A career as a signaller

[rotherdan]

I must say I’m a bit gutted to read about the East Midlands future opportunities. Especially when places like Lincoln and Market Rasen are included as these are about 30mins for me.

Where did you hear of the roles? As far as I was aware, I was signed up for alerts so a little disappointed to have missed the boat!

Hi, this was advertised on the regular NR careers website. I think it was advertised from late July and closed around the 16th Aug.

 

[Burton5000]

I must say I’m a bit gutted to read about the East Midlands future opportunities. Especially when places like Lincoln and Market Rasen are included as these are about 30mins for me.

Where did you hear of the roles? As far as I was aware, I was signed up for alerts so a little disappointed to have missed the boat!

I heard about it on here tbh. Someone was talking about how they'd applied for it, so I went and had a look

 

[Dave Tasty]

I must say I’m a bit gutted to read about the East Midlands future opportunities. Especially when places like Lincoln and Market Rasen are included as these are about 30mins for me.

Where did you hear of the roles? As far as I was aware, I was signed up for alerts so a little disappointed to have missed the boat!

It closed on the 18th August. I was also signed up for alerts but after a while it became apparent that signaller jobs weren't coming through. Hence the reason why I look every couple of days.

 

[GMac1502]

Has anyone else heard the firm want to look towards including Sunday in the working week?

Personally I’d go for it, we have to work them now anyway (I’d cover can’t be found), increased basic goes towards our pension as well. Seems like a no brainer from our side, obviously it’ll require more staff though.

Hi Tom, if this happens would the basic salary be increased, and if so by how much roughly? I start my training in a couple of weeks and was actually looking forward to working a sunday for the extra money.

 

[newtothisjob]

1 Even if you work no overtime at all, you should still earn £40K+ (including booked Sundays - which are like guaranteed overtime - night shift premium and Inner London allowance).

2 Depends on how your route interprets the HR rules. The default used to be that you would be expected to work a minimum of a year at your first box before moving on, but it wasn't (isn't?) always enforced. My first route did; others don't. More recently, when all new starters were classed as apprentices, I believe they had to work at least a year from the date they started signalling school before being able to move. It's a question you can ask at an interview.

3 What do you mean by the "transfer process"? You'd apply for suitable jobs advertised on the internal job list in the lead-up to your minimum service period ending (whether a year, or something else) and go from there. The main delay often occurs after you've accepted a new job - your current LOM (manager) may only want to release you to your new role once they have a replacement ready to step in. You can often find yourself part of a chain, where you're stuck until your replacement arrives, your replacement is stuck until their replacement arrives, etc etc.

Thanks, that answers all of them!

RE: the 'portacabin'... is it really that bad?! I have some applications in for other boxes but this is by far the closest and easiest for me to get to.

 

[KendalR]

Hi Tom, if this happens would the basic salary be increased, and if so by how much roughly? I start my training in a couple of weeks and was actually looking forward to working a sunday for the extra money.

No one knows yet, would all need to through the union first as they simply wouldn't be able to include Sundays in the working week. We're all contracted for 35 hour weeks and many signallers are on 12 hour rosters who won't want to give them up so how you fit it all in is anyones guess.

 

[High Dyke]

Afternoon everyone. Well done and good luck to all those gaining interviews for the East Mids future opportunities. I've managed to get an interview so I'm very excited.

I suppose this question goes to those who recently went through the North East future opportunities which I just missed out on.

1. Are these future roles for a particular position or are they simply a way into signalling school and a short term placement until you apply for a permanent role? I seem to remember that being mentioned on the NE futures advert but it doesn't mention anything like that on EM future roles.

2. On the application form I selected Derby, Lincoln, and Market Rasen as they're all under 60 mins commute for me so I'd be in line with the fatigue rules. I've found information on Derby and Lincoln but struggling with Market Rasen info?

3. I was told Derby is the EMCC similar to a ROC and that its unlikely there are G2 positions there. The advert also states you will be employed primarily in signal boxes. Will these locations be fluid ie when it says Derby does it mean the actual location up for grabs is a local branch line around Derby?

I hope this makes sense lol.

Not fully certain with regards the EM future roles, as you mention in point #1 However, I am aware that management are actually thinking ahead and applying 'age profiling' for signallers likely to retire in the next few months/years. It's so they don't get a shortage of trained staff.

In respects of point #2. The boxes nearest to Market Rasen are: Holton-Le-Moor, Wickenby and also Langworth, that all come under the Lincoln management team. Regarding Grade 2 positions around the Derby area, they will be for the signal boxes along the North Staffs line towards Stoke-on-Trent. The only other locations out there are those towards Lichfield, on the South Staffs; or more further afield are the Leicester area boxes on either the Coalville line or through Melton Mowbray towards Peterborough.

