Driver Depots

[godfreycomplex]

Still accurate?

As far as I know. Talk of new depots at Crewe and Holyhead seems to have diminished

 

[driver9000]

From December there will be a Drivers depot in Glasgow for TPE.

 

[godfreycomplex]

From December there will be a Drivers depot in Glasgow for TPE.

Many thanks. Have added in as they're recruiting now...

 

[McShunter]

Hello,

After a bit of advice.

Whats the nearest driver depot to Peterborough ?

Cheers

 

[godfreycomplex]

Hello,

After a bit of advice.

Whats the nearest driver depot to Peterborough ?

Cheers

The nearest driver depot to Peterborough is in a faraway distant town called Peterborough
Non-facetious answer - Peterborough has driver depots for Great Northern, GBRF and possibly DB Cargo as well. Nearby depots include other Great Northern depots at Kings Lynn; Cambridge and Hitchin; Thameslink at Bedford; Greater Anglia at Cambridge; Cross Country at Cambridge and Leicester and (only 45 minutes away) VTEC & Great Northern at Kings Cross

 

[387star]

The nearest driver depot to Peterborough is in a faraway distant town called Peterborough
Non-facetious answer - Peterborough has driver depots for Great Northern, GBRF and possibly DB Cargo as well. Nearby depots include other Great Northern depots at Kings Lynn; Cambridge and Hitchin; Thameslink at Bedford; Greater Anglia at Cambridge; Cross Country at Cambridge and Leicester and (only 45 minutes away) VTEC & Great Northern at Kings Cross

Peterborough is basically a TL depot now with almost all work to Horsham except a few peak services

 

[387star]

Is London bridge depot metro only?what about Vic

Sure the latter in higher links signs to bognor?

 

[godfreycomplex]

Is London bridge depot metro only?what about Vic

Sure the latter in higher links signs to bognor?

London Bridge is metro (and East Grinstead) only but higher links at Vic do indeed do Bognor (amongst other coastal places)

 

[387star]

London Bridge is metro (and East Grinstead) only but higher links at Vic do indeed do Bognor (amongst other coastal places)

Ok so Vic probably best metro depot and possibly Norwood
Asking for a friend

 

[godfreycomplex]

Ok so Vic probably best metro depot and possibly Norwood
Asking for a friend

Depends what you’re looking for I suppose. Victoria lower links see a lot of East Grinstead I gather.
As for Norwood, I believe the lower link work isn’t that much better than Selhurst/Vic, and it takes around 5 years to link 2 (Uckfield) and 10 to link 1 (Brighton/Milton Keynes). Once you’re in the upper links it’s supposed to be quite pleasant, however

 

[Saracen_83]

Stupid question maybe, but how do the upper/lower links differ??

Is it work, wages, stops?? Are the upper links better work?? If so how??

I’ve read a few things on this forum about different links and upper/lowers and better/worse links and was always curious!!!

 

[Shrimper]

Historically, you entered the grade on the lowest link and worked your way up to the top one - in the days of steam the low links would be shunting, local trip freights etc progressing up to passenger and express passenger in the higher links.

More recently, where work content at a company tends to be the same, a higher link tends to be the 'nicer' routes to drive - longer ones with less changing ends, or express work with fewer stops. It can vary wildly from company to company, and even between depots within a company.

At my depot we have three driving links, but these aren't seniority based any more, whichever link you end up in simply determines the routes you sign - the idea is that no-one gains any real advantage over anyone else, though those in the mess room would disagree! Everyone gets the same rest day pattern and the weekly worked hours average out to be the same over the course of the link.

However our guards do have seniority links. All guards sign the same routes (ie all of them!) and traction; so the higher links tend to get more sociable start and finish times and the more enjoyable (allegedly) jobs. However some prefer to stay in the lower links as although early starts/late finishes are painful, they can be seen as preferable to being in and out during rush hour. I also don't know whether higher guard links get more rest days or a better rest day pattern.

It's also worth noting that we have jobs that can fit into any link due to the content, and these can be picked up from spare (every link has a certain amount of spare turns). It's even possible to pick up part of a job from another link if need be, only doing the parts you sign. The same applies to the guards, so even a lower link guard can do some of the nicer jobs.

