A career as a signaller

[nom de guerre]

Many thanks for that. Thats what i thought for boxes. I didnt know ROC or iecc could have a mixture.

Mixtures are rare. Must be something in the water in Three Bridges (although I gather the sole 8hr link at TBROC will be going 12 hours soon)!

 

[Sunset route]

Many thanks for that. Thats what i thought for boxes. I didnt know ROC or iecc could have a mixture.

In theory every separate link within a larger signalling centre could have a different roster of shifts lengths anywhere betweeen 6 and 12hrs long, as long as they conformed to the agreements.

 

[Highlandspring]

It’s entirely possible for one LOM area to have a mixture of shift patterns, as a relief signaller I used to cover a box that was on an 8 hour roster while the rest of the area was on 12s and I’m aware of a few more mixed areas elsewhere in the country. It does make things awkward for the relief staff who have to cover both but it isn’t impossible by any means as long as Hidden and the NRP are both followed rigorously.

 

[KEliza]

Congratulations, KEliza!

Both sides of VASC (Central and Eastern) work an 8hr roster, with - AFAIA - 12hr Sundays. I'm sure your LOM will be happy to forward a copy of the roster.

Do you know what type of signalling course you will be taking (e.g. Absolute Block, TCB/IECC)? Learn the phonetic alphabet if you don't already know it.

Thanks for the reply - this is very useful!

I dont know yet which course I will be taking - I guess thats the next peice of information I will receive once the places are booked. Info is a funny thing - I have been booked for a medical this morning and have been given the forms to book on to the training, and I am not going until january, but my colleague, who also got another signaller job at a different center, and who starts in october, hasnt even been contacted about a medical yet and has no idea where he is going for signal school! All he knows is his start date.

 

[Ross Shearing]

Resignation handed in today for my current job....looking forward to starting at York on the 21st September. Thank you to all those who have provided me with information and guidance on this chat. For those new to it you will find it invaluable to your ultimate success so make the most of those on here will to help. Thanks again.

 

[nom de guerre]

Anyone know if existing 12hr rosters will need to be altered to comply with this new 60hr/week ruling?

 

[Southernsig]

Anyone know if existing 12hr rosters will need to be altered to comply with this new 60hr/week ruling?

Has the 60 hr week been made official now has it? Is it immediate effect or from a specific date?

 

[nom de guerre]

Not 100% sure. Two single-manned 8hr areas near me are moving to 12s at the start of 2019 and are currently deciding which of two roster options they prefer. Both are subject to the 60hr/week 'rule' - if it is indeed a rule - which means no split week and consequently a shorter long weekend. Still better than their current roster - although that's quite a low bar! - but not as good as a typical existing 12hr roster.

The question - which the local union rep is so far unable to answer - is whether existing 12hr rosters (with the 72 hour split week) will be altered, or survive 'as is' under some sort of grandfather rights. And whether rostered breaks at multi-manned boxes will be factored into any calculation: even the more short-staffed teams at my place receive a minimum of 19 hours' rostered breaks during that 72 hour week - which, if included, brings the total well below 60 hours worked. Obviously single-manned 12hr boxes can't use that argument...

 

[Southernsig]

Not 100% sure. Two single-manned 8hr areas near me are moving to 12s at the start of 2019 and are currently deciding which of two roster options they prefer. Both are subject to the 60hr/week 'rule' - if it is indeed a rule - which means no split week and consequently a shorter long weekend. Still better than their current roster - although that's quite a low bar! - but not as good as a typical existing 12hr roster.

The question - which the local union rep is so far unable to answer - is whether existing 12hr rosters (with the 72 hour split week) will be altered, or survive 'as is' under some sort of grandfather rights. And whether rostered breaks at multi-manned boxes will be factored into any calculation: even the more short-staffed teams at my place receive a minimum of 19 hours' rostered breaks during that 72 hour week - which, if included, brings the total well below 60 hours worked. Obviously single-manned 12hr boxes can't use that argument...

