Discussion
Anyone on here a train driver?
Looked into it a good few years ago but went down the HGV route instead but always been interested and wanted to drive trains. Been looking again the last 6 months or so and seems to be loads of jobs about for already qualified drivers but very rarely does one come up for trainee ones and when they do the applications fill up rapidly, last one a few months back I missed due to being on holiday.
Was looking at northern rail as I’m based in the northwest and they have a few jobs for drivers in Blackpool,Liverpool areas.
Is there anyone on here a driver or ex driver with any help/advice to get into this career, is there any way to take you license yourself without a company taking you on as a trainee? Jobs advertised seem a decent salary for the hours is this true once in the role/ would you recommend the job? Sorry for all the questions! And info appreciated,
Cheers
Looked into it a good few years ago but went down the HGV route instead but always been interested and wanted to drive trains. Been looking again the last 6 months or so and seems to be loads of jobs about for already qualified drivers but very rarely does one come up for trainee ones and when they do the applications fill up rapidly, last one a few months back I missed due to being on holiday.
Was looking at northern rail as I’m based in the northwest and they have a few jobs for drivers in Blackpool,Liverpool areas.
Is there anyone on here a driver or ex driver with any help/advice to get into this career, is there any way to take you license yourself without a company taking you on as a trainee? Jobs advertised seem a decent salary for the hours is this true once in the role/ would you recommend the job? Sorry for all the questions! And info appreciated,
Cheers
I've always fancied it but as you say, trainee jobs are rare and so many applicants.
Many are chosen from within ie guards, platform staff etc.
There is a massive thread on PH about training and applying. Lots of interesting stories and a link to a blog written by a guy as he becomes a trained driver over a year or so.
Worth a search.
Many are chosen from within ie guards, platform staff etc.
There is a massive thread on PH about training and applying. Lots of interesting stories and a link to a blog written by a guy as he becomes a trained driver over a year or so.
Worth a search.
Here's a good thread that sparked my interest.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
You need this site,
https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/railway-jobs-c...
All the info is on there but it basically boils down to checking the relevant TOCs websites virtually everyday. Train companies up in your neck of the woods do take trainees but are so heavily over-subscribed that the advert doesn't stay up for long.
As others have said, if you're desperate to get your feet on the footplate then taking any rail job within the TOC (dispatcher, ticket office, etc) can be beneficial as you get a heads up on vacancies and some companies like to promote from within.
It is a long road to becoming a driver and the recruitment process can drive you insane but it is worth it. I know plenty of drivers who hold (or have held) a HGV ticket so there are some transferable skills that may hold your application in good stead.
Good luck!
https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/railway-jobs-c...
All the info is on there but it basically boils down to checking the relevant TOCs websites virtually everyday. Train companies up in your neck of the woods do take trainees but are so heavily over-subscribed that the advert doesn't stay up for long.
As others have said, if you're desperate to get your feet on the footplate then taking any rail job within the TOC (dispatcher, ticket office, etc) can be beneficial as you get a heads up on vacancies and some companies like to promote from within.
It is a long road to becoming a driver and the recruitment process can drive you insane but it is worth it. I know plenty of drivers who hold (or have held) a HGV ticket so there are some transferable skills that may hold your application in good stead.
Good luck!
I also looked into this and applied recently to Greater Anglia when they were advertising for Trainee roles
It is notoriously difficult to get through the application process, I believe for every 1 job advertised they receive in the region of 1000 applicants.
Unfortunately this time I didn't get invited to interview, I think they must have had a stupendous amount of people apply as they were looking at 10+ positions available (or filling in the assessment after a few glasses of vino was probably not a great idea!)
Doesn't hurt trying though, I am on the fence over whether I'd really want to do it for reasons below, however the salary and benefits were too good to not give it a go and apply
You'll need to keep an eye on that train driver forum and religiously check operator websites for vacancies
Application process roughly consists of:
Apply for job
Complete an online assessment
Invite to psychometric assessment
Medical (Drugs & alcohol & general fitness)
Interview 1
Interview 2
Job offer
Then if you do make it you'll be learning in a class room for about 6-12 months, then shadowed by another driver for 6-12 months.
Starting salary for "Apprentice" was £23-28k dependant on location, then after 12 months training it rises to £49k (most operators are in this ball park for early qualified drivers)
It is a long process and bear in mind the HR team will be fairly small and have thousands of applications to sift through, so it takes a loooooooooong time!
I applied in May, online assessment was pretty quick coming 2 weeks later, then a wait until 19th July (3 days ago) to hear application not being taken further.
