A career as a signaller

[Midlands_lad]

Has anybody else been told that they can not claim mileage expenses for training school?
With the courses now being run local I have been told that if the training centre is closer than your base signalling box location you will not be reimbursed?

 

[Tony43]

Wow just done the SHL practice tests and really found them difficult, I appreciate they are not supposed to be easy but was suprised at how badly I did any tips before I do the tests proper would be appreciated

 

[northeastnewbi]

You need a base location, for convenience they’ve chosen this SB for admin purposes.

Once your in school, you’ll be expected to apply for vacant position.

You’ll likely be advised suitable vacancy during school that you “might like to apply for”.

Ah thanks that clears it up. Is there plenty to choose from? I'm happy either way just curious.

 

[Tom Quinne]

I’m not from that area I’m afraid, once you “in” you have access to the massive national vacancy list so I’m sure you’ll find something you fancy on there.

But, like I say you may well be advised by your LOM of a vacancy you may wish to apply for.

My understanding is LOMs can’t recruit for jobs that don’t actually exist, as in someone who is long term sick with no return date.

They have to wait until their actually gone before they can lodge the vacancy.

This is where talent pools, or future opportunities pool come in - it allows LOMs to have box ready people employed and trained ready to fill link lines when they come open without the 12 month lead time.

So you may already have a job assigned to you, you just don’t know it yet!

I’m sure @LOM if he is allowed can share a better explanation.

 

[7Paul7]

Ah thanks that clears it up. Is there plenty to choose from? I'm happy either way just curious.

School is currently 10 weeks not 12.

I'm at week 8 and have checked the internal list regularly up until this week there has been nothing within a reasonable commute from Teesside this week I've put in 4 applications 2 are north of Newcastle one local and one for York ROC, just have to keep looking once you get to school

 

[LOM]

We could really do with a sticky accompanying this thread, explaining thread etiquette, the typical recruitment process, a copy of the latest pay matrix, possibly some sample rosters etc.

I was thinking about this today, it is a really good idea and I would be willing to help write something up. I had previously thought about possibly doing a signaller recruitment blog online somewhere but suspect our employer may take a dim view of that.

 

[Horizon22]

LOM - local operations manager aka your direct line manager as a signaller.

Can I ask how does the SSM fit into the management aspect of signallers? I presume they are just the on-shift supervisor then, but no specific line management responsibilities?

 

[WL113]

Can I ask how does the SSM fit into the management aspect of signallers? I presume they are just the on-shift supervisor then, but no specific line management responsibilities?

That sums it up. However, the Signaller is always in charge of their workstation.

 

[Horizon22]

That sums it up. However, the Signaller is always in charge of their workstation.

Fair enough but of course they give instructions to a workstation? I contact signallers often but have always been curious about how the structure worked between LOMs / SSMs / signallers.

 

[northeastnewbi]

School is currently 10 weeks not 12.

I'm at week 8 and have checked the internal list regularly up until this week there has been nothing within a reasonable commute from Teesside this week I've put in 4 applications 2 are north of Newcastle one local and one for York ROC, just have to keep looking once you get to school

Thanks for this info. Slightly concerned to hear there aren’t any vacancies in Teesside but I suppose that’s how it goes. Best of luck with your applications. Do you have to secure somewhere before the 10 weeks is up?

Are you still attending the training school or doing an alternative with social distancing etc?

 

[Tom Quinne]

Can I ask how does the SSM fit into the management aspect of signallers? I presume they are just the on-shift supervisor then, but no specific line management responsibilities?

Duty Manager on shift, most are good they’ll support you during an incident like answering the phone etc.

Some are crap !

 

[amanda08]

Postcode is correct. The village of Wymondham (Leicestershire) is about 1.5 miles away. I hadn't realised they'd built a replacement house on the site of the 'former' crossing keepers house; the building on the left, just over the crossing.

Postcode is correct. The village of Wymondham (Leicestershire) is about 1.5 miles away. I hadn't realised they'd built a replacement house on the site of the 'former' crossing keepers house; the building on the left, just over the crossing.

Is the hut in the right where the crossing keeper sits? I think this is one of the boxes I cover as relief.
Thanks

 

[MrsP2010]

Wow just done the SHL practice tests and really found them difficult, I appreciate they are not supposed to be easy but was suprised at how badly I did any tips before I do the tests proper would be appreciated

I’m not sure if this helps but when I did similar tests for another company a while back. I was told that if you get the answer right the next question is harder and if you get it wrong, it’ll be easier so you never really feel like you’re getting anywhere! I don’t know if the same is used on the NR ones

 

[LOM]

Fair enough but of course they give instructions to a workstation? I contact signallers often but have always been curious about how the structure worked between LOMs / SSMs / signallers.

Yes they can give instructions (but the best will give ‘suggestions’). The SSM generally provides the communications link between a signalling centre and Control, big stations etc.. They will take the lead in coordinating response to incidents and if they are doing it right they will take the pressure off the signallers a bit.

Some areas have the SSMs doing more in the way of traditional management type things but the grade does not have line management responsibilities.

 

[Horizon22]

Yes they can give instructions (but the best will give ‘suggestions’). The SSM generally provides the communications link between a signalling centre and Control, big stations etc.. They will take the lead in coordinating response to incidents and if they are doing it right they will take the pressure off the signallers a bit.

