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Swithing from Sweden to the UK?

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swede

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Hello!

I'm a Swedish train driver with a European train driving license (which I suppose all train drivers within the EU now must have). Me and my wife are very interested in moving to the north of England, if there is a possibility.

Do you know if a foreign educated train driver can apply for jobs in the UK? I would of course need new training for the UK railway system (signals, railway vocabulary, routines etc). Would it be a merit to have education and work-experience from another EU country?
Do you know where I can write to inquire further? To the train operators directly?

Could you tell me who the main operators in the north of England are and what cities they have depots in?

Lots of question, would be grateful for any information you can provide!
 
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GrimsbyPacer

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Main operators in North of England are:

Across the North:
First Transpennine Express.
Northern Rail.

Area specific railways:
Merseyrail.
Hull Trains.
Tyne And Wear Metro.

Other operators which run to the North:
East Midlands Trains.
Grand Central.
Virgin Trains.




I'm sure your experience will help.
There's a driver shortage for Trans Pennine Express at the moment too.

If I knew how to apply I would do so myself.

You can learn the signage in the UK here:
http://www.railsigns.uk/home.html
 
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WCMLaddict

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Please tell me you're from the Karlstad or Gotheburg area! We can do a straight swap :)
 

GrimsbyPacer

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First Transpennine Express run trains from Windermere to Manchester.
Northern Rail run Barrow to Preston or Manchester, & Carlisle to Barrow services.
If you're in the Lake District you could also consider Direct Rail Services which are currently running trains for Northern in that area.
 

WCMLaddict

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Yes I do.
Send an email to [email protected] with your questions, the HR contact centre people are usually good with replying to emails.
We will be recruiting again very soon (and apparently in large numbers as well).
Do you work for SJ or in freight?
 

swede

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First Transpennine Express run trains from Windermere to Manchester.
Northern Rail run Barrow to Preston or Manchester, & Carlisle to Barrow services.
If you're in the Lake District you could also consider Direct Rail Services which are currently running trains for Northern in that area.

Fantastic, just the region I'm interested in. Windermere and the surrounding villages is heaven on earth. Can you be stationed in Windermere??
 

swede

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Yes I do.
Send an email to [email protected] with your questions, the HR contact centre people are usually good with replying to emails.
We will be recruiting again very soon (and apparently in large numbers as well).
Do you work for SJ or in freight?

Yes, I've just emailed them, very exciting.

Yes, I work for SJ, the daughter company Götalandståg which runs short- and mid-distance trains in the west of Sweden.
 

WCMLaddict

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Grass always greener on the other side huh? ;)

I'll send you a private message when the forum allow me.
 

E&W Lucas

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Main operators in North of England are:

Across the North:
First Transpennine Express.
Northern Rail.

Area specific railways:
Merseyrail.
Hull Trains.
Tyne And Wear Metro.

Other operators which run to the North:
East Midlands Trains.
Grand Central.
Virgin Trains.




I'm sure your experience will help.
There's a driver shortage for Trans Pennine Express at the moment too.

If I knew how to apply I would do so myself.

You can learn the signage in the UK here:
http://www.railsigns.uk/home.html

Please ignore posts from those who have no idea what they are talking about, such as by this individual.

You will need to apply as a trainee driver. The Euro licence counts for nothing, but I'm sure you will be able to demonstrate the required skills for the selection process.

There are UK drivers facing redundancy in the North at the moment, so there may be a shortage of trainee jobs. Some of the operations listed above are tram/ light rail systems. Others are small scale "open access" operations, that do not train. Inter city outfits also rarely train drivers.
Apply to Northern and Transpennine, but the former has strict residential criteria.

It's much easier to get into the UK driving grade on the London commuter routes. ;)
 

GrimsbyPacer

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E&W Lucas should of read my post properly.

1,
I never said the Euro Train Driving License would be allowed, I said the experience would help. Which others should agree with.

2,
Some drivers are facing redundancy? That's news to me, but Transpennine having a shortage of drivers is a fact and is often why buses are used instead on my line.

3, I didn't list any tram or light rail systems, I only listed companies which run on Network Rail's track.

4, Open Access or not, the question was asked about which train companies operate in the North which I answered.

Please ignore those who can't tell the difference between a tram and a train and can't read a post correctly.

Also London is a terrible place to work as a train driver if you're based in Windermere which some don't understand somehow.
 
