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A career as a signaller

nom de guerre

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24 Nov 2015
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774
Depends which country your box is located in...

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RailUK Forums

VX220

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1 Nov 2018
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Has anyone who had an interview for the Cardiff grade 2 positions on 26 November heard anything yet?
 

leomc1627

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9 Feb 2018
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So the network rail website updated yesterday to formal offer sent I was under the impression this was via email havnt received anything can anyone give me some insight into the next steps

Thanks in advance
 

Rusto

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16 Jan 2018
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Has anyone who had an interview for the Cardiff grade 2 positions on 26 November heard anything yet?


I had my interview on the 26th in Cardiff and I got offered the position 2 days later, medical booked for next week and just going through reference checks etc now
 

leomc1627

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9 Feb 2018
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I had my interview on the 26th in Cardiff and I got offered the position 2 days later, medical booked for next week and just going through reference checks etc now

Did you receive your formal offer via email ?
 

VX220

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1 Nov 2018
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I had my interview on the 26th in Cardiff and I got offered the position 2 days later, medical booked for next week and just going through reference checks etc now
Congratulations. I wasn’t expecting an offer based on my performance. Just surprised that Network Rail don’t let all candidates know at the same time like we do in the Civil Service.
 

Narom

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24 Sep 2018
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141
Just a thought since strike action for the only toc on my line is frequent. What happens to signallers? Do you still get rostered in to work even if there isn't a single train due?
 
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Static65

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2 Aug 2018
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102
So the network rail website updated yesterday to formal offer sent I was under the impression this was via email havnt received anything can anyone give me some insight into the next steps

Thanks in advance

Is this for Dullingham? If so my offer for there a few weeks back came by email from a lady called Clare. Unfortunately I had to turn it down though on this occasion.
 

Highlandspring

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14 Oct 2017
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Just a thiufrt since strike action for the only toc on my line is frequent. What happens to signallers? Do you still get rostered in to work even if there isn't a single train due?
Yes you’ll be in work. Lots of engineering work gets done on strike days but even if, for whatever reason, there are no trains and no line blockages/possessions you’ll typically be required to be at work. When I was a signaller the longest run of shifts I did without signalling a single train was five but for example when the Stranraer line was shut for four months earlier this year the boxes were fully manned throughout.
 

leomc1627

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9 Feb 2018
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Is this for Dullingham? If so my offer for there a few weeks back came by email from a lady called Clare. Unfortunately I had to turn it down though on this occasion.

Yes I was also offered the job a few weeks back although my box is to be decided but I'm talking formal offer
 

f1nch26

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8 Sep 2018
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57
A quick hypothetical question.....!

From what I've read on here, a lot of people apply for numerous positions at a time. If you applied initially for say a grade 2 position, and were offered a position, but we're also applying for a grade 5 at the same time. Would you have to just decide whether to accept the grade 2 and forget about the other one, take the risk and reject the grade 2 offer and hope you got the grade 5, or would the company let you go to the grade 5 if you were successful for that position?
 

Tom Quinne

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8 Jul 2017
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It would appear yes, 150% + comp or
Just a thiufrt since strike action for the only toc on my line is frequent. What happens to signallers? Do you still get rostered in to work even if there isn't a single train due?

Yes, there’s still work to do even then there aren’t any passenger trains.
 

Tom Quinne

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A quick hypothetical question.....!

From what I've read on here, a lot of people apply for numerous positions at a time. If you applied initially for say a grade 2 position, and were offered a position, but we're also applying for a grade 5 at the same time. Would you have to just decide whether to accept the grade 2 and forget about the other one, take the risk and reject the grade 2 offer and hope you got the grade 5, or would the company let you go to the grade 5 if you were successful for that position?

Kind of my situation when I finally for offered a job, I applied for two roles had interviews in the same week.

The following week I was offered one job on the Tuesday (G2 FTC) and Friday evening (G7) I had accepted the G2 verbally on the Tuesday, but obviously a permanent role vice a fixed term tumpted the earlier offer.

To be fair to the LOM on the FTC they saw the sense and logic, so much so that I’m not employed at the location of my original offer after serving 18 months at the second location.

I was lucky they landed so close together, I don’t know if you could say accept a job at a grade 2 let’s say today, then in two weeks bin that off when a grsde 5 offer came through.

Can’t see why not, ultimately it’s up to you which job you take forward if your lucky enough to be in that situation.
 

f1nch26

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8 Sep 2018
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57
Thanks for that. The main thing would be to get a foot in the door.
I've got an interview coming up for one position, but the other one that I've seen hasn't closed yet, so would I would imagine there would be a fair few weeks between
 

Narom

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24 Sep 2018
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141
It would appear yes, 150% + comp or


Yes, there’s still work to do even then there aren’t any passenger trains.

We shall see. It's a pretty neglected route from the TOC. It has no trains at all the other week because they ran out of them. I'd be intrigued to see if NR did take the chance to do work in the very frequent breaks!
 
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Cerebral

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4 Jun 2014
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53
A quick hypothetical question.....!

From what I've read on here, a lot of people apply for numerous positions at a time. If you applied initially for say a grade 2 position, and were offered a position, but we're also applying for a grade 5 at the same time. Would you have to just decide whether to accept the grade 2 and forget about the other one, take the risk and reject the grade 2 offer and hope you got the grade 5, or would the company let you go to the grade 5 if you were successful for that position?

Similar to Tom, I went for 3 interviews in one week. Got offered the Grade 2 first. Even filled out the paperwork and had the medical for my Grade 2, a few weeks later the offer for my current Grade 4 ROC job came through and I was able to accept it and it just trumped the Grade 2 offer no problems.

