A career as a signaller

[High Dyke]

Although not quite a career question, how are the signallers on here finding the current situation in terms of absence and sickness. Are you having to cover lots of shifts or have you been less affected than you thought you might be?

In Yellabelly land it hasn't been too bad, up to now. There's been a few staff who have been "released from duty", but not necessarily due to them having the virus ; and not causing any obvious shortfall. However, with a few vacancies as well there have been opportunities for me to gain plenty of Sunday turns.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Gloves, wipes, hand sanitiser (LOTS) and face masks!

It's hard to keep the 2 metres distance when doing a handover in such a small place!!

Likewise, we’ve lined marked out on the floor - but like you say handover in our pods is tricky keeping 2m apart.

 

[Tom Quinne]

So you do get regular breaks as a signaller? Or you dont?

Please clarify: https://metro.co.uk/2018/07/18/signalman-sacked-for-taking-20-minute-break-during-rush-hour-7729165/

On fully manning we get 120 minutes over two periods per 12hrs, minimum is 20 minutes in 12hrs (I think).

But we are a large multi manned location with a SSM, small single manned locations dont (generally) get breaks, they have naturally quite periods where they can have food etc. Although some lines of route have flying reliefs who travel between SB doing breaks at each.

 

[89jordanbj]

Any ideas on when the abercynon interviews are?

I have mine this coming Thursday.

 

[Woody27]

Hi, has anyone on here applied for the position in Par, Cornwall! Just curious how the process is progressing!

 

[MylesHSG]

Although not quite a career question, how are the signallers on here finding the current situation in terms of absence and sickness. Are you having to cover lots of shifts or have you been less affected than you thought you might be?

My place seems fine at the moment, only thing the virus has disrupted was our new trainee relief who literally need 1 or 2 more shifts to pass out, but has now been sent home.

The 3 single manned boxes near me seem fine, think there is more of an issue down in the big 5 panel PSB near me.

 

[89jordanbj]

Good afternoon all.

I have my interview coming up this week for a position based at Abercynon.

I am trying to do as much research as possible in preparation but I cannot seem to find much about the location itself, which worries me incase I am asked any location specific questions during the interview.

Does anybody have any information on Abercynon? I.e what route sections their signallers control? And what equipment is used in the box/centre? Or any information which may come in handy.

Thanks

 

[headshot119]

Good afternoon all.

I have my interview coming up this week for a position based at Abercynon.

I am trying to do as much research as possible in preparation but I cannot seem to find much about the location itself, which worries me incase I am asked any location specific questions during the interview.

Does anybody have any information on Abercynon? I.e what route sections their signallers control? And what equipment is used in the box/centre? Or any information which may come in handy.

Thanks

It's a VDU workstation, it controls the lines from just south of Abercynon station, to Merthyr Tydfil, and Aberdare. It fringes to Radyr signalbox.

 

[89jordanbj]

It's a VDU workstation, it controls the lines from just south of Abercynon station, to Merthyr Tydfil, and Aberdare. It fringes to Radyr signalbox.

Perfect, thank you!

 

[Wanderer84]

Hey people.

I've noticed that the future opportunities vacancies for Worcester and Evesham have reopened. (went to apply, but system says I've already applied for the vacancies).
Anyone know the story on these?

 

[LOM]

Hey people.

I've noticed that the future opportunities vacancies for Worcester and Evesham have reopened. (went to apply, but system says I've already applied for the vacancies).
Anyone know the story on these?

It could be that they were closed early because of too many applications but after the SHL tests or sifting there were not enough suitable applicants so they have had to be readvertised.

 

[amanda08]

Does anyone know if Oakham is 8 or 12 hour?
Thank you

 

[Tomnick]

Does anyone know if Oakham is 8 or 12 hour?
Thank you

8 hours, no regular Saturday night shift, and a longer single shift on a Sunday.

 

[amanda08]

8 hours, no regular Saturday night shift, and a longer single shift on a Sunday.

Brilliant, thank you

As relief from here, would your work pattern be based on this? Or as relief is there literally no pattern As each box is different?
I’m currently in the running for both relief and resident for this box. Thank you

 

[Allaboard78]

Can anyone on the network rail tell me what percentage of their salary they contribute to their pension?

 

[Tom Quinne]

Can anyone on the network rail tell me what percentage of their salary they contribute to their pension?

Mine is about £190 pm from into my basic RPS then a further £200 pm into my VC Brass scheme.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Good afternoon all.

I have my interview coming up this week for a position based at Abercynon.

I am trying to do as much research as possible in preparation but I cannot seem to find much about the location itself, which worries me incase I am asked any location specific questions during the interview.

Does anybody have any information on Abercynon? I.e what route sections their signallers control? And what equipment is used in the box/centre? Or any information which may come in handy.

Thanks

What Headshot said, now under TfW control as part of Core Valley Lines and due to move to the TFW Pebble at Taff Wells in 2021...maybe...

Beware though once signalling staff TUPE over to TfW you’ll lose all access to NWR jobs internally. From what I’ve heard the future isn’t bright on Core.

 

[Mordueman]

I always schedule 2 full days for Rules. Depends how much of a stickler your LOM is but you could be asked more or less anything in the Rule Book. Certainly everything in TS1, whichever of the signalling modules you work (TS2/TS3/TS4/TS5/TS7/TS8), TS9 if you have level crossings, TS11, T3, S5, S7, P1/P2, M1/M2/M3, TW7 and the NOI. I always cover at least one thing from each module and many I go through entirely. If it is clear someone has good knowledge then I move on to another topic, if they are a bit vague then I probe deeper. Your LOM will let whoever is doing verification know what you are good at and what you are shaky on so expect to be asked about anything you were not up to scratch on the first time round. Otherwise the verification will probably just cover high risk stuff like Line Blockages, passing signals at danger etc.. Verification is usually just an hour or two. Expect the OM to give you some words of wisdom at the end.

