the job or some in the last hour of the job !
I can drive nearly 5hrs continuous driving with 6 minutes turnaround if I'm lucky, one job was 3mins but upped to 6mins now due to covid.....

Every minute of your day is rostered on your diagram aswell & every part of your driving is monitored on a OTMR system. With Rideout's by managers & downloads of your driving monitored.

Plus we have medicals & rules exams every few years depending on your age or competency etc

I'm not trying to put a downer on the role of a train driver & it's like all jobs you take the rough with the smooth.
But its nice to know what's involved in being a driver, the elements mentioned I find do shock a lot of new starters in the job.

It's a great career but it's not for everyone & it's not at all a family friendly role with its hours.

[Glenn63]

Try truck driving in retail for really ste hours/ shift patterns. Could have a 15 hour shifts, 9 hours off then back for another 15 hour shift. Some weeks one day off. Start times all around the clock and lucky to see over £40k for your efforts.

On another note would being a conductor first give you any more of a chance in getting a trainee driver role?

[ChocolateFrog]

CharlieH89 said:

tms996 said:

I have tried looking but what there is seems to be posted by people who love acronyms. I have no idea what any of it means when referring to tests or assessments.

Also at least one of the people there seems to be tryign to drive people to an external pay site.

Have you got a psychometric assessment?
If so I took mine 12 months ago so could answer any q’s.
ChocolateFrog could too I guess if he would as he must have had his in the past 12 months too.

I’ve also got software on a usb which you come across on the psychs if I can get it to you somehow.

Yes, should be able to answer any questions re the psychometric assessment.

[ChocolateFrog]

monkfish1 said:

Bathroom_Security said:

£58,487 for this jesus

https://careers-gbrailfreight.icims.com/jobs/1737/...

I once knew a train driver, he was absolutely brain dead are you all like that?

I think its the person writing the advert thats definitely brain dead.

At the bottom, "if the answer to the 2 questions above is yes..................."

Except, there are 3 questions!

The whole advert has a bit of a written by the work experience kid vibe about it.