Drivers have this tendency to be frightened and put off by big operators. I think too many people get caught up in this " my operator is best ". I've known many a driver leave flagship operators to drive freight. I've known a shed load of freight guys walk into flagship operators. I also know some highly intelligent and great drivers who know there stuff and would tie some drivers up in knots who drive for the smaller operators and are more than happy. Does it make you a better driver if you work for a major operator? or if you earn more than the guy stood next to you? No it doesn't.. We all know there are good and bad drivers within any company just like any walks of life,including the flagship operators. I'm not debating who is the best company. Just because someone performs well at an interview does that make them a special driver, no it doesn't , does it make a driver who works for a small operator on a fraction of the money a worse driver, no it doesn't, but some drivers seem to think that and there head and shoulders above the rest. Quite embarrassing really. If you drive for eurostar or Northern... A driver is a driver . If you can drive a train, have a good safety of the line and a good attitude you can drive for any TOC/FOC,. So good luck to all the DBS drivers.
Right, if a driver has an excellent safety record, excellent attendance, relevant route knowledge etc and can perform well in interviews, then yes, I see no reason why Virgin wouldn't want to snap them up. But I know of blokes who have all of these attributes, who have still missed out on job offers from VT. If a freight man, with a less than perfect record is handed a virgin job, then it is a kick in the teeth for those that do have a decent record, but through no fault of their own are not being made redundant.
And you say a driver is a driver. I totally agree, however, would you rather be paid £56K to drive one trip to London a day, or get paid much less to drive uncomfortable clapped out units, doing three trips to stockport, followed by a preston and then a stopper to Chester, or similar????? The reality is, Virgin work is desirable, whether you like it or not, and therefore they can have their pick of applicants.