As I've mentioned before the HR designation can be a bit vague when it comes to locations, unless it actually specifies a particular signal box or crossing box.

 

[nom de guerre]

Thanks, that answers all of them!

RE: the 'portacabin'... is it really that bad?! I have some applications in for other boxes but this is by far the closest and easiest for me to get to.

It's the interior that counts!

 

[rotherdan]

Not fully certain with regards the EM future roles, as you mention in point #1 However, I am aware that management are actually thinking ahead and applying 'age profiling' for signallers likely to retire in the next few months/years. It's so they don't get a shortage of trained staff.

In respects of point #2. The boxes nearest to Market Rasen are: Holton-Le-Moor, Wickenby and also Langworth, that all come under the Lincoln management team. Regarding Grade 2 positions around the Derby area, they will be for the signal boxes along the North Staffs line towards Stoke-on-Trent. The only other locations out there are those towards Lichfield, on the South Staffs; or more further afield are the Leicester area boxes on either the Coalville line or through Melton Mowbray towards Peterborough.

As I've mentioned before the HR designation can be a bit vague when it comes to locations, unless it actually specifies a particular signal box or crossing box.

Thanks for that information. Very useful. I was initially asking as I'm aware some people get asked what they know about the signal boxes they're applying for. I'm guessing this particular intake of future roles is to fill positions from signallers likely to retire. Its definitely a question i'll ask at interview.

 

[baz962]

Thanks, that answers all of them!

RE: the 'portacabin'... is it really that bad?! I have some applications in for other boxes but this is by far the closest and easiest for me to get to.

To be fair , I have never seen inside. Easy one for you to have a look on the outside. It literally is just off the end of upper Holloway platform.

 

[desrudy]

Have either of you googled it? There are definitely photos of various Upminster IECC workstations online.

Have either of you searched this thread? I posted some info on the roster and staffing levels for this very link a couple of weeks ago.

Don't want to sound rude, but it's basic research...

Re allowances, the band for Inner London is 0-16 miles from Charing Cross, and according to a generic railway mileage calculator, Upminster is 22.6 miles away. If that's correct, it'd be Outer London allowance (£2430pa last time I had it, a couple of years ago).

I Already know all that , and it’s quite basic information nothing exceptional .
I asked for more technical information about 2 workstations like their areas of work , levels crossings , the traffic , things you can't find on google …

 

[grob1234]

How do you know if you have passed the SHL tests?

I got confirmation that I had completed them, followed by "Thank you for recently completing the online assessment for the above position. I am pleased to let you know that your application is now being considered further and I will
be in contact with you again shortly."

Currently, my status is 'test completed'.

I'm just enduring a nervous wait!

As a side note, I got rejected for a level 7 job, but apparantly still in the running for the grade 3 job. Is this common?

Thanks very much!

 

[matty1984]

So.... Today I got offered Signaller Grade 6! To say I'm over the moon is an understatement, especially coming from a non rail background!
Next up is the medical, anyone she'd any light on what the medical involves?
Thanks

 

[Bunnymomma]

So.... Today I got offered Signaller Grade 6! To say I'm over the moon is an understatement, especially coming from a non rail background!
Next up is the medical, anyone she'd any light on what the medical involves?
Thanks

Congratulations!

 

[GMac1502]

No one knows yet, would all need to through the union first as they simply wouldn't be able to include Sundays in the working week. We're all contracted for 35 hour weeks and many signallers are on 12 hour rosters who won't want to give them up so how you fit it all in is anyones guess.

Thanks for that, sounds like its gonna end up very complicated.

 

[Roadster 7]

So.... Today I got offered Signaller Grade 6! To say I'm over the moon is an understatement, especially coming from a non rail background!
Next up is the medical, anyone she'd any light on what the medical involves?
Thanks

Congratulations!

I had my medical on Monday it consisted of:
Eye sight
Colour blind test
Hearing test
Blood pressure
Medical history
Height & weight
Drug and alcohol test (urine)

Took about 20 minutes and I was told there and then that everything was OK, apart from the drug and alcohol screening which they send away to be tested.

 

[matty1984]

Congratulations!

I had my medical on Monday it consisted of:
Eye sight
Colour blind test
Hearing test
Blood pressure
Medical history
Height & weight
Drug and alcohol test (urine)

Took about 20 minutes and I was told there and then that everything was OK, apart from the drug and alcohol screening which they send away to be tested.

