A career as a train driver

[Minilad]

That is fine as long as it don't affect your ability as a driver or distract you. If it's you hobby so be it. The main reason that many say do not mention it at interview is that an interviewer only needs a minuscule clue that any hobby may affect your concentration to fail you at interview and being a train enthusiast is one of them. When I was doing my interview techniques course the assessor did say that if a candidate is very enthusiastic what would the distraction be? He then went on to say if a driver is approaching a red signal and there is an unusual train in the depot adjacent will this take their concentration away from the task. I could only think possibly so therefore when interviewing did take this into account.

I didn't say I treated the job as my hobby. Luckily I am 50 and not 9 I can contain my excitement sufficiently so as not to be distracted. When I am driving a train I am a train driver not an enthusiast. I take it you drive with blinkers on then. Never doing anything other than looking straight ahead. Many things can distract someone not just other trains.
Thankfully I didn't feel the need to do an interview technique course I was just myself during the interview. Not telling people what I thought they wanted to hear just answering the question openly and honestly. And yes that included being honest about being an enthusiast. Maybe things are different now I don't know

 

[plastictaffy]

Most freight men are on canny little number now, I'm stating that the majority of drivers I know and speak to on a daily basis are in it for one reason only and that's the pound signs on offer.

Canny number?? Booking on at 0230, to drive to (and sit in) a possession, bored out of your brain on a Sunday night/monday morning, knowing that when your mate comes to relieve you, all you'll have to look forward to is a two hour van drive to get you home?? Sounds canny. Almost all the freight drivers I know have jumped ship to do passenger work.

 

[Beveridges]

Most drivers these days are in it for one reason only and thats the £££ thats on offer. Most drivers I speak to hate the job, have no interest in trains whatsoever and cant wait to retire .

This is exactly what I hear from most mainline drivers I've spoken to (Northern Rail) so these comments are not exclusive to freight.

We're not just talking about them hating the shifts either, they hate the work and the diagrams.

I used to want to become a mainline Driver but think I landed lucky in this Maintenance Depot Driving role. It's a role I enjoy, the money might be less but I'd rather do a role I enjoy rather than risk being a slave to the money by doing something I might hate.

I take complaints seriously and if I hear someone moaning, I see it as they are moaning for a good reason - not because they are just a 'moaner'.

Even without overtime, most people spend about a third of their life at work. I don't know about anyone else but it would drive mad if I had to spend such a huge chunk of my time doing something I hate. Money is not everything.

 

[carriageline]

Oh yeah cos that's what most freight drivers do


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[A-driver]

Canny number?? Booking on at 0230, to drive to (and sit in) a possession, bored out of your brain on a Sunday night/monday morning, knowing that when your mate comes to relieve you, all you'll have to look forward to is a two hour van drive to get you home?? Sounds canny. Almost all the freight drivers I know have jumped ship to do passenger work.

To be fair, I can see the appeal of that when compared to doing 3-4 trips over the same bit of track day in, day out. Sit in a possession for hours? Sounds ok, bring a book etc.

Many passenger drivers who have moved to. The freight say the exact opposite of what you say and would never go back to passenger work.

Each to their own though.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

How much will the introduction of ETCS have on anyone joining the rail industry as a driver? Presumably the learning process as stands would be:

* Route Knowlegde (speed limits, signal locations, etc)
* Traction Knowledge (How to operate the train, troubleshooting, emergency procedures, etc)
* Railway Regulations (which presumably will be common to any driver for any company)

Will the introduction of ETCS take a very huge chunk out of what a new driver would have to learn for route knowledge?

 

[A-driver]

How much will the introduction of ETCS have on anyone joining the rail industry as a driver? Presumably the learning process as stands would be:

* Route Knowlegde (speed limits, signal locations, etc)
* Traction Knowledge (How to operate the train, troubleshooting, emergency procedures, etc)
* Railway Regulations (which presumably will be common to any driver for any company)

Will the introduction of ETCS take a very huge chunk out of what a new driver would have to learn for route knowledge?

To put it simply, no. All it is is. A type of signalling. You will still need to know everything about the route that you currently do. Plus you will need to know all about ETCS-the rules and regulations, equipment, fault and failiures/degraded working etc.

It's not a type of automation so the driver will still need to know the route inside out.

