If you went for a job at Aberdeen and lived more than 50 minutes from the depot you wouldn't get the job to transfer in the first place.
Oh, I thought this was only the case for the drivers - I didn't realise train conductors were similar...
No offence to the OP but having read your various posts, I don't think you would actually be offered a position as they/you seem to be unsure of what u want from the job. Sorry but a true fact I feel.
Hi.
I was wondering, how difficult is it to transfer between depots within an organisation?
For instance, if I was to go for a conductor job in Aberdeen, could I, possibly, get a transfer to Glasgow Central?
Oh, I thought this was only the case for the drivers - I didn't realise train conductors were similar...
It varies from company to company whether it's a rule or not, and hope strict they are in enforcing it. However, it if a very common question at interview for conductor jobs - how will you get to work. You need to be able to show you can do so independently and reliably.
There is also usually a waiting period before you can put in for a transfer. Officially at our place it's two years (although it seems to be rarely enforced), and from talking to someone else about this very subject the other day, apparently at LM it's one year. I'd be amazed it Scotrail didn't have some sort of rule on this as well, at least on paper.
You can appeal a transfer on a welfare basis, say for example, marriage or family needs etc, but it is relatively easy if a vacancy exixts at the depot you wish to move to. It usually involves nothing more than a written request to your manager. Seniority dictates who gets the move first, i.e length of service as well as needs must if there is a waiting list etc, and the capacity of the depot requirements.
Say for an example TPE, york which has 75ish conductors, but only 15 at newcastle or maybe one or two more at scarborough, to transfer to york would be far easier as the higher likelihood of a vacancy being available at york than say newcastle or scarborough as you'd have to wait for a promotion, retirement etc to make the line of work vacant to fulfil. Or also if there is a mutual swap available where for example an individual at newcastle wishes to swap with an individual at york so they both get the others depot. Route and traction may not necessarily be an issue, compared to a york member of staff transferring to manchester, although there are some york routes newcastle staff dont sign as a rule. even if it is the case, its still relatively small compared to the costs of training a new member of staff, and still a cost worth bearing if tje welfare of a companies me,ber of staff will be improved as a result
Speak to your local union rep and your line manger, as the union has also to ratify any transfer to ensure fairness, even if you arent a union member. But it is relatively common within company, as well as inter-same-group company (eg FGW to TPE)
LM don't particularly have a rule. It just depends what the vacancies are like and if they are recruiting to fill them or not. I know people that have moved within months of joining. People are always moving.
One thing I find interesting is that at my TOC if you make a transfer, any route knowledge you had at your old depot you don't use at your new one is deemed lost immediately, the day you make the transfer, and not just after 6 months like you might expect. Is that the norm elsewhere?
One thing I find interesting is that at my TOC if you make a transfer, any route knowledge you had at your old depot you don't use at your new one is deemed lost immediately, the day you make the transfer, and not just after 6 months like you might expect. Is that the norm elsewhere?
I'm not sure on the exact ruling, but our place has a few people who retain route knowledge beyond what they should have at a particular depot. Not approved of by all though, as there's definitely the view that if it's not your depot's work, you shouldn't sign it.
Fair enough, that's just what I was told by someone who's currently trying to join them. Like I said, whilst we officially have a 2 year rule at our place it's rarely enforced and I too know of several who've moved within months. I'd never recommend anyone to take on the job unless they can cope with being based at a particular place indefinitely though.
One thing I find interesting is that at my TOC if you make a transfer, any route knowledge you had at your old depot you don't use at your new one is deemed lost immediately, the day you make the transfer, and not just after 6 months like you might expect. Is that the norm elsewhere?