Newbie help

[Gooner18]

Good evening all hope we are all well , just after a bit of advice , I have recently been offered two jobs , one trainee mainline driver with Arriva ( London overground ) the other trainee train depot driver ( greater Anglia).
The main line drivers role will be based at New Cross Gate , was originally meant to be Willesden depot but they had filled all vacancies there , the depot one is in Ilford.
For me to get to New Cross it’s a minimum 3 hour journey there and back by car, once it took over 5 hours simply because I am in north London so have to travel through or around London, where as Ilford takes 30 -40 mins each way. Clearly the pay is not as good being a depot driver compared to main line ( although it’s still more than I am on now ) I am really stuck on what to do the commute to and from new cross worries me as I know punctuation is everything , plus I don’t want to be tired doing such a safety critical role. the people at illford all seemed really friendly, yet I know it’s few and far between to get a main line job.

Thoughts and advice please.

Many thanks.

 

[pt_mad]

Good evening all hope we are all well , just after a bit of advice , I have recently been offered two jobs , one trainee mainline driver with Arriva ( London overground ) the other trainee train depot driver ( greater Anglia).
The main line drivers role will be based at New Cross Gate , was originally meant to be Willesden depot but they had filled all vacancies there , the depot one is in Ilford.
For me to get to New Cross it’s a minimum 3 hour journey there and back by car, once it took over 5 hours simply because I am in north London so have to travel through or around London, where as Ilford takes 30 -40 mins each way. Clearly the pay is not as good being a depot driver compared to main line ( although it’s still more than I am on now ) I am really stuck on what to do the commute to and from new cross worries me as I know punctuation is everything , plus I don’t want to be tired doing such a safety critical role. the people at illford all seemed really friendly, yet I know it’s few and far between to get a main line job.

Thoughts and advice please.

Many thanks.

I'm surprised they offered New Cross if its more than one hour from your home by car? Usually it's max one hour commute by car or train afaik? You need to bear in mind you will be carrying out safety critical duties and carrying the public. You need to be fit, and not fatigued, to work. And shifts may start halfway through the night, making it even harder.

 

[jamesst]

I'm surprised they offered New Cross if its more than one hour from your home by car? Usually it's max one hour commute by car or train afaik? You need to bear in mind you will be carrying out safety critical duties and carrying the public. You need to be fit, and not fatigued, to work. And shifts may start halfway through the night, making it even harder.

I was just going to say that.
I'd think very carefully about taking a driving job where you will be absolutely knackered before you've even started.

 

[Gooner18]

Thanks for replying, I think maybe it’s done on distance as both depots are roughly the same distance from me , just getting to south London is a nightmare, admittedly I can get the train which takes around hour and half each way , although when I done that the train broke down resulting in it taking over two hours. Really stuck at what to do, guess the depot one Could be a stepping stone into a main line role at a closer depot

 

[Magoo]

Is relocating an option?

Mainline at ARL will pay over twice the money as a depot driver at ilford and there is no right to promotion to mainline with greater anglia

You'll receive a free oyster which will help with travel

You can always put in a transfer of depots when you've passed out. Alot of the training is done in swiss cottage and willesden junction.

I know a few people who are travelling 3-4 hours a day for their training at the minute.

 

[pt_mad]

Thanks for replying, I think maybe it’s done on distance as both depots are roughly the same distance from me , just getting to south London is a nightmare, admittedly I can get the train which takes around hour and half each way , although when I done that the train broke down resulting in it taking over two hours. Really stuck at what to do, guess the depot one Could be a stepping stone into a main line role at a closer depot

As the above poster said, could you consider moving closer to New Cross? Presumably there wouldn't be too much of a rush as you'd be doing training first.

You could just start training with the aim of getting a move to a closer depot asap. But I suspect you may not be able to get the move until after training and it could be 18 month at your first depot before a move, it's worth finding out. Yet vacancies could then be offered at your desired depot in the mean time. Think hard though don't rush into turning anything down, think it over and speak to loved ones etc.