 

[JAMBO]

Canny number?? Booking on at 0230, to drive to (and sit in) a possession, bored out of your brain on a Sunday night/monday morning, knowing that when your mate comes to relieve you, all you'll have to look forward to is a two hour van drive to get you home?? Sounds canny. Almost all the freight drivers I know have jumped ship to do passenger work.

Yeah it does sound canny doesn't it, feet up, cuppa and a newspaper, easiest £££££ you will make!

 

[Beveridges]

10 hours of hearing ying ying would start to do my head in

 

[choo~choo]

I'm a train driver and I love it, got no interest in trains & took a pay cut for the job too! It's all about working conditions, pension & job security.. Still looking forward to retirement, who on a final salary pension isn't?

JAMBO what do you do btw? How many times have you applied for a driving position?

 

[JAMBO]

Prob find been in the seat quite some time

 

[choo~choo]

Prob find been in the seat quite some time

Also makes sense that tbh

 

[david_VI]

This is exactly what I hear from most mainline drivers I've spoken to (Northern Rail) so these comments are not exclusive to freight.

We're not just talking about them hating the shifts either, they hate the work and the diagrams.

I used to want to become a mainline Driver but think I landed lucky in this Maintenance Depot Driving role. It's a role I enjoy, the money might be less but I'd rather do a role I enjoy rather than risk being a slave to the money by doing something I might hate.

I take complaints seriously and if I hear someone moaning, I see it as they are moaning for a good reason - not because they are just a 'moaner'.

Even without overtime, most people spend about a third of their life at work. I don't know about anyone else but it would drive mad if I had to spend such a huge chunk of my time doing something I hate. Money is not everything.

People will always moan. I've found some drivers moan but they know they have a really good job and it would be extremely hard to find another job with benefits and such good pay where you just turn up and do the job..

 

[JAMBO]

Also makes sense that tbh

I'm a touch lost with your comments?

 

[Titch16]

Hi
I am currently working in the Royal Navy and drive warships as a helmsmen. I will be leaving soon, what are my chances of becoming a train driver.

Many thanks

 

[A-driver]

Hi
I am currently working in the Royal Navy and drive warships as a helmsmen. I will be leaving soon, what are my chances of becoming a train driver.

Many thanks

Well as good as anyone else's...I'm sure you have plenty of relevant experience but you really just need to apply and see how you get on.

Posts like that are not easy to answer with respect as you just need to apply for a job and do your best.

 

[Titch16]

Do I just have to keep browsing for position to open, or do I just ask for a application form and send it in

 

[GB]

Canny number?? Booking on at 0230, to drive to (and sit in) a possession, bored out of your brain on a Sunday night/monday morning, knowing that when your mate comes to relieve you, all you'll have to look forward to is a two hour van drive to get you home?? Sounds canny. Almost all the freight drivers I know have jumped ship to do passenger work.

£28 an hour while doing a bit of van driving is hardly the end of the world.

 

[Bluebri]

Hi
I am currently working in the Royal Navy and drive warships as a helmsmen. I will be leaving soon, what are my chances of becoming a train driver.

Many thanks

I'm an ex sun dodger used to driving boats. Is not an automatic given but your experience is going to be extremely valuable. The real issue is not what you have done though but how to present it on an application. I had more than 5 applications knocked back until I got it right. The rest is then ensuring you understand the tests and interviews and preparing well, which this forum is an invaluable resource. It is said that the railways like ex forces but it doesn't mean that gives you any advantage. My experience is that the grade is so high, you have to be spotty dog to make that particular edge count. Read the forums and research the job and company you apply for, then make sure you sell yourself well. Good luck.

 

[Titch16]

I'm an ex sun dodger used to driving boats. Is not an automatic given but your experience is going to be extremely valuable. The real issue is not what you have done though but how to present it on an application. I had more than 5 applications knocked back until I got it right. The rest is then ensuring you understand the tests and interviews and preparing well, which this forum is an invaluable resource. It is said that the railways like ex forces but it doesn't mean that gives you any advantage. My experience is that the grade is so high, you have to be spotty dog to make that particular edge count. Read the forums and research the job and company you apply for, then make sure you sell yourself well. Good luck.

Thanks for the feed back, you've been a great help

 

[choo~choo]

I'm a touch lost with your comments?

