Good luck to Southeastern with this one, not sure they’ll be inundated with applicants.
Last edited:
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Qualified Drivers Southeastern - All Depots
- Thread starter DA1
- Start date
- Status
Good luck to Southeastern with this one, not sure they’ll be inundated with applicants.
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Difficult to see many qualified drivers beating a path to their door, especially with the 45 mins location requirement.
If you live within 45 mins of a metro depot, you’ll also live within commuting distance of other TOCs with better pay, better work, or both in most cases.
If you live within 45 mins of a deep Kent coastal depot, you’re already working for them, as they’re the only game in town.
If you live within 45 mins of a metro depot, you’ll also live within commuting distance of other TOCs with better pay, better work, or both in most cases.
If you live within 45 mins of a deep Kent coastal depot, you’re already working for them, as they’re the only game in town.
I read within 40 minutes of Depot... That's interesting, to say the least...
Also,
So that's booking on and off at anytime of the day (or night)...
It did say 45mins earlier so that’s changed.
Some of the depots have night turns where you work the last one in, preps and first one out or just preps and the first one out.
Last edited:
Live within 40 mins of Charing Cross, by public transport. You might be expected to start/finish work any time of the day or night, and we certainly aren’t going to give you a taxi or parking...
So, in other words, that’s 40 mins from Charing Cross, by nightbus. That’s a pretty small radius!
So, in other words, that’s 40 mins from Charing Cross, by nightbus. That’s a pretty small radius!
JammyJames08
Member
- Joined
- 7 Apr 2009
- Messages
- 120
They've duplicated the advert!
jobs.southeasternrailway.co.uk
Jobs and careers with Southeastern
Jobs and careers with Southeastern -
SlimJim1694
Member
Only if they fancy taking a massive pay cut to do the exact same route and traction day in, day out.
Do Hastings drivers still sign the diversion via East Croydon and Redhill?
Not much route variety at Hastings, as you say.
Applepie356
Member
Can’t really remember the last time Southeastern recruited trainee drivers externally.
I’m guessing they mostly recruit internally and that’s enough to meet their needs?
I’m guessing they mostly recruit internally and that’s enough to meet their needs?
They recruit regularly. There have been a couple of significant campaigns recently. Mostly recruiting for Vic and The Cross.
SE have a huge turnover rate for Drivers. There doesn't seem to be much recruitment internally either. They also lose internals to other TOCs too. Says much about the company tbh.
Very small - probably max of Zone 3-4, skewed towards Southeast London.
Odd advert and, as many have alluded too, not sure they'll get many takers
whoosh
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Sep 2008
- Messages
- 1,370
Yes, there used to be staff trains for people who lived further out, which were done away with (decisions made by those working office hours!) Then the 'non-residential' status of London termini depots was also done away with, making getting to work a right pain for turns that started or finished at unsociable hours when there wasn't a train service in/out.
In making it difficult for the staff, the company have made it difficult for themselves.
The 'non residential' status didn't exist in reality. It was nothing more than a gentleman's agreement. When services increased and there was a change to the first and last trains Drivers found themselves being booked in early. Quite a few trains got cancelled. Staff trains and taxi agreements are a relic from the past.
SE, just like many other TOCs run a 24hr railway. You need to be able to get to wok on time and be able to get yourslef home. Anyone coming into this grade needs to be acutely aware of this.
Make no mistake. SE do not care. Their reputation is often well deserved. Misrepresenting the average roster to state 28 vice 35 is more than just an oversight.
Agree, but there should be reasonable provision for you to get to work. Be it parking spaces, taxis, or reasonable public transport (ie 24 hour trains). Most SE metro depots have parking, as I understand it (I can’t say for sure, I’ve obviously never worked there).
Expecting people for trek to work on a night bus (a la SE’s Victoria/Ch+) depots, and then do a safety critical job for 9 hours plus, is a joke.
SlimJim1694
Member
The central London depots are geared up for trainees to go in, get their key and leave ASAP. The company deliberately set it up to be like that, because there was a time not so long ago when both Vic and Charing X were quite cushy depots. There is no way that even the stupidest qualified driver would choose to go and work at at either of those depots now.
I can see coastal depots holding some appeal for anyone wanting to relocate, but any qualifieds putting in for metro depots with SE would either have to be desperate (eg: about to be made redundant somewhere else) or certifiably insane.
I can see coastal depots holding some appeal for anyone wanting to relocate, but any qualifieds putting in for metro depots with SE would either have to be desperate (eg: about to be made redundant somewhere else) or certifiably insane.
This really doesn't inspire confidence if one travels day on day out with the TOC...
But you know, the same could be said of many places.
Just like overhearing someone tell a colleague, I'm only here cos I can't get a job else where.... Yeah, that incident I had. (extract from a conversation overheard while traveling with another TOC).
notadriver
Established Member
- Joined
- 1 Oct 2010
- Messages
- 3,653
i reckon it’s better than working out of Camberwell London bus garage as a bus driver - for example. (Which I have done)
I’m sure it is.
It’s probably also better than toiling down a coal mine, or working in a sweat shop making tee shirts for sports direct (I haven’t done either).
But what does that have to do with anything?
Last edited:
Dieseldriver
Member
- Joined
- 9 Apr 2012
- Messages
- 973
Not really relevant though is it?
Pay and conditions vary across the board and some conditions suit some more than others. That said, SE conditions aren't great. Pay is notoriously low and has not been addressed in years. Annual leave is one of the lowest of all TOCs and the work disparity is significant. Metro is intense and South East passengers are well.... Not great either.
Staff turnover does matter. The affect on the depot can be detrimental as your always covering gaps in the roster. Depot with low staff turnover work really well. There are other things that impact the roster but nothing really specific to SE. However, SE also has a roster without a pattern and it changes often. Some TOCs have moved to or are on fixed rest day patterns and this (at least to me) feel to be a benefit.
SE are also behind the curve in some ways. Some TOCs are pushing forward with technology and working practices but SE are a little stuck in their ways.
The whole SE being a 'starter TOC' is a phrase that I've heard regularly. Any yet SE haven't done anything to address this. As Slim points out. Trainees are literally joining with no intention of staying. Surely that rings various alarm bells.
SE are also a bit of a whipping boy. Due to the franchising issues in recent years they have suffered. No significant investment and a TOC in stagnation. Even the Thameslink Project was SE supporting GTR and everything was setup to help them and not SE. SE ave also got the 707 cast offs. Another example of SE being a bit of a whipping boy.
Nope, all south of the river besides Victoria and Charing Cross.
whoosh
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Sep 2008
- Messages
- 1,370
No, that's way too far north!
London Overground (Arriva Trains London) have though at Watford Junction. Are you thinking of them?
- Status