Yes I've seen the two rosters on offer. Not exactly great but far better than what they are currently on.

And I would think that surely grandfather rights wouod kick in. If they didnt examples such as vic until very recently having to double back on their base roster or that many of the 8 hr rosters fail the fatigue index, yet are still used.

 

[TRain87]

Sorry to butt in... But what 60 hour rule?

 

[Tom Quinne]

Maximum hours per week, or 6 turns on the bounce.

 

[Tom Quinne]

News flash York ROC Grade 9, London Victoria Grade 9 both on the external vacancy list should anyone be interested.

*London Victoria attracts the inner London allowance on top of the basic.

 

[High Dyke]

Hi guys might anyone be able to tell me the shift pattern at Doncaster psb?

8 hour turns (Monday - Friday) - 0600-1400 / 1400-2200 / 2200-0600
12 hour turns (Saturday & Sunday) - 0600-1800 / 1800-0600

The Grade 3 Camera Panel also operates the same pattern.

Discussions are currently underway for introduction of 12 hour rosters in the box, but negotiations still have a long way to go at the moment before any conclusion is reached. It's also worth pointing out that, for roster puroposes, the camera panel and signalling panels are on stand alone rosters.

 

[Drh78]

Anyone applied for the West Mids vacancy and heard anything? Got through the online tests, but nothing heard since.

 

[Saracen_83]

Resignation handed in today for my current job....looking forward to starting at York on the 21st September. Thank you to all those who have provided me with information and guidance on this chat. For those new to it you will find it invaluable to your ultimate success so make the most of those on here will to help. Thanks again.

Echo this, without the help and advise of the people on here I wouldn’t have the jobi start with Ross on sept 21st!!!

I also agree that this forum and this post in particular is invaluable..... so much information, so read from start to end, it really is worth it. And the members here are great, too many to name but Nom de Guerre, tom Quine, tom Boyd, Swills, super cross to name a few have all been amazing!!!! So thank you

 

[Saracen_83]

Anyone know if existing 12hr rosters will need to be altered to comply with this new 60hr/week ruling?

Will this effect the tbroc roles changing from 8 hr to 12hr rota as if 2018??

 

[Bob smith]

Hi all, newbie here (been reading posts as a guest for a while)

Seen some signaller jobs as doncaster psb but also read it will be closing 2020 or 2025 what would happen then?. Also seen jobs advertised for signaller at york roc. Im guessing york is going to be one of the main hubs in the country? Would this be a better choice or could i apply for both? Sorry for so many questions but wouldnt want to leave a full time job to go to a 2 to 5 year temporary job.

Have never thought about a job in the railways but need a change. Also wondering why there are so many signaller jobs advertised? Do people not stay or do they move on internal once in NR?

 

[Tom Quinne]

The grand plan is to have York ROC control the whole East Coast Mainline from Kings Cross to a point short of the border with Scotland or the fringe with East of Scotland ROC.

Doncaster PSB along with York IECC will (in time, and if the money doesn’t run out) move into York ROC.

I understand Kings Cross panel will move go York ROC in the next 12-18 months, I very much doubt many signallers will uproot their families to move to York (I would better lifestyle etc).

Likewise, Doncaster to York is probably only a short commute for a displaced Doncaster Signaller who wants to stay on the job.

I’m not 100% sure how it works but some will automatically move across Doncaster to York ROC when their link or panel moves - I think can this happened at Newport and Cardiff Panels into Wales ROC.

If I was you, I would apply fro all the jobs you can realistically travel to.
Obviously a job in York ROC is much more secure than one in Doncaster PSB.

There are protections under our terms of employment that ensure you are given assistance and protection should you get a Doncaster PSB job and your link moves to York, you won’t be out on your arse that’s for sure.

If your employed on a fixed term contract then that’s different of course, but even then you’ll have access to the internal list to secure a full time post if you wish.

Regards to signallers jobs in general, the age profile is quite high so a lot of people are coming up to retirement age over the next 5-10 years, plus a lot of multi manned locations are running at very short staffing.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Echo this, without the help and advise of the people on here I wouldn’t have the jobi start with Ross on sept 21st!!!