Remember your LOM and OM want you to pass! You need to put the work in though and revise. Also try to keep your rules knowledge up to date once you're passed out.

Thank you for the advice, much appreciated, I will go over everything during the next few days and I take note of keeping my rules knowledge up to date.

 

[Tomnick]

Brilliant, thank you

As relief from here, would your work pattern be based on this? Or as relief is there literally no pattern As each box is different?
I’m currently in the running for both relief and resident for this box. Thank you

On the relief, you'll follow a similar rest day pattern to the residents (based on working an 8 hour turn each day) but there's no fixed shift pattern - you'll know which days you'll be working in advance, but you won't find out where or when until (at the latest) the previous Thursday. I found that the biggest downside to the relief job was the risk of picking up a night turn into your first rest day.

The reliefmen don't have booked Sundays so it's entirely up to you whether you work them (if they're offered!) or not. You can't go wrong with a nice short Sunday morning turn to take back possessions though!

 

[LOM]

Thank you for the advice, much appreciated, I will go over everything during the next few days and I take note of keeping my rules knowledge up to date.

Good luck!

 

[89jordanbj]

What Headshot said, now under TfW control as part of Core Valley Lines and due to move to the TFW Pebble at Taff Wells in 2021...maybe...

Beware though once signalling staff TUPE over to TfW you’ll lose all access to NWR jobs internally. From what I’ve heard the future isn’t bright on Core.

Cheers Tom. Do you have any idea when signalling staff are due to tupe over to tfw? And would I have access to the NR internal list until then? Any reasons in particular why the future for core doesn't look bright?

Obviously I really want a career as a signaller but that last sentence is alarming.

 

[amanda08]

On the relief, you'll follow a similar rest day pattern to the residents (based on working an 8 hour turn each day) but there's no fixed shift pattern - you'll know which days you'll be working in advance, but you won't find out where or when until (at the latest) the previous Thursday. I found that the biggest downside to the relief job was the risk of picking up a night turn into your first rest day.

The reliefmen don't have booked Sundays so it's entirely up to you whether you work them (if they're offered!) or not. You can't go wrong with a nice short Sunday morning turn to take back possessions though!

Thank you again, I really appreciate it

 

[Tom Quinne]

Cheers Tom. Do you have any idea when signalling staff are due to tupe over to tfw? And would I have access to the NR internal list until then? Any reasons in particular why the future for core doesn't look bright?

Obviously I really want a career as a signaller but that last sentence is alarming.

Latest official info is Sept 2021 signalling staff transfer over, yes until then you’ll be a fully Eligible NWR member of staff.

As to why isn’t really for a public forum unfortunately.

 

[89jordanbj]

Latest official info is Sept 2021 signalling staff transfer over, yes until then you’ll be a fully Eligible NWR member of staff.

As to why isn’t really for a public forum unfortunately.

Understandable. Cheers Tom

 

[MostlyHarmless]

Can anyone on the network rail tell me what percentage of their salary they contribute to their pension?

It depends what scheme you are in - new staff can join either the CARE scheme or the NRDC scheme. The CARE one seems the better option and the member contribution rate as at April 2018 is 5.92% of
your Pensionable Pay and the company pays 8.88% (according to the information I was sent)

I think you can join the RPS after 5 years service

 

[Grumpytrucker]

Hello Everyone.
I had never even thought of being a signaller, just having a nosey and saw a job for signaller in Preston, well so I thought, but on a.closer look it says Preston and then says Kirkby Thore.
Kirkby is near Penrith and living in Rossendale a bit to far to drive.
Is it still worth applying in case something closer appears.
Absolute complete newbie
Thanks in advance

 

[Allaboard78]

It depends what scheme you are in - new staff can join either the CARE scheme or the NRDC scheme. The CARE one seems the better option and the member contribution rate as at April 2018 is 5.92% of
your Pensionable Pay and the company pays 8.88% (according to the information I was sent)

I think you can join the RPS after 5 years service

Thanks

 

[Tom Quinne]

Understandable. Cheers Tom

The bottom line is you’ll be a qualified signaller, you’ll be able to apply for NWR signaller jobs - it’ll just be externally (like a qualified driver going between TOCs).

You’ll also have a good year to get out (if you wanted) you might well enjoy the benefits of TfW employment, like travel we don’t get.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Can anyone on the network rail tell me what percentage of their salary they contribute to their pension?

You can join the Network Rail RPS section after five years service, of if your lucky enough to already be in the RPS then you can move straight into the NWR section once they sort your paperwork out.

You’ll automatically be enrolled in the NWR pension from day one, so you’ll have a sum to move across if you wish.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Hello Everyone.
I had never even thought of being a signaller, just having a nosey and saw a job for signaller in Preston, well so I thought, but on a.closer look it says Preston and then says Kirkby Thore.
Kirkby is near Penrith and living in Rossendale a bit to far to drive.
Is it still worth applying in case something closer appears.
Absolute complete newbie
Thanks in advance

Apply for EVERY job you think you can travel to, or even lodge close to, you can all ways move at a later date.

My first location was about 140 minutes from home (each way), which resulted in my lodging for just short of two years before I could get a move closer to home.

It was hard, but well worth the short term pain.