You would just need to let HR know and explain the situation. But I had zero problems doing it.
 

Highlandspring

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We shall see. It's a pretty neglected route from the TOC. It had no trains at all the other week because they ran out of them. I'd be intrigued to see if NR did take the chance to do work in the very frequent breaks!
Network Rail are paying you so you’ll be in the signalbox for your rostered shifts whether or not there are trains running. If you’re looking for a job where you don’t have to go in if there’s no work for you to do then perhaps look at something with a zero hours contract..?
 

Narom

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24 Sep 2018
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Network Rail are paying you so you’ll be in the signalbox for your rostered shifts whether or not there are trains running. If you’re looking for a job where you don’t have to go in if there’s no work for you to do then perhaps look at something with a zero hours contract..?

If that's what you took from my question you are seriously misinformed.

I wasn't sure if like said NR take the chance to do work, you get enforced leave or even unpaid leave. But yeah, obviously jump to a negative connotation I find that massively disrespectful for you so suggest I want to be paid to do nothing.

In my present role strike action by a subset of workers along the supply chain would directly affect my work and make it impossible to carry out my role. If the strike action is planed in advance like RMTs we have numerous options. Either my day off is changed to the day of action, I have the option to take paid leave if I have any left and if not unpaid leave because after all its not my fault there is no work for me to do.

I posed the question because I don't know. What you did for those four months while the line was shut would interest me as I don't have the foggiest what to expect as not only is strike action incredibly common on the line i'll be working on, as is all services being suspended due to lack of staff or rolling stock. Obviously one of the questions in interview is what would you do during periods of inactivity. 30 mins between trains is far different to 4 months and its not something you can easily comprehend unless you've experienced it like you have.

(edited + expanded upon request for clarity)
 
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f1nch26

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8 Sep 2018
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Similar to Tom, I went for 3 interviews in one week. Got offered the Grade 2 first. Even filled out the paperwork and had the medical for my Grade 2, a few weeks later the offer for my current Grade 4 ROC job came through and I was able to accept it and it just trumped the Grade 2 offer no problems.

You would just need to let HR know and explain the situation. But I had zero problems doing it.

Ok, great. Like I say, very wishful thinking, but just curious if that was ever to happen! Thanks very much
 

soswales

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17 Aug 2018
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I had my interview today... I done as best as I could and think it went well.. I shall keep my fingers crossed! :)
 

nom de guerre

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24 Nov 2015
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774
In my present role strike action by a subset of workers along the supply chain would directly affect my work and make it impossible to carry out my role. If the strike action is planed in advance like RMTs we have numerous options. Either my day off is changed to the day of action, I have the option to take paid leave if I have any left and if not unpaid leave because after all its not my fault there is no work for me to do.

I posed the question because I don't know. What you did for those four months while the line was shut would interest me as I don't have the foggiest what to expect as not only is strike action incredibly common on the line i'll be working on, as is all services being suspended due to lack of staff or rolling stock. Obviously one of the questions in interview is what would you do during periods of inactivity. 30 mins between trains is far different to 4 months and its not something you can easily comprehend unless you've experienced it like you have.

(edited + expanded upon request for clarity)

Forget what other industries do; forget "numerous options". The railway is a law unto itself.

As HS mentioned in his first reply, you should expect to work all booked shifts, regardless of service levels.

A four-month period with no trains is abnormal, but most of us have experienced (enjoyed!) shifts/weekends with no trains, whether due to T3s, industrial action, inclement weather or the time of year (eg Christmas). And of course, even when the normal service is running, many boxes/panels etc have a 'dead' period in the early hours of the morning. What do you think signallers do during this time? What do you suppose they might do if they had even more ‘dead’ time ...? ;)
 
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Andrew*Debbie

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1 Feb 2017
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Llanfairpwllgwyngyll ...
many boxes/panels etc have a 'dead' period in the early hours of the morning. What do you think signallers do during this time?

I've been wondering about how to answer that if it comes up in an interview. Tidy up the box then read a book?

The post I have an application in for has no passenger trains between 02:00 and 04:30 6 days a week. Sunday dead period is closer to 00:00 - 08:00
 

Llanigraham

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I've been wondering about how to answer that if it comes up in an interview. Tidy up the box then read a book?

The post I have an application in for has no passenger trains between 02:00 and 04:30 6 days a week. Sunday dead period is closer to 00:00 - 08:00

You could add "Read the Rule Book, especially when there have been changes".
 

Tom Quinne

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8 Jul 2017
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I've been wondering about how to answer that if it comes up in an interview. Tidy up the box then read a book?

The post I have an application in for has no passenger trains between 02:00 and 04:30 6 days a week. Sunday dead period is closer to 00:00 - 08:00

Refresh your rule book, read notices, complete online assessments outstanding.

Usually you’ll have like others have said a period from about 0100 until about 0430 on nights where there’ll be nothing happening if your lucky.

Even with a T3 on you’ll have point operators calling up to swing points etc.
 

Rusto

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16 Jan 2018
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So, grade 2 at Cardiff! Looks like the're trying to get me into York signalling school for 7th January!!! cant wait!!

Not looking forward to being away from the family for 12 weeks but hopefully worth it in the long run!!

Anyone know what hotel I will be living in for that duration? Just wondering what sort of luxuries (or not!) it may have like a gym etc
 

Narom

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24 Sep 2018
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141
Anyone know what hotel I will be living Just wondering what sort of luxuries (or not!) it may have like a gym etc

I'm hoping illI have a gym or sorts when I start, whenever that may be. As I have a marathon and an ultra to train for alongside school! Failing that may have to join one in the city.
 

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