Very Nearly There- Trainee Driver Southern Selhurst

[juicerail82]

Hello!

First post on this forum. Though I've been reading threads for a while. I've been verbally offered trainee driver for Southern at Selhurst, after a few years of trying to get into the rail industry, mostly with NR and SWT.

Personal background info. It's an approaching mid-30s career change for me. I've spent 15 years volunteering at a heritage railway (Guard and station staff). I've always been curious about joining 'the big railway' and now I'm taking the plunge

Question: I say verbally as it still pends the outcome of the medical, which I had last week. The Doc signed me as fit for the job. However due to my height he recommended a risk assessment. Has anybody heard of this before? I came out as 6ft 2.3in, so within the 6ft 4. So is there anything for me to be concerned about at all?

Anyway, I wish to thank this forum. As I crawled through the selection process I was occasionally reading other people's experiences of Driver recruitment at many TOCs and that helped keep me settled. So thanks

Of course, I've not actually got the offer in writing yet. But it's near enough there, touch-wood!

Anybody else familiar with working at Southern, or already at Selhurst with tips or advice thanks in advance! I'm going to embrace this opportunity to join the railway family

 

[Scott M]

Welcome to the profession mate!

 

[juicerail82]

Welcome to the profession mate!

Thanks!

 

[class 9]

Hope you get your written confirmation, just because you've been offer the job you are not 'there' yet, the hard work starts now, there have been plenty of people that have not got through driver training. Good luck though.

 

[Aivilo]

Regarding the initial post I can't see why they would question your height?

It's average these days and you'll not be the tallest driver at Southern that's for sure

 

[TDK]

Hello!

Question: I say verbally as it still pends the outcome of the medical, which I had last week. The Doc signed me as fit for the job. However due to my height he recommended a risk assessment. Has anybody heard of this before? I came out as 6ft 2.3in, so within the 6ft 4. So is there anything for me to be concerned about at all?

The risk assessment is only for ergonomics of the cab environment

 

[juicerail82]

Hope you get your written confirmation, just because you've been offer the job you are not 'there' yet, the hard work starts now, there have been plenty of people that have not got through driver training. Good luck though.

Thanks. Already aware the training is tough and my nearly there remark was referring to being a trainee. A few drivers I know personally have reassured me that although people fail the training it is in fact by comparison still a low number. So although I'm aware of the risks they are still well worth taking, and I'm not too concerned at this stage.

I've also managed 11 years in an industry where the operational training is quite frankly shocking! So any structured training will be a godsend

But without drifting too much from my initial questions. You are right, ' there' only means so much until you've got the keys.

Thanks for wishing me luck.

 

[class 9]

As every one has said, forget about the height thing, I'm the same height as you and have never had any issues with it during my 27 yrs on the job.
Good luck again.

 

[juicerail82]

As every one has said, forget about the height thing, I'm the same height as you and have never had any issues with it during my 27 yrs on the job.
Good luck again.

Thanks for the reassurance

 

[455driver]

Checking your height is just to ensure you can fit comfortably in the cabs of the trains you will be driving.
Although you are within the limit it will depend how that height is made up, long legs and a short body could be an issue fitting your knees under the desk, short legs and long body can mean you have problems looking through the windscreen. If you are 'normal' build then you will be fine.

Oh and congratulations.

 

[theironroad]

I wouldn't have thought it'd really be an issue tbh.

I will say, as a (6'1 driver) that some cabs are more comfortable than others but not a big issue.