 

[wayoutwest]

Waterloo - Southampton Central
Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour
St Denys - Fareham
Pirbright Jn - Alton
Waterloo (Windsor side) - Byfleet Jn via Hounslow/Richmond.
Barton Mill/Long Valley/Down Yard sidings (Basingstoke)
Possibly Basingstoke - Salisbury, Woking-Guildford and via East Putney ashi all.

Waterloo - Southampton Central
Eastleigh - Portsmouth Harbour
St Denys - Fareham
Pirbright Jn - Alton
Waterloo (Windsor side) - Byfleet Jn via Hounslow/Richmond.
Barton Mill/Long Valley/Down Yard sidings (Basingstoke)
Possibly Basingstoke - Salisbury, Woking-Guildford and via East Putney as well

hi all.i am surprised they dont sign for bournemouth. do bmouth sign for portsmouth?

 

[godfreycomplex]

hi all.i am surprised they dont sign for bournemouth. do bmouth sign for portsmouth?

Bournemouth don’t sign Portsmouth as such (they only sign Southampton-Woking via Havant)
Fratton crew (link 2 drivers and I think all guards) sign Southampton-Poole however

 

[wayoutwest]

Bournemouth don’t sign Portsmouth as such (they only sign Southampton-Woking via Havant)
Fratton crew (link 2 drivers and I think all guards) sign Southampton-Poole however

many thanks

 

[wayoutwest]

hi all.how many depots do crosscountry have i should imagine that birmingham would be the biggest how far do their drivers go?

 

[tiptoptaff]

hi all.how many depots do crosscountry have i should imagine that birmingham would be the biggest how far do their drivers go?

If you read the opening post to this thread, then your first question will be answered. BHM I think do Plymouth, Manchester and Newcastle, Cardiff, Nottingham and Stanstead. 170, 220/221 and HST. I'm sure someone with better knowledge will be along to correct me.

 

[godfreycomplex]

If you read the opening post to this thread, then your first question will be answered. BHM I think do Plymouth, Manchester and Newcastle, Cardiff, Nottingham and Stanstead. 170, 220/221 and HST. I'm sure someone with better knowledge will be along to correct me.

AFAIK
There are 4 links, none of which do north of Derby
Bottom link do 170 only and Cardiff; Nottingham & Stansted plus diversions and Tyseley depot
Higher links gradually add Voyagers (top link also HST) and Bournemouth; Bristol (I think) and Manchester; plus diversions and Central Rivers depot
Birmingham is Cross Country’s biggest depot by some margin yes

 

[tiptoptaff]

AFAIK
There are 4 links, none of which do north of Derby
Bottom link do 170 only and Cardiff; Nottingham & Stansted plus diversions and Tyseley depot
Higher links gradually add Voyagers (top link also HST) and Bournemouth; Bristol (I think) and Manchester; plus diversions and Central Rivers depot
Birmingham is Cross Country’s biggest depot by some margin yes

Interesting - it would surprise me if that depot didn't do much if any work on the SW/NE corridor. HSTs only work SW/NE, so if they sign them they at least must do Bristol to Leeds

 

[godfreycomplex]

Interesting - it would surprise me if that depot didn't do much if any work on the SW/NE corridor. HSTs only work SW/NE, so if they sign them they at least must do Bristol to Leeds

There is an XC drivers depot at Derby that covers Bristol - Newcastle so along with Leeds and Newcastle drivers that makes up the numbers.
Given that XC HSTs don’t start or finish their day in the Midlands very often (if at all) New Street’s HST work is quite limited I believe, on the driving side at least

 

[tiptoptaff]

There is an XC drivers depot at Derby that covers Bristol - Newcastle so along with Leeds and Newcastle drivers that makes up the numbers.
Given that XC HSTs don’t start or finish their day in the Midlands very often (if at all) New Street’s HST work is quite limited I believe, on the driving side at least

Given that Plymouth sign PNZ-BHM, I assumed that BHM would at least get to Bristol, given it's size! Learn something new every day

 

[godfreycomplex]

Given that Plymouth sign PNZ-BHM, I assumed that BHM would at least get to Bristol, given it's size! Learn something new every day

I think they do go to Bristol but it did surprise me that they don’t go past Derby, every day’s a school day as you say

 

[paulravuslante]

Couple of updates for you. Hex no longer book on at Terminal 4 as TfL run all services to this station now.
Crossrail, Old Oak Common is now live as a driver depot.

 

[Scotrail84]

Caledonian Sleeper.

