• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Conductor Training - What to expect if successful.

Status
Not open for further replies.

Northernboy67

Member
Joined
1 Apr 2012
Messages
69
I am probably really jumping the gun here, as I have not even had an interview or got the job. I am just wondering what to expect, should I be successful. I have seen what to expect, if your going for a Train Driving role, but can find nothing under the Trainee Conductor role. I am just interested as I know that I would be better prepared. Is it Classroom based at first? Do you get your uniform before you start or during the first week?
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

TDK

Established Member
Joined
19 Apr 2008
Messages
4,155
Location
Crewe
I am probably really jumping the gun here, as I have not even had an interview or got the job. I am just wondering what to expect, should I be successful. I have seen what to expect, if your going for a Train Driving role, but can find nothing under the Trainee Conductor role. I am just interested as I know that I would be better prepared. Is it Classroom based at first? Do you get your uniform before you start or during the first week?

You need to get through the sift first (the hardest part) all that happens is that you have a set program of training to do and a set time to do it in. The first week is generally induction that will familiarise you with the company and this is the week that you will be measured up for your uniform.
 

redron

Member
Joined
23 Feb 2014
Messages
35
If you get a job as a conductor, after your initial induction you will spend a few weeks in a classroom gaining your PTS and learning rules, which you are assessed on as you go. After this you will do your commercial stuff [tickets].

Once this is done you are released to your depot and will undertake their conductor training plan where you will learn the routes you are to sign and shadow conductor instructors. Finally you will be assessed on the whole thing.

The process will usually last around 3-4 months.
 
Last edited:

craigybagel

Established Member
Joined
25 Oct 2012
Messages
5,061
You could probably get 20 different answers here as every TOC seems to do it differently! Most will have PTS at the start since you're not much use without it but after that it really all depends on where you are.

For what its worth, it's 9 weeks officially in the classroom at ours (although they get you out and about on trains, stations (selling tickets) or even in the sim (practicing dispatch) as much as possible). Then back to our home depots to sit our rules exam, learn any additional traction that wasn't covered earlier, and route learning. Then 2 weeks shadowing another guard, then away you go :)
 

Northernboy67

Member
Joined
1 Apr 2012
Messages
69
Thank you for your help and comments. I have a better understanding. I have a bit of PTS knowledge, as I currently volunteer on The Kent & East Sussex Railway.
 

tsr

Established Member
Joined
15 Nov 2011
Messages
7,400
Location
Between the parallel lines
Thank you for your help and comments. I have a better understanding. I have a bit of PTS knowledge, as I currently volunteer on The Kent & East Sussex Railway.

Don't worry about any heritage railway PTS. In fact, forget it whilst you're working under the banner of a mainline TOC. Mainline PTS training will almost certainly have significant additions/differences in content and certainly for validity. However, I only hold PTS certification for Network Rail infrastructure and not heritage lines, so I cannot say what the differences are for certain.

If you concentrate, listen and ask questions about anything you're unsure of, I doubt you will find PTS training difficult, but it must be done properly.
 
Last edited:

Jonfun

Established Member
Joined
16 Mar 2007
Messages
1,254
Location
North West
It'll be useful to have an understanding of railway terminology as it can be a bit confusing at first, but there are likely to be differences in procedures and perhaps things like position of safety distances etc. As long as you're able to appreciate the differences and follow then then that's all part of the game.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top