I have a friend that commutes 1hr30 mins by car to work daily, 2hrs back in bad traffic. It's clerical work, non railway and non safety critical, but he's knackered and always talks of wanting to move closer. You need to ensure you won't drive yourself into the ground.
Do the recruitment team realise it's so far away? I thought there were agreements in place between HR teams and trade unions as to the maximum reasonable distance someone can be from their place of work for operational (non management) jobs on the railway?

Could there be vacancies coming up at your first choice soon which you'd be ellegible to be offered a position without further obstacles?

 

[Gooner18]

Hi all ,

With regards to HR I have rang them asking if there are likely to be any vanancies coming up in a depot nearer me due to my travel time , even if it means a later start date , unfortunately it was a no , with regards to moving I am entitied to one move , however they said there is a long waiting list.
Unfortunately relocating is not an option at the moment.

Proper torn and what to do.

 

[pt_mad]

Hi all ,

With regards to HR I have rang them asking if there are likely to be any vanancies coming up in a depot nearer me due to my travel time , even if it means a later start date , unfortunately it was a no , with regards to moving I am entitied to one move , however they said there is a long waiting list.
Unfortunately relocating is not an option at the moment.

Proper torn and what to do.

They didn't mention a policy on agreed maximum travelling times to work for drivers?

 

[Gooner18]

They didn't mention a policy on agreed maximum travelling times to work for drivers?

They did not seem bothered at all about it to be honest.

 

[pt_mad]

They did not seem bothered at all about it to be honest.

Would have thought there would be a reasonable limit somewhere?

 

[Sirgerbil]

For me to get to New Cross it’s a minimum 3 hour journey there and back by car, once it took over 5 hours simply because I am in north London so have to travel through or around London, where as Ilford takes 30 -40 mins each way.

Will throw in my two cents on the traveling.

Having been qualified for over a year now, I can promise you that you do not want to be commuting 3-5 hours.

Your training will be very intense both mentally and physically draining at times and once passed out your first 6-12 months are the highest risk times for having an "incident" as you potentially go into a state of over-confidence. You'll need proper rest between shifts and need to unwind on your rest days.

I agree that ARL will be better in the long run for career as depot driver has no promise of going on to mainline, but if you cannot relocate to south London, I wouldn't bother.

 

[Gooner18]

Hmmmmm, thanks for all the advise and help so far , it’s really appreciated

 

[scott118]

Gooner18 - could you not rent a room to decrease your commute, should you take the plunge into mainline driving? Once you become established, you may find a mutual move, if you can get one, more advantageous...

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

I would seriously advise you don't opt for a long commute... I worked as a bus/ coach driver for many years with a commute of over an hr each way. I didn't realise at the time how tired it was making me until one day, without warning, I went from wide awake to sound asleep in a split second... unfortunately I was driving a coach at the time, luckily no-one was injured in the resulting accident but now I would NEVER consider taking a driving job that has more than about 20-30 mins commute

 

[The One]

Silly question but why can’t you just train it across London the only time you get stuck will be the early turns and late turns when no trains are running

 

[jamesst]

Will throw in my two cents on the traveling.

Having been qualified for over a year now, I can promise you that you do not want to be commuting 3-5 hours.

Your training will be very intense both mentally and physically draining at times and once passed out your first 6-12 months are the highest risk times for having an "incident" as you potentially go into a state of over-confidence. You'll need proper rest between shifts and need to unwind on your rest days.

I agree that ARL will be better in the long run for career as depot driver has no promise of going on to mainline, but if you cannot relocate to south London, I wouldn't bother.

Yeah I second this. Formerly a guard I thought I'd be fine but when I first passed out as a driver I was absolutely shattered some days at the end of a shift, that's with living only 15minutes away from the depot.

 

[Gooner18]

Silly question but why can’t you just train it across London the only time you get stuck will be the early turns and late turns when no trains are running

Hello mate ,

I can , it takes around hour and half, also when I done a trial run a train was cancelled taking me over two hours

 

[The One]

If you take that position I would still train it when poss.
1 you be less fatigued as you won’t hsve to drive.

