To add to that if you are going straight to a PSB/ASC/IECC/SCC or a ROC the training is far more supervised than that as there will be SSMs on shift with you at all times and in most cases the LOM or LOMs are in the same building.
I work in a Grade 8 PSB, learners have their own 8 hour roster, (siggies do 12's) Monday to Saturday, then don't work Sundays until near the end of training.
NEVER EVER rush learning just to get the money, its not worth the risk ! Dont forget you have the lives of hundreds of people in your hands everyday.
Its always nice to be able to get into a lower graded box first, find your feet, undertstand how the Railway runs, and gain a good appreciation of the Rule Book and Regulations that surround our career, then move upwards
At this location, we are all manual panels / workstations, no ARS to help, we have 3 MCS w/stns (Computer / VDU based Signalling) and 2 NX panels, one of which is, or is very close to being the busiest NX panel in the Country on nights ! It takes the average internal applicant between 9 months and year to pass out.
Once in our grade, even though it can be annoying with paperwork etc, you will never want to have another job again ! And as others have said, everyday is different, and some maybe run of the mill, others very busy and stressful ! I became a Signalman in 1972, could not do a job in civvy street now !