Cheers mate, nothing to fear then lol

 

[GMac1502]

Anyone starting signalling school in Glasgow on the 14th Sept? Just had my email saying that's where i'm going

 

[33056]

Thanks, that answers all of them!

RE: the 'portacabin'... is it really that bad?! I have some applications in for other boxes but this is by far the closest and easiest for me to get to.

As far as portacabins go, Upper Holloway wasn't that bad; at least it had insulation which made it more pleasant to be in than the similar box at Gospel Oak (now gone).

When I worked it 30+ years ago, it had a small panel but not sure that is still the case with all the changes that have taken place in the intervening years.

 

[Kraken]

Cheers mate, nothing to fear then lol

I managed to get through it with a BMI north of 35 and ears full of wax. I was a bit concerned beforehand about these but no problems at all, don’t sweat it!

 

[nom de guerre]

I Already know all that , and it’s quite basic information nothing exceptional .
I asked for more technical information about 2 workstations like their areas of work , levels crossings , the traffic , things you can't find on google …

You asked for - and I quote - “some informations” [sic]. No mention of "areas of work", "level crossings" or "traffic". Please don’t pretend you asked for something when you didn’t.

TBH your attitude isn't sitting too well with me, so I'll leave this for others.

Edit > Just double-checked and the images online that I mentioned previously clearly show the area of control, fringe boxes and number of level crossings on each of the NLL workstations. All readily available via, you guessed it... a quick google.

 

[Tom Quinne]

TVSC Grade 9 jobs advertised externally at the moment.

 

[Baxtermt]

AAAGGGHHHHH
I think I just made a mess of my deductive reasoning test!!!!
Some of the answers were so simple I kept studying them to see what mistakes I had made and wasted my time.

On the plus side folks those of you going for the future opportunities role will have one less person to contend with.

best of luck to you all.

 

[89jordanbj]

TVSC Grade 9 jobs advertised externally at the moment.

Very tempted by this...although after my first week of IST I think Grade 9 may be a step too far at this stage of my career!

 

[desrudy]

TVSC Grade 9 jobs advertised externally at the moment.

I don't get it it's written ... Previous Signalling experience necessary

 

[amanda08]

Very tempted by this...although after my first week of IST I think Grade 9 may be a step too far at this stage of my career!

Are you in York doing IST? How are you finding it so far?

 

[89jordanbj]

Are you in York doing IST? How are you finding it so far?

Yes just finished my first week. A lot to take in but as soon as it starts clicking it gives you a good feeling and becomes very enjoyable. I am under no illusions that it is going to get harder as it goes along but I am very much enjoying it and get a sense of achievement each day knowing I've learnt something new and understood it.

So far we have learnt the bell codes, absolute block definitions and principles, various rules and regulations, railway infrastructure such as signs and signals and, most enjoyably, how to signal a train through various different routes on the simulator.

Thankfully our course are a very good bunch who all chip in to help each other and have different skill sets.

Looking forward to week 2 already.

Have you started IST yet?

Edit:

Ignore my last question Amanda, just looked back through and seen that you have already started.

How have you found it?

 

[Tom Quinne]

Very tempted by this...although after my first week of IST I think Grade 9 may be a step too far at this stage of my career!

Why on earth not? It’s no different to you being employed for a grade 9, you’ll start at point zero in both situations.

TVSC is probably one of the best places to start your career, the steer number of situations you’d experience would set you up nicely.

I don't get it it's written ... Previous Signalling experience necessary

So it does, I’ve never seen that before...

 

[89jordanbj]

Why on earth not? It’s no different to you being employed for a grade 9, you’ll start at point zero in both situations.

TVSC is probably one of the best places to start your career, the steer number of situations you’d experience would set you up nicely.

Good point. A few people I have spoken to since starting have advised starting in an AB box before moving to a ROC. Everybody has their own opinion though I guess.

Ideally I'd like to get a permanent position in an area under my LOM's control and with suitable commute time but being on a 12 month FTC i can't be too picky!

Just happy to finally have got started, it's only week 1 of IST but I am really enjoying it so far and looking forward to the challenges ahead.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Good point. A few people I have spoken to since starting have advised starting in an AB box before moving to a ROC. Everybody has their own opinion though I guess.

Ideally I'd like to get a permanent position in an area under my LOM's control and with suitable commute time but being on a 12 month FTC i can't be too picky!

Just happy to finally have got started, it's only week 1 of IST but I am really enjoying it so far and looking forward to the challenges ahead.

Which LOM do you come under initials will do....

There’ll be jobs in SWCC inside 12 months at G7 so might well be worth holding out for those.