My main concern is the monotony of the job, would I get bored quickly? I enjoy a lively workplace where things are different everyday, so I might not be the best fit. That doesn't mean that it's the wrong job for everyone, but it was just my concern
The salary is very good for what you are doing (If you can eventually get in!) and speaking with other friends/friends of friends that are current drivers was re-assuring to hear the way work is planned
You'll get 6-9 months worth of rota in advance, so you'll be able to plan your life as you will be working weekends/late nights etc. And if you put your name up for bank hols/emergency shifts etc. you can earn some very good overtime. (One guy was paid £1k for working new years day as no one else was up for it)
Oh and free rail travel (at a minimum with your operator, sometime applies to other operators too) for you & your immediate family
As OP is already HGV qualified I imagine this will stand you in good stead as you have a similar sort of background
If you do apply they'll be looking for you to mention SAFETY! SAFETY SAFETY! and the ability to concentrate for extended periods (Which you can demonstrate with your HGV driving)
Good luck if you find something to apply for, I say go for it :-)
It is notoriously difficult to get through the application process, I believe for every 1 job advertised they receive in the region of 1000 applicants.
Unfortunately this time I didn't get invited to interview, I think they must have had a stupendous amount of people apply as they were looking at 10+ positions available (or filling in the assessment after a few glasses of vino was probably not a great idea!)
Doesn't hurt trying though, I am on the fence over whether I'd really want to do it for reasons below, however the salary and benefits were too good to not give it a go and apply
You'll need to keep an eye on that train driver forum and religiously check operator websites for vacancies
Application process roughly consists of:
Apply for job
Complete an online assessment
Invite to psychometric assessment
Medical (Drugs & alcohol & general fitness)
Interview 1
Interview 2
Job offer
Then if you do make it you'll be learning in a class room for about 6-12 months, then shadowed by another driver for 6-12 months.
Starting salary for "Apprentice" was £23-28k dependant on location, then after 12 months training it rises to £49k (most operators are in this ball park for early qualified drivers)
It is a long process and bear in mind the HR team will be fairly small and have thousands of applications to sift through, so it takes a loooooooooong time!
I applied in May, online assessment was pretty quick coming 2 weeks later, then a wait until 19th July (3 days ago) to hear application not being taken further.
My main concern is the monotony of the job, would I get bored quickly? I enjoy a lively workplace where things are different everyday, so I might not be the best fit. That doesn't mean that it's the wrong job for everyone, but it was just my concern
The salary is very good for what you are doing (If you can eventually get in!) and speaking with other friends/friends of friends that are current drivers was re-assuring to hear the way work is planned
You'll get 6-9 months worth of rota in advance, so you'll be able to plan your life as you will be working weekends/late nights etc. And if you put your name up for bank hols/emergency shifts etc. you can earn some very good overtime. (One guy was paid £1k for working new years day as no one else was up for it)
Oh and free rail travel (at a minimum with your operator, sometime applies to other operators too) for you & your immediate family
As OP is already HGV qualified I imagine this will stand you in good stead as you have a similar sort of background
If you do apply they'll be looking for you to mention SAFETY! SAFETY SAFETY! and the ability to concentrate for extended periods (Which you can demonstrate with your HGV driving)
Good luck if you find something to apply for, I say go for it :-)
Edited by Haddock82 on Saturday 21st July 19:58
Edited by Haddock82 on Saturday 21st July 20:02
Edited by Haddock82 on Saturday 21st July 21:30
I’ve been a driver for Northern for a couple of years now. Would I recommend it? Yes and no!
The worst part by far are the shifts. Last week I was getting home from work at 06.30 and this week i’ve been waking up at 02.30. Fatigue is a massive issue in the industry. As has been mentioned, safety is the priority and concentration plays a big part in being safe. You have to be prepared to alter your lifestyle in order to ensure that you are sufficiently rested. If you haven’t slept you struggle to concentrate and it is SO easy to make a mistake. It improves with experience but you have to be alert at all times.
The good parts are the fixed rest day pattern (5 day weekend every 3 weeks). Being out and about in the countryside, seeing all of the fantastic sunrises/sunsets, rivers, hills, wildlife is great. Unfortunately you’ll kill most of the wildlife at some point. The people are mostly good and the mess room is a welcome relief after spending hours on your own. All of this will be familiar after HGV work. Plus you get to drive trains which is something I really like, even the antiquated trains here at Northern. I wasn’t an enthusiast before joining the railway but it is fun at times and a challenge during leaf fall, will you manage to stop for the station!