2 it be cheaper for you as you either get free travel with your company or after certain period you get discounted rate I believe

What ever you decide only you will know

I’m not sure how long it take you to go main line though with the depot job and you never know you might get a chance to move once foot in door but you and only you can decide what’s best

 

[Gooner18]

Cheers everyone,, lots of thinking this weekend lol

 

[TheVicLine]

It's mentally tiring work driving a train on a 10 hour early/late/night shift, you do not want to have a long commute to work and back six days in a row. Most TOC's have a 1 hour from your home depot rule, I thought, but it differs from company to company.
Having said that I wouldn't even consider a depot position if a mainline job was being offered. Get the job and put in for a transfer when you pass out. It really is the best job in the world, you won't regret it (and they pay you a s*** load of money to do it too).

 

[greatkingrat]

Hi all ,

With regards to HR I have rang them asking if there are likely to be any vanancies coming up in a depot nearer me due to my travel time , even if it means a later start date , unfortunately it was a no , with regards to moving I am entitied to one move , however they said there is a long waiting list.
Unfortunately relocating is not an option at the moment.

Proper torn and what to do.

That's not entirely accurate. There is a long waiting list for Euston and Watford, but there is the grand total of 1 driver currently on the waiting list for Willesden. In fact there have been several trainees who have swapped from NXG to Willesden or vice versa while still on the training course, although that obviously cannot be guaranteed.

 

[Crazyb]

Its a shame you can't get a idea of the shift patterns at New Cross Gate, or length of jobs. Could you not get hold of a current roster. Drivers do swap. I used to do permanent afternoons and nights.

At some depots the early jobs are low hours, so people on the door step will swap over and get rid of a 10am job. That's what I used to do and I still do. I can't get up. Do you know anyone that works at Lorel.

For the amount of years I have been train driving and like someone else said, the travelling with kill you. Believe me, you don't want to start at 4am and finish at 12 then a long drive home. By the end of the week, you will be fecked !!, and do that, say for 5 years before a move comes up, you will go grey !!!!

I know Ilford is for a Depot Driver, but their Mainline drivers do pass quite a lot, so I understand. If your ever a Mainline driver you could pass straight out. Do they have jobs like these at New Cross Gate ?

How long you have to be a depot driver for at GA to put in for a drivers role, is it seniority, or is it just down to interviews. I know there are 2 GA depot drivers that have just passed out on MTR, that's another option...move on.

You said about the money. Are Sundays outside the working week for depot drivers, do they get benefits, say like night allowance, they might even get London weighting. I know their drivers do and they also get good boy money if they don't go sick. 200 a month I think.

If this harmonization comes in, that could possibly warrant more drivers. At the moment, it's up in the air.

Also with GA, you have Liv St, Bishop's Stortford and Cambridge, if jobs come up their and you fancied them depots they could be a better driver.

Good luck in your choice.

 

[Narom]

Obviously a long commute due to traffic. But what about a 125cc bike? You'll be in and out of the traffic.

For mainline I'd maybe even look at buying a cheap campervan and staying in it when shifts required. I know of a few firefighters for London who live in Merseyside and just sleep in a VW T4!

 

[Gooner18]

Obviously a long commute due to traffic. But what about a 125cc bike? You'll be in and out of the traffic.

For mainline I'd maybe even look at buying a cheap campervan and staying in it when shifts required. I know of a few firefighters for London who live in Merseyside and just sleep in a VW T4!

I was thinking about a scooter , not a chance I would go the camper route as need a good nights sleep lol

 

[Narom]

I was thinking about a scooter , not a chance I would go the camper route as need a good nights sleep lol

You should see some of the campers nowadays. My mate has one with a better bed than the one in my house!

 

[Gooner18]

You should see some of the campers nowadays. My mate has one with a better bed than the one in my house!

Ha ha ,
I am far to much of a light sleeper for that lol

 

[Gooner18]

Is anyone on here starting for As trainee train driver for arriva in January, or for GA as a depot driver starting the same date ?

 

[BallastMonkey]

Is anyone on here starting for As trainee train driver for arriva in January, or for GA as a depot driver starting the same date ?

Best asking that in the Trainee Driver Greater Anglia thread, would be good to see how many from the forum

 

[Gooner18]

Best asking that in the Trainee Driver Greater Anglia thread, would be good to see how many from the forum

That’s very true

 

[Gooner18]

Been given this rule book to have a ganders at , it’s a 2011 one but hopefully should give me a bit of a head start