I have, in between both depots so travel not an issue. Both have / are going through difficult periods with timetables and infrastructure issues. One is getting new trains the other almost has a standard stock.Surely if you had got that far with both of these you would have done your research to know which one would be best for YOU?! Depot location to where you live? Course location? Pay? Company culture etc.
Personally I’d go for the one who offers you a course first, you don’t want to be sat in a pool for two years, you could be fully qualified and productive by then.Is there any major differences between TOCs when it comes to accepting a position as a trainee driver?
Is Southern better than SWR or should I go for the one that offers a course first and not worry about the company?
I wonder how many drivers out there have incidents on their record compared drivers with clean onesMy gut feeling of those two TOCs is SWT would be better. However if you've already been offered a start with Southern then I'd take that, and look to move TOC when no longer PQA. The key thing is to keep a clean licence. It's easy to balls up on suburban work. More so on DOO. Having a guard is a big plus. There are plenty of DOO drivers with stuff on their safety records that having a guard would have helped prevent... stop short door release (on TOCs where the guard opens the doors), wrong side release, trap and drag, self dispatch SPAD etc. If you rack up safety incidents you wont be able to move so that's definitely a consideration too.
Considering you already work or have worked on SWR, you should already know if SWR is any good or not ....
The vast majority of Drivers that have been driving longer than a few years don't have clean records. Generally though, most drivers with blemishes have one or two minor incidents spread out over a long period of time. In my experience, there is largely a direct correlation between high levels of professionalism/good safety of the line record. There is also largely a direct correlation between cockiness and unprofessionalism/poor safety of the line record. Obviously there are some exceptions to this.I wonder how many drivers out there have incidents on their record compared drivers with clean ones
Sorry to disappoint you but I haven’t worked for SWRConsidering you already work or have worked on SWR, you should already know if SWR is any good or not ....
See previous replyWas thinking the same thing lol
Your old posts indicates you worked for swt/r as a guard....Sorry to disappoint you but I haven’t worked for SWR
See previous reply
Yes, I was a guard for SWT and enjoyed every minute of it and I would still recommend it now if asked.Your old posts indicates you worked for swt/r as a guard....
Exactly the same people, they didnt just come in and replace everyone! I havent worked at SWR long, but I think its brilliant, seem well organised, the trainers have been there for 20 odd years, so the experience is there, cant fault itYes, I was a guard for SWT and enjoyed every minute of it and I would still recommend it now if asked.
But since I have left and SWT was taken over by SWR, it seems to get a lot worse press and I only see what’s said from the outside, that’s why I asked the question
Think its very depot dependent, I know it is an issue some places, but not as bad as that!Have they got enough instructors at Swr there was a comment somewhere in this forum that trainees were taking months just to get about 26 hrs .
Key point here is you haven’t and may not pass the DMI. You don’t want to pass on the 1st job and miss out altogether if you fail the DMI.Awaiting course date with one (everything passed except medical) and the other is offering a course date in next month if pass DMI in next few weeks