Hosts/Team Leaders depots, Euston, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Ft William.

Guards depots, Euston, Edinburgh, Dalmuir.

Euston guards sign to Edinburgh, Glasgow only. Via the WCML plus diversions, Birmingham and Manchester the GSWR, whifflet, Cathcart circle cumbernauld, shotts line the E and G the Edinburgh sub etc. The ECML including the NLL, Kings X station and the Hertford loop.

Edinburgh guards work is split into two separate links. North Work and South work. No crosslink coverage between the South and North links either as the route knowledge would be too intense and difficult to retain.

Edinburgh South guards sign everything the London guards sign.

Edinburgh North Guards, Edinburgh to Aberdeen including fife circle, Edinburgh to Inverness via stirling and via Ladybank, Edinburgh to Ft William (they occasionally cover Dalmuir shortages) and Inverness to Aberdeen for diversions.

Dalmuir guards, all they sign is Ft William to Edinburgh including Westerton-cowlairs and the E and G, Qst Low level and the shotts line. Also the Airdrie - Bathgate line.

GB Sleeper Drivers depots, Polmadie,Edinburgh Craigentinny, Ft William, (Inverness possibly), Wembley, Crewe and Edge Hill men I believe although I do not know how their links, jobs and routes work.

 

[godfreycomplex]

Couple of updates for you. Hex no longer book on at Terminal 4 as TfL run all services to this station now.
Crossrail, Old Oak Common is now live as a driver depot.

Excellent; edited in; thanks very much

 

[godfreycomplex]

Caledonian Sleeper.

Hosts/Team Leaders depots, Euston, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Ft William.

Guards depots, Euston, Edinburgh, Dalmuir.

Euston guards sign to Edinburgh, Glasgow only. Via the WCML plus diversions, Birmingham and Manchester the GSWR, whifflet, Cathcart circle cumbernauld, shotts line the E and G the Edinburgh sub etc. The ECML including the NLL, Kings X station and the Hertford loop.

Edinburgh guards work is split into two separate links. North Work and South work. No crosslink coverage between the South and North links either as the route knowledge would be too intense and difficult to retain.

Edinburgh South guards sign everything the London guards sign.

Edinburgh North Guards, Edinburgh to Aberdeen including fife circle, Edinburgh to Inverness via stirling and via Ladybank, Edinburgh to Ft William (they occasionally cover Dalmuir shortages) and Inverness to Aberdeen for diversions.

Dalmuir guards, all they sign is Ft William to Edinburgh including Westerton-cowlairs and the E and G, Qst Low level and the shotts line.

GB Sleeper Drivers depots, Polmadie,Edinburgh Craigentinny, Ft William, (Inverness possibly), Wembley, Crewe and Edge Hill men I believe although I do not know how their links, jobs and routes work.

Absolute diamond; cheers for that. I thought the Edinburgh guards signing both south and north would be enough to make most people's head explode!
GBRF are based at Willesden and Wavertree (amongst other places obviously); and do indeed have an Inverness depot; but otherwise you're correct. At Willesden sleeper drivers go to Preston; and AFAIK it's Link 1 work!

 

[Nic nic]

Do GWR ever recruit externally for trainee drivers out of exeter? Been looking for years and unless I have dropped the ball I have never seen it happen also the same for weymouth with south west trains? are there any FOC's or TOC's which seek trainees in the south west?

 

[tiptoptaff]

Do GWR ever recruit externally for trainee drivers out of exeter? Been looking for years and unless I have dropped the ball I have never seen it happen also the same for weymouth with south west trains? are there any FOC's or TOC's which seek trainees in the south west?

Very very unlikely for Exeter. Too many internals that want to be drivers and too many qualified internally and externally

 

[Nic nic]

Very very unlikely for Exeter. Too many internals that want to be drivers and too many qualified internally and externally

That is what I have suspected. I would imagine alot of ppl go for the paddington vacancies which come up a lot and then transfer once qualified (hence the constant recruitment there). Does anyone know if DRS have a depot in the bridgwater area for the hinkley work?

 

[tiptoptaff]

That is what I have suspected. I would imagine alot of ppl go for the paddington vacancies which come up a lot and then transfer once qualified (hence the constant recruitment there). Does anyone know if DRS have a depot in the bridgwater area for the hinkley work?

DRS have a depot at Bristol