Regarding the licence, you can’t get a licence without being in the job but you can pay to take the assessment which may get you noticed and be a help getting an interview.
The railforums site, linked above, has everything you need. It was a great help during my application. Be warned, don’t expect things to move quickly, it can get frustrating waiting for the application to progress.
Training for me was 16 weeks in a classroom followed by around 6 months with an instructor learning 5 routes and then a few weeks passing out. So for me it was just under 11 months from the first day in class to the first day driving a train on my own. The training is intense, really intense. Be prepared to put your life on hold! Even if you have an understanding partner your relationship will be strained. I trained as an accountant years ago and that was easier than going through driver training. It’s purely because of the amount of knowledge that you have to learn, understand and retain in such a short period of time. It’s non stop, you have to devote your life to it until you are out on your own.
I wish i’d become a driver sooner. I spent years in an office environment sat at a computer and it just didn’t suit me. Give it a go.
The worst part by far are the shifts. Last week I was getting home from work at 06.30 and this week i’ve been waking up at 02.30. Fatigue is a massive issue in the industry. As has been mentioned, safety is the priority and concentration plays a big part in being safe. You have to be prepared to alter your lifestyle in order to ensure that you are sufficiently rested. If you haven’t slept you struggle to concentrate and it is SO easy to make a mistake. It improves with experience but you have to be alert at all times.
The good parts are the fixed rest day pattern (5 day weekend every 3 weeks). Being out and about in the countryside, seeing all of the fantastic sunrises/sunsets, rivers, hills, wildlife is great. Unfortunately you’ll kill most of the wildlife at some point. The people are mostly good and the mess room is a welcome relief after spending hours on your own. All of this will be familiar after HGV work. Plus you get to drive trains which is something I really like, even the antiquated trains here at Northern. I wasn’t an enthusiast before joining the railway but it is fun at times and a challenge during leaf fall, will you manage to stop for the station!
Regarding the licence, you can’t get a licence without being in the job but you can pay to take the assessment which may get you noticed and be a help getting an interview.
The railforums site, linked above, has everything you need. It was a great help during my application. Be warned, don’t expect things to move quickly, it can get frustrating waiting for the application to progress.
Training for me was 16 weeks in a classroom followed by around 6 months with an instructor learning 5 routes and then a few weeks passing out. So for me it was just under 11 months from the first day in class to the first day driving a train on my own. The training is intense, really intense. Be prepared to put your life on hold! Even if you have an understanding partner your relationship will be strained. I trained as an accountant years ago and that was easier than going through driver training. It’s purely because of the amount of knowledge that you have to learn, understand and retain in such a short period of time. It’s non stop, you have to devote your life to it until you are out on your own.
I wish i’d become a driver sooner. I spent years in an office environment sat at a computer and it just didn’t suit me. Give it a go.
OP, if you stick with it and succeed you won't regret it, most of us moan about the job on and off, part of that is just down to human nature and fatigue but even the most vocal moaners that I know would never jack it all in to go and work in a warehouse or an office. The money is far, far better now than it ever was in BR days (I started in '82) and depending on the workload and your route card there will be plenty of overtime or rest day work available. At some depots there is such a shortage of drivers that rest day working is relied upon by management to run a normal service.
The training can certainly be very intense but when you come to sit down in front of your Inspector to do your rules exam you will be surprised at just how much knowledge you can retain and recall. The boredom aspect all depends on which depot you're based at and how extensive your route knowledge is - at some depots drivers will only travel on the same route day in, day out which can become tedious. Some of my mates who work for passenger companies say this a lot, a few have even transferred over to freight companies to get more variety. At our depot our route knowledge is quite widespread, being centrally based we cover three separate routes into London (including all the connecting routes where they converge around Willesden, Neasden, Cricklewood, Acton etc,) up north as far as Crewe, all round the Midlands area and down through ex Great Western territory to Worcester, Gloucester, Oxford and Reading. As a small depot we only have one 'link' of thirteen drivers, at larger depots there may be several links covering different routes and types of job.
For me the route knowledge aspect is one of the most satisfying parts of the job, it keeps your mind on the go on the longer shifts and adds to the variety. The mind boggling shift patterns on the freight side can be very tiresome at times but I still enjoy the job as much as I did when I started.
