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A career as a train driver
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Hammer4life
Member
- Joined
- 3 Jun 2015
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- 28
Depends on the medical condition I'd imagine, but any history of blackouts or epilepsy means you can't drive a train
The only people who can give you a realistic and useful answer is the companies occupational health provider and HR department. A yes/no answer dosnt exist to your question and no one on here is in a position on to give you an answer.
Apply for the job and if you get through to the medical declare everything (they can look at your medical records so don't lie, although don't volunteer it unless asked) and be prepared that you may not pass the medical due to this. If you do it's a bonus.
I know they are more accommodating to existing drivers than new ones but generally with things like strokes and heart attacks they will require a year or more with no further problems before letting you back on the footplate so it's no always career ending. That said, epilepsy is taken very seriously, but with almost 30 years clear they may not be too worried.
But as I say, all anyone here an do is guess so you really need to speak with the TOC and OH department to find out. I will also add that each toc can set their own standards above the standard EU medical regulations so you may find whilst one toc says no, another will say yes.
As I say, the only people who can answer that is the toc and their OH provider. Historical conditions are not always a straight 'no' answer. Just be prepared that you MAY disappointed. I see no harm in applying though.
Congratulations.
Two good things about your story. For those that lack the required competencies when they first consider the role, you've demonstrated how to develop them by working in other roles across the industry. With your final application, you've proved that you don't need to already work for a company, to land a trainee driver role (at least darn Sarff).
Do,all tocs keep their guards on current pay during driver training out of interest?
A train manager on driver training retains their 33-34 basic if true so not bad!
I am led to believe swt impose a training wage which puts many guards off due to a lower pay?
A train manager on driver training retains their 33-34 basic if true so not bad!
I am led to believe swt impose a training wage which puts many guards off due to a lower pay?
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Hammer4life
Member
- Joined
- 3 Jun 2015
- Messages
- 28
Just out of curiousity how much is the pay difference between a guard and trainee train driver?
notadriver
Established Member
- Joined
- 1 Oct 2010
- Messages
- 3,653
Trainee drivers are usually on about 20k ish.
Guards normally earn more normally at least 5k more basic but some tocs preserve the guards present wage if internal
Am I right in saying with regarding the assessments for trainee drivers that there are different levels of passing depending on the TOC. I am lead to believe a company like Northern in Leeds has a high pass rate whilst the T&W Metro in Newcastle has a lower level.
As far as I am aware there is no central 'database' if you can call it that of which TOCs accept the varying pass marks with the psychometric testing. every TOC I have applied to I've had to e-mail to ask what pass mark they require.
I have conducted my assessment with one TOC so how can I find out if its a required pass mark for the current TOC i have applied for
I'm sure they'll let you know if they require you to resit any of the tests to achieve a higher mark
competency based questions. not going to say the actual questions but look up transport or operational competency questions on Google and you won't go far wrong. Biggest probably obvious piece of advice stay calm don't lie and keep your answers to the point. when they ask probing questions think before you answer and don't give one word answers. I passed mine in June and didn't find it as intense as alot of people on here make it out to be however I have the experience to answer the questions.
That's the thing ,if you have got the experience behind you then generally you will find it easier as you know what your talking about ,but for someone who hasn't they might struggle.like the guy above said look up in Google etc and if you feel your short someone try and go out and get it.goodlyck
Hello Guys,
I registered here because I have an idea that I will start to train myself as a train driver. Unfortunately I'm not a british person, so sorry for my bad english, and I know that the first step is improve my language skill higher and higher.
But I like the trains, I'm interested it, so... I'd like to start the learn and information collect about this job.
About a few days ago I found some website via Google:
http://www.traindrivertrainee.com/Train-Drive- Recruitment-Process.html
http://www.traindriver.org/training.html
what is your opinion, are these sites good to start being inform? and I found 2 practical things:
http://www.how2become.co.uk/products/train-driver-application-form-dvd/
http://www.how2become.co.uk/products/train-driver-tests/
what do you think, is there any sense to order the dvd and book, and learn, or pay monthly for the tests? if no, could you please show me some useful links, where can I start to learn more about the job, the training, the interviews, the test, etc...?
thank you for your help, guys!
regards
Yeff
I registered here because I have an idea that I will start to train myself as a train driver. Unfortunately I'm not a british person, so sorry for my bad english, and I know that the first step is improve my language skill higher and higher.
But I like the trains, I'm interested it, so... I'd like to start the learn and information collect about this job.
About a few days ago I found some website via Google:
http://www.traindrivertrainee.com/Train-Drive- Recruitment-Process.html
http://www.traindriver.org/training.html
what is your opinion, are these sites good to start being inform? and I found 2 practical things:
http://www.how2become.co.uk/products/train-driver-application-form-dvd/
http://www.how2become.co.uk/products/train-driver-tests/
what do you think, is there any sense to order the dvd and book, and learn, or pay monthly for the tests? if no, could you please show me some useful links, where can I start to learn more about the job, the training, the interviews, the test, etc...?
thank you for your help, guys!
regards
Yeff
I wouldn't waste money on anything like that. The tests are not complicated. They are designed to see what you can do, not how much you have practiced to do them.
Best advice I'd say is to keep an eye on your local TOCs and apply for trainee driver jobs. Treat the application like any other job application-it's no different. They will send all the practice materials and info you will need ahead of any testing and then do your best in the tests and interviews.
Not much more to it than that.
why are you rolling your eyes? can you give me any usable answer, like the forum member beneath you? because the "rolling eyes smiley" is not too helpful to me
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hi, thank you your answer.
so are you saying that these websites have no sense absolutely? hmm... I thought that they have, because, you know, I have never had any connection with this job earlier. I mean I've never applied before, or I've never learn anything about that. so I think I have no idea what should I learn, or do. isn't it a problem?
and maybe this is a lama question, but: what does it mean the TOC? the local train company?
I live in Bristol, so the train provider here is the First GW, but I'm not sure that they train drivers.
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why are you rolling your eyes? can you give me any usable answer, like the forum member beneath you? because the "rolling eyes smiley" is not too helpful to me
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
hi, thank you your answer.
so are you saying that these websites have no sense absolutely? hmm... I thought that they have, because, you know, I have never had any connection with this job earlier. I mean I've never applied before, or I've never learn anything about that. so I think I have no idea what should I learn, or do. isn't it a problem?
and maybe this is a lama question, but: what does it mean the TOC? the local train company?
I live in Bristol, so the train provider here is the First GW, but I'm not sure that they train drivers.
TOC is the individual employer yes.
You don't need to learn anything. They teach you everything you need to know. They will send you for tests to see if you are suitable and likely to be able to cope with the training. There is little you c an do to train for these tests apart from getting a good nights sleep the night before and concentrating/listening carefully to the instructions on the day.
Look at pretty much any job and you'll find a company online offering to flog you some book or software which they claim will help you get that job. Personally I don't rate them. There is more useful info on this thread than in those packages and this thread is free.
I personally came from an office based railway background but didn't look at any material such as this when I applied for a driver job, I just filled out the application to the best of my ability like I would for any job. A lot of drivers come straight into driving with no railway experience and I hardly know any who wasted money on these kind of packages. It's an expensive way of being told what you most likely already know.
Look at FGWs careers page as trainee driver jobs do come up from time to time. If you find a trainee job and wish to apply for it then come back on here if you are unsure of anything and people will be able to help you. I certainly don't see any gain in paying for one of these packages of you havnt even found a vacancy you wish to apply for yet.
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