I also agree that this forum and this post in particular is invaluable..... so much information, so read from start to end, it really is worth it. And the members here are great, too many to name but Nom de Guerre, tom Quine, tom Boyd, Seoul’s, super cross to name a few have all been amazing!!!! So thank you

Made up mate, welcome to the mad house !

 

[Bob smith]

Thanks Tom

That explains a lot. Think im gonna go ahead and get my york application in. Just had email stating I have reached the required target fron the online test for Doncaster so waiting the long wait for the next stage.

 

[Tom Quinne]

York ROC is a good gig im told, when Kings Cross goes in now either this Xmas or next it’ll have IECC Scaleable workstations which is a very good user friendly set up. We had them at Thames Valley loved them, much better than the alternative WestCad or MCS kit.

I think Doncaster is an NX panel

 

[glenblade]

8 hour turns (Monday - Friday) - 0600-1400 / 1400-2200 / 2200-0600
12 hour turns (Saturday & Sunday) - 0600-1800 / 1800-0600

The Grade 3 Camera Panel also operates the same pattern.

Discussions are currently underway for introduction of 12 hour rosters in the box, but negotiations still have a long way to go at the moment before any conclusion is reached. It's also worth pointing out that, for roster puroposes, the camera panel and signalling panels are on stand alone rosters.

Hi just been informed of a start date for signalling school in December for a grade 3 post at Doncaster PSB so I presume it will be the camera panel just like to thank everyone for their help and information on this thread

 

[Tom Quinne]

I assume the “camera panel” is a level crossing desk ?

The two locations I’ve worked at both had dedicated crossing desks, but at grade 2 - monitoring four remote level crossings via CCTV.

How many crosses does the Doncaster one monitor to be a grade 3?

 

[glenblade]

I assume the “camera panel” is a level crossing desk ?

The two locations I’ve worked at both had dedicated crossing desks, but at grade 2 - monitoring four remote level crossings via CCTV.

How many crosses does the Doncaster one monitor to be a grade 3?

I believe it controls 5

 

[headshot119]

I assume the “camera panel” is a level crossing desk ?

The two locations I’ve worked at both had dedicated crossing desks, but at grade 2 - monitoring four remote level crossings via CCTV.

How many crosses does the Doncaster one monitor to be a grade 3?

It controls five. Also note the need to attend signalling school, I believe a lot of the grade 2 crossing desks don't require that.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Our don’t require school no, sounds like a good gig - qualified signaller to “just” operate the level crossing desk.

Five crossings seems a lot, surely there would be a safety/distraction issue ?

At our place you could create an additional level crossing desk, as we have two signaling desks which monitor level crossings.

 

[Southernsig]

Will this effect the tbroc roles changing from 8 hr to 12hr rota as if 2018??

Probably yes, the other links in there will likely remain on their 12 hr rosters with the split week and 7 day weekend, however, if your link is moving to a 12 hr, then it may need to comply with new rostering principles that would mean no split week and a smaller (5 day) long weekend

 

[Tom Quinne]

Is there Signaller resistance to 12hrs rosters on the southern ?
Personally I would have thought a mixed 8/12 roster would be a nightmare ?

 

[Sunset route]

Is there Signaller resistance to 12hrs rosters on the southern ?
Personally I would have thought a mixed 8/12 roster would be a nightmare ?

No I don’t think there is, Southern is gradually moving towards 12hr rosters, just there’s a few diehard 8hr fanatics (including myself) who for a variety of reasons prefer or need an 8hr roster. Lucky at our place we have one 12link and one 8hr link, which has kept both camps happy.

 

[Saracen_83]

Probably yes, the other links in there will likely remain on their 12 hr rosters with the split week and 7 day weekend, however, if your link is moving to a 12 hr, then it may need to comply with new rostering principles that would mean no split week and a smaller (5 day) long weekend

Well I hope not!! Quite like the look of the current 12hr!!