Doubt that champ

 

[hughavinalaf]

Hi
I am currently working in the Royal Navy and drive warships as a helmsmen. I will be leaving soon, what are my chances of becoming a train driver.

Many thanks

You should sail through,they may even wave the application process....

 

[Red18]

Hi
I am currently working in the Royal Navy and drive warships as a helmsmen. I will be leaving soon, what are my chances of becoming a train driver.

Many thanks

Hi,
it's very competititve so I honestly think your chances of getting on a course are as good as anybody else.
There are people from a vast range of industries applying with a varied range of qualifications (both academic and vocational) including a lot of internal applicants looking for a step up / change.
From what I understand though, the trainers do like ex-forces personnel because generally they are easier to teach due to their ability to learn and they follow rules and instructions well.
So if you can get beyond the lengthy application / selection process you will do ok.

Good luck.

 

[Journeyman]

I'm currently in the process of being assessed with DRS. I passed their own tests and stage 1 of the industry psychometrics, I have stage 2 next week. It's a hugely intense and demanding process, but it does strike me as being a lot fairer and more transparent than a lot of the other recruitment processes I've been through.

I've got shedloads of industry experience, having worked for 2 TOCs, London Underground and Network Rail, plus transport-related qualifications coming out of my ears, but I've not worked in the industry since 2009. I've been trying to get back in and it's been really tough, but at least I feel I'm in with a shot with this. Whether you're internal or external, you still have to jump through all the same hoops, and if you can do it, and say the right things at the interview, you'll get there. It does seem a lot better than most places, where you just have one shot at an interview, and a decision is made within a few seconds.

 

[TDK]

You should sail through,they may even wave the application process....

I presume you are joking as even qualified drivers need to get through a sift and many don't

 

[notadriver]

I've even known of qualified airline pilots fail the psychometric tests ..

 

[Journeyman]

I've just passed stage 2 of the psychometric tests. They're very, very hard work, but if you're determined to do the job, have done your homework and have put in some good preparation, you can get through them. Whilst the pass marks remain a closely-guarded secret, pretty much everything else is quite transparent and you get chances to practice before you do them for real.

Final interview with DRS on 2nd June...any ideas on what I can expect? Thankfully I'm not working at the moment so I have plenty of time to prepare.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Hi
I am currently working in the Royal Navy and drive warships as a helmsmen. I will be leaving soon, what are my chances of becoming a train driver.

Many thanks

You'll have to get through the psychometrics as best you can like everyone else, but if you get to interview stage, you'll be in a strong position. They want people who can demonstrate real responsibility, an ability to carry out procedures properly and safely, and who can cope under pressure, and I suspect being responsible for a warship will be pretty damn near perfect for some of the questions you'll be asked.

 

[JayK69]

Hi, does anyone know which company test you when you are trying to become a Eurotunnel shuttle driver. I have passed all of the test and assessments just failed at the interview in January 2014. They told me I have got one more chance to apply for train driver job after half a year. I am just wondering if that is just for EuroTunnel or I could apply in any other train company and they will accept my results in tests I have already done. I just would like to get in touch with them examiners and ask them about it, but I cannot remember their name so I cannot google it. Thank you for any information!

 

[455driver]

All test results are stored on a central database, just advise any new TOCs of where and when you took the tests and they will be able to look them up.
They will then decide whether to accept them or if there are any others you need to take.

 

[ExTankieAaron]

Is their any people on this forum that can help me out with trying to turn all my Army jargon into civilian talk and relate it to being a train driver?
I thought i managed to do it this time with the ongoing Freightliner opening but i seem to have (for now) failed again. i am aware this is a gold dust job and there are hundreds of people going for the jobs available.
I seem to get stuck with the applications where they ask for past experience of... I try to say stuff like (the truth) i am a vehicle commander so working in a pressured environment trying to keep timing with other vehicles is essential so being in charge of a train seems very similar. I even compared train company's to Army regiments, all working together for the same goal with their own company targets. Its true, they do sound like regiments. haha.

I am even looking to shift my career for now to HGV to get experience of delivering goods on time in all conditions, in charge of my lorry etc again to be similar to a freight train driver.
This is my 5th attempt now and starting to be a little disillusioned over this dream i have.
I can even send a CV for if anybody on here is HR to look over and give pointers though i know most jobs are fill in forms and in Freightliners case a 10 question test!!

ANY help at all illl be hugely grateful.

Aaron.