Some areas have the SSMs doing more in the way of traditional management type things but the grade does not have line management responsibilities.

Thanks LOM. That was very much my understanding but good to get it confirmed.

 

[Kraken]

Wow just done the SHL practice tests and really found them difficult, I appreciate they are not supposed to be easy but was suprised at how badly I did any tips before I do the tests proper would be appreciated

Make sure you have all your scrap paper and calculator ready before you click to start, don’t panic and read the question thoroughly. Oh and go for a wee beforehand! I personally found the practice tests a lot harder than the real thing, still challenging but as long as you are relaxed, calm and thorough they should be OK. I think where I didn’t do myself justice was the situational judgment bit, I was panicking so much about the maths that I didn’t give that side of it the respect it deserves.

 

[7Paul7]

Thanks for this info. Slightly concerned to hear there aren’t any vacancies in Teesside but I suppose that’s how it goes. Best of luck with your applications. Do you have to secure somewhere before the 10 weeks is up?

Are you still attending the training school or doing an alternative with social distancing etc?

nobody knows what happens at the end of school, however I have a 12 month contract so I'm not to concerned, however I would rather be going to a box with space on the roster for me so once I've passed out on that box I have a slot to go into.

School is running just with reduced class sizes

 

[High Dyke]

Is the hut in the right where the crossing keeper sits? I think this is one of the boxes I cover as relief.
Thanks

Yes, it is.

 

[amanda08]

I know lots has changed and time scales extended, but I saw on an old thread that the boxes around Oakham were originally planned to move into EM control centre in 2015. Has this time just been put back or the plan scrapped, does anyone know?
Cheers

 

[Rockhopper]

I think this has been touched upon before but maybe moving everything into ROC's and so on is like putting all your eggs in one basket - there is no redundancy if a virus was to take hold. So maybe they will reconsider and revert to a more dispersed system (like we already have!!)

 

[LOM]

I think this has been touched upon before but maybe moving everything into ROC's and so on is like putting all your eggs in one basket - there is no redundancy if a virus was to take hold. So maybe they will reconsider and revert to a more dispersed system (like we already have!!)

The national operating strategy was dead before Corona got it. Each Region is now allowed to do its own thing under the umbrella of the 21st Century Ops program. I am sure some will plough on with centralisation and others will be a bit less keen. Moving jobs to a ROC does not actually save much money once all the sums are worked out.

 

[darth26]

Officially no there is nothing.

The bit you do not want to hear is that it is very very bad form and a slap in the face for your LOM who now has to start the long recruitment process all over again. I have been in that position (new signaller used to access to internal vacancy list to apply for and get a job in another area while at school) and I am still very annoyed about it. If you plan to do that at least be open and honest at your interview.

I would be angry, I've been applying for some signalling positions ( just the one I feel comfortable with location and salary ) and work in different industry atm.
Ther is nothing worse than a person telling how keen they are to work in your office during an interview and 3 months after telling you they want to relocate to a different office or give you notice because the commute is longer than they expected...

Think people don't actually understand that the interview process costs a lot not only money but time, that I expect LOMs haven't got too much anyway...

 

[High Dyke]

As mentioned above. To show how things change. Swinderby signal box, near Lincoln, is 'life expired'. It was never on the Original National Ops strategy, but it was supposed to have closed in 2018. That slipped to 2020, which has further slipped to 2021. I understand, that in the last week or so the target date is now 2022.

 

[ljmac]

Excellent -Not sure if you know the area but I struggled to get let in to the correct place and the details weren't great on my letter. You are looking for Raven House, which is off Askew Road, and down a minor road. Do you know which box you will be in?

Does anyone know the shifts at Crag Hall?

Not 100% here but I think it is 0600-1400 1400-2200 and 2200-0600
However "box hours" are more like 0600-1230 1230-2000 and 2000-0600

The whole of the Middlesbrough area is an 8 hour roster though, that I am fairly sure of.

 

[olilee2]

Does anyone know if reaching the benchmark for the shl tests is harder for higher grade positions or if it’s the same for all of them?

 

[Tony43]

I’m not sure if this helps but when I did similar tests for another company a while back. I was told that if you get the answer right the next question is harder and if you get it wrong, it’ll be easier so you never really feel like you’re getting anywhere! I don’t know if the same is used on the NR ones

just completed the tests, think the practise ones were harder so fingers crossed

 

[Tony43]

Make sure you have all your scrap paper and calculator ready before you click to start, don’t panic and read the question thoroughly. Oh and go for a wee beforehand! I personally found the practice tests a lot harder than the real thing, still challenging but as long as you are relaxed, calm and thorough they should be OK. I think where I didn’t do myself justice was the situational judgment bit, I was panicking so much about the maths that I didn’t give that side of it the respect it deserves.

cheers have done them now and have to agree about the practise ones being harder, not confident about the maths but think I did ok fingers crossed.

 

[Billyc87]

I have heard from a signaller that some signallers can get close to £100,000 a year? Is this true? If so how is it possible?

 

[SiggysigAah]

I have heard from a signaller that some signallers can get close to £100,000 a year? Is this true? If so how is it possible?

Higher grade, relief premium & lots of rest day working I assume.

 

[Saracen_83]

I have heard from a signaller that some signallers can get close to £100,000 a year? Is this true? If so how is it possible?

not uncommon, in my place there a number of grade 9s who earned 100k, but that included a fair chunk of RDW....
!