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E&W Lucas

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Some drivers are facing redundancy? That's news to me, but Transpennine having a shortage of drivers is a fact and is often why buses are used instead on my line.

.

So you've not noticed the near complete cessation of coal traffic, and considered that it will have a catastrophic consequence for those employed to transport it?
Showing how little you actually know about what is going on!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
E&W Lucas should of read my post properly.


3, I didn't list any tram or light rail systems, I only listed companies which run on Network Rail's track.

.

T&W Metro is a light rail system. Its drivers are not recognised as being trained to wider Network standards. If we are being pedantic, your list failed to mention the NYMR, which also operates trains on the NR network. Again, their competence is specific to certain routes only.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also London is a terrible place to work as a train driver if you're based in Windermere which some don't understand somehow.

Likelyhood of getting a trainee job near Windermere - scant.

Likelyhood of securing a trainee job on London commuter routes, and then relocating as a qualified driver - much, much greater.

Stick to writing down train numbers, and please leave answering questions about the driving grade to those who actually work in it.
 

GrimsbyPacer

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I never included NYMR as it's steam operated and is unimportant for non-volunteers. I know Tyne and Wear is listed as a light rail syste, but in reality it isn't, if it is so is Merseyrail, Glasgow Subway, Stourbridge Branch, London Underground etc. Which all share the same aspects in one way or another.

I'm sure you know route knowledge and where trains are permitted to run affects all TOCs. Coal traffic has caused how many losses then?
Wood pellet trains could surely replace some.

Have you applied for a job in Northern or TPE?
If not you don't know the chances at all.
 

E&W Lucas

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I never included NYMR as it's steam operated and is unimportant for non-volunteers..
Actually has a substantial paid staff, and all too often has been operated by diesels over the last couple of years. They won an award for the number of days D7541 completed in traffic last year. Also far from unimportant to the local economy.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I know Tyne and Wear is listed as a light rail syste, but in reality it isn't, if it is so is Merseyrail, Glasgow Subway, Stourbridge Branch, London Underground etc. Which all share the same aspects in one way or another.

.

Your classification doesn't matter. It's light railway when it comes to applying for a job elsewhere.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Coal traffic has caused how many losses then?
Wood pellet trains could surely replace some.
.

Negotiations are in progress, as are efforts to find those affected other jobs. Biomass trains may be worked by other operators, so that makes no difference, unless they are recruiting further drivers. Spare a thought for those who may be about to lose their livelihood please, before sounding off.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Have you applied for a job in Northern or TPE?
If not you don't know the chances at all.

I couldn't afford to take the pay cut that working for either of those operators would require. I do know my chances would be considerably greater than yours, as I'm a qualified and experienced professional driver.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
You can learn the signage in the UK here:
http://www.railsigns.uk/home.html

Hey, that's great. No need to complete a Rules course! :roll::roll:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
If I knew how to apply I would do so myself.

Says it all really.
 
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GrimsbyPacer

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What's that eye rolling rubbish about?
I suggest a site to look up UK signage and somehow you manage to assume I am saying no course is needed. Please explain why you are reading things that aren't there again.

Me not being a driver, not knowing how to apply etc has nothing to do with anything. The OP asked questions about which companies operate in the North, I then list all I throught of, the OP said he had a European Train Driving license, which I say the experience will help, and to try and help the Swedish driver get some knowledge on UK signage I send a link.

And then you say that I should be ignored!
And say London Commuter services are better, that wasn't the question.
You then say I'm listing tramways, and say that there's no job shortage in the North due to freight drivers who still haven't been made redundant and have nothing to do with Northern or Transpennine as sad as possible job losses for coal may be. I said Transpennine had a driver shortage, as this is why the trains are cancelled half the time where I live. And yes I was wrong about NYMR (which you brought up) just being for volunteers but I never said it wasn't good for the local economy as you suggest. Yet you have been out to attack my comments, what's the reason please?
 
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notadriver

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Have you secured a drivers job drazky? I have experience of driving buses in London.
 

Johncleesefan

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To the OP - I would suggest emailing the Tocs in the area you wish to locate. Beware though as nonsense may ensue just as has happened on your thread. Best of luck pal
 

red2005

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E&W Lucas are you always this much of an annoying plank? or did It just take too many years In the driving grade to perfect It?

All you have done Is just be Incredibly pedantic and quite frankly pathetic towards Grimsbypacers posts.........get a grip!
 
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