Best piece of advice I can give you is keep your nose clean, if you do f*ck up, don't try to cover your tracks (pun unintended!) and own up to it straight away - everything is recorded on the black box these days, this can be your witness as well as your accuser. When something does go wrong your training just kicks in automatically, even if you do have moments of doubt. Last week I was working a cement train down the Midland Mainline when my loco expired in spectacular fashion just south of Bedford, the crankcase blew its entire oil supply in the four foot while I was in notch eight climbing the gradient but I managed to stop at the next signal which allowed the signalman to run trains round me. My mate duly arrived with an assisting loco and we just cracked on accordingly as if it were an everyday occurrence - it all becomes second nature after a while.
Best of luck!
The training can certainly be very intense but when you come to sit down in front of your Inspector to do your rules exam you will be surprised at just how much knowledge you can retain and recall. The boredom aspect all depends on which depot you're based at and how extensive your route knowledge is - at some depots drivers will only travel on the same route day in, day out which can become tedious. Some of my mates who work for passenger companies say this a lot, a few have even transferred over to freight companies to get more variety. At our depot our route knowledge is quite widespread, being centrally based we cover three separate routes into London (including all the connecting routes where they converge around Willesden, Neasden, Cricklewood, Acton etc,) up north as far as Crewe, all round the Midlands area and down through ex Great Western territory to Worcester, Gloucester, Oxford and Reading. As a small depot we only have one 'link' of thirteen drivers, at larger depots there may be several links covering different routes and types of job.
For me the route knowledge aspect is one of the most satisfying parts of the job, it keeps your mind on the go on the longer shifts and adds to the variety. The mind boggling shift patterns on the freight side can be very tiresome at times but I still enjoy the job as much as I did when I started.
Best piece of advice I can give you is keep your nose clean, if you do f*ck up, don't try to cover your tracks (pun unintended!) and own up to it straight away - everything is recorded on the black box these days, this can be your witness as well as your accuser. When something does go wrong your training just kicks in automatically, even if you do have moments of doubt. Last week I was working a cement train down the Midland Mainline when my loco expired in spectacular fashion just south of Bedford, the crankcase blew its entire oil supply in the four foot while I was in notch eight climbing the gradient but I managed to stop at the next signal which allowed the signalman to run trains round me. My mate duly arrived with an assisting loco and we just cracked on accordingly as if it were an everyday occurrence - it all becomes second nature after a while.
Best of luck!
Edited by P5BNij on Sunday 22 July 14:55
Edited by P5BNij on Sunday 22 July 14:56
Thanks for all the replies guys lots of good info and website links for me to look into!
Looks like it’s definitely a worth while career if can actually get in! The shifts would be fine with me as have always done awful shifts since my very first job, earlies, lates, nights, weekends even weeks away living in HGV cabs!
Guessing the working alone and concentration thing is similar to driving wagons so that side id probably be alright with but I’m much more of a practical person and not very good at the interview stuff side of things so il certainly be getting stuck into those websites to learn as much as I can and keep a very close eye on company sites to catch a vacancy as soon as it appears!
Looks like it’s definitely a worth while career if can actually get in! The shifts would be fine with me as have always done awful shifts since my very first job, earlies, lates, nights, weekends even weeks away living in HGV cabs!
Guessing the working alone and concentration thing is similar to driving wagons so that side id probably be alright with but I’m much more of a practical person and not very good at the interview stuff side of things so il certainly be getting stuck into those websites to learn as much as I can and keep a very close eye on company sites to catch a vacancy as soon as it appears!
Northern will be recruiting on a regular basis for sometime, there is supposed to be a large increase in service over the coming few years . There is also an age blip looming, BR never recruited consistantly so there are a peak of drivers who joined the industry back when I did in the mid 70's . I've got dozens of ex colleagues all reaching prime retirement in the next couple of years. Good companies (Northern?) try and recruit with an almost 12 month lead, so a new drive should be just about trained up. TPE have new trains coming on stream soon and a planned service increase so may also be recruiting in Manchester aswell. I enjoyed most of 40 years on the footplate but the roster does seriously restrict social life and bare in mind the length of shift can be close to 11 hours plus your commute. Good luck if you go for it.
Thanks for the info il have a look into those. I’m used to the awful shift life currently work any 5/6 of 7 so lots of weekend work and shifts usually from 10-15 hours plus commute! How does a train driver shift work is it day work ie start at one place finish at the same or drive somewhere stay over and return next day?
G13NVL said:
Thanks for the info il have a look into those. I’m used to the awful shift life currently work any 5/6 of 7 so lots of weekend work and shifts usually from 10-15 hours plus commute! How does a train driver shift work is it day work ie start at one place finish at the same or drive somewhere stay over and return next day?
I'd say 99% of our work is out and back from your home depot, on some jobs you may have to lodge at a hotel though. Depending on the nature of the work and the length of the shift sometimes you'll travel passenger / taxi / staff car or van in one direction, also depends on which TOC or FOC you work for. On some passenger companies the earliest start may be around 5 or 6am and Sunday is usually outside the normal working week. On the freight side it tends to be all over the place, our working week starts on Sunday and finished on the following Saturday. Yesterday my job was 14.00 to 02.00, tonight's job is 22.15 to 09.25, I'll be driving a staff van to Crewe to work a cement train as far as Wembley then another staff van back to my home depot.Swings and roundabouts just about covers it..!
If you are looking to drive for Northern at Liverpool or Blackpool you will follow a set rest day pattern. Mon/tue off one week, wed/thur the next and fri/sat the week after. There are some Sundays (20-25%) that you will be booked to work. You can usually give these jobs away to people wanting to work overtime.
You work a week of earlies one week and then a week of lates and keep alternating.
I’m friends with an ex hgv driver who has started train driving. He worked a lot of overtime at first but has cut it right back due to fatigue, mistakes are very easy to make and you really want to keep hold of your licence! Some people cope with fatigue better than others, I don’t do overtime as I value my home life and like to have a bit of energy on my days off.
You work a week of earlies one week and then a week of lates and keep alternating.
I’m friends with an ex hgv driver who has started train driving. He worked a lot of overtime at first but has cut it right back due to fatigue, mistakes are very easy to make and you really want to keep hold of your licence! Some people cope with fatigue better than others, I don’t do overtime as I value my home life and like to have a bit of energy on my days off.
The last job I saw was for northern based at Blackpool and I think my nearest depo, I live in Chorley, Liverpool not to far either.
Sounds not to bad a rota that would certainly suit me. The wage/work hours they state on adverts seems the perfect balance of life/wage ratio for me but good to know there’s plenty of overtime aswel and seems a not uncommon move from HGV driving.
Sounds not to bad a rota that would certainly suit me. The wage/work hours they state on adverts seems the perfect balance of life/wage ratio for me but good to know there’s plenty of overtime aswel and seems a not uncommon move from HGV driving.
Keep an eye out on the freight side of things too, both Freightliner and DB Cargo have been taking on trainees recently and ground staff roles that will lead into a main line Drivers job.
You’ve also got Northern depots at Preston, Wigan and Blackburn near you plus TPE and Virgin at Preston. Don’t be too choosy, with either depot or company, as long as you live within the specified radius stick an application in. Once you’ve passed out you can stick a transfer in back to a depot closer to home.
Make sure you check the websites daily (and sign up for job alerts) as vacancies can be pulled in days once they’ve enough applicants. Don’t think “I’ll do it tomorrow” to submit your application, the job might be pulled tomorrow!
Despite all the negative press about the Railways at the moment it’s still a great job. Good luck.
You’ve also got Northern depots at Preston, Wigan and Blackburn near you plus TPE and Virgin at Preston. Don’t be too choosy, with either depot or company, as long as you live within the specified radius stick an application in. Once you’ve passed out you can stick a transfer in back to a depot closer to home.
Make sure you check the websites daily (and sign up for job alerts) as vacancies can be pulled in days once they’ve enough applicants. Don’t think “I’ll do it tomorrow” to submit your application, the job might be pulled tomorrow!
Despite all the negative press about the Railways at the moment it’s still a great job. Good luck.
Those wondering if it's for them could use a simulator (Train Simulator on a PC) to see how it feels. To me, I love trains, being a driver was one of my childhood dreams which I never pursued due to family pressure. But when I started driving trains in sims I noticed that I get bored quite quickly with it. I can't imagine driving the same route every day for years on end (like e.g. Thameslink drivers do). I think I'd rather be a tram driver simply for the variety of things happening around you and the challenges. Or just drive freight but then again sitting in a loud diesel loco is not something I'd want to do every day (even if it's an EMD powered beast, I love how they sound).
P5BNij said:
Last week I was working a cement train down the Midland Mainline when my loco expired in spectacular fashion just south of Bedford, the crankcase blew its entire oil supply in the four foot while I was in notch eight climbing the gradient but I managed to stop at the next signal which allowed the signalman to run trains round me. My mate duly arrived with an assisting loco and we just cracked on accordingly as if it were an everyday occurrence - it all becomes second nature after a while.
I'm guessing that was one of the Class 66 locos? Which number?Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff