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A career as a signaller

High Dyke

Established Member
Joined
1 Jan 2013
Messages
4,267
Location
Yellabelly Country
After 14 attempts over the last year with no luck, I'm delighted to say that I've finally been offered a grade 2 position near Lincoln.

Also, does anybody know anything about signalling school in Derby? All I know so far is that it will be at 'Mercia House'. I've read this whole thread from start to finish and I don't think I remember hearing anyone ever mention going there for signalling school, so maybe it's a new location for it.

And finally, I've been told I'll be on the Skegness to Nottingham line. I'm not exactly sure which box because what I was told on the phone didn't exactly match up with what I received in my documentation - it could be Ancaster or it could be Rauceby, and I'm sure I'll find out which soon enough. I wondered if anyone knew anything about that line and what I might expect in terms of shift patterns, or any other general information about those locations? Thanks!
Well done. Yet another recruit to our area. I seem to hear about these quicker than management at the moment.

Derby is a new school. I know management were looking at utilising the old Derby PSB, but to get a school back in Derby is a good call. Probably helped by the amount of new recruits we need.

As for the boxes, it could be either. The whole line is having a re-org at the moment, as I've mentioned in these forums. The proposal by management increases resident staff to three in each signal box, working a two shift system (inc. Sunday). The proposed roster is anticipated to commence in January 2021, but it's still in the negotiation stages with the local trade union representatives.

Ancaster works both Absolute Block and Track Circuit Block, whilst Rauceby is Absolute Block in both directions. Both locations are steady enough to work, with two passenger trains per hour throughout the day. Various types of level crossings are supervised at both locations.
 
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Virgin788

Member
Joined
24 Apr 2020
Messages
11
Location
England
Its all go this end and it's safe to say i am busting with excitement. Formal offer received, signed and sent back. Oh, and my medical is booked for Monday in Birmingham (which I'm hopeful will go well).

:lol::lol::lol:
Congrats!

Any news on a start date for you yet?
 

rotherdan

Member
Joined
28 Jun 2020
Messages
9
Location
Yorkshire
Interview done for Futures. That was nerve wracking! He did say that I would hear something within a few days though, which was a surprise. Not sure whether that is a bad sign
Hi red mum. I interviewed yesterday. The connection was awful so it ended up being voice only. I’m hoping that didn’t go against me . They also said I’d know in the next few days. Good luck.
 

Cumbo92

Member
Joined
22 Jul 2020
Messages
20
Location
Chesterfield
So I have today been given my start date for Signalling School I’ll be starting on the 14th September in York, is anyone else starting on this date?
Really excited and really nervous at the same time!
 

Katey89

Member
Joined
16 Jul 2020
Messages
29
Location
London
Don’t know if this is controversial or not... but I have an interview for a customer service assistant (first aid) role at London Bridge station, (I have a carer background) Thought it may be a good opportunity to “get my foot in the door” and more importantly gain a little more experience. Opinions please?!
 

jossh78

Member
Joined
3 Aug 2020
Messages
32
Location
Uttoxeter
Hi red mum. I interviewed yesterday. The connection was awful so it ended up being voice only. I’m hoping that didn’t go against me . They also said I’d know in the next few days. Good luck.
Hi rotherdan and Redmum also interviewed today for East Mids futures, the guys also told me I should hear within the next 2 to 3 days as they are attempting to recruit as quickly as possible. They mentioned that it usually takes weeks but have put a new team in place in order to speed up the recruitment process.
Fingers and toes crossed for us all.:D
 

RedMum77

Member
Joined
13 Nov 2019
Messages
55
Location
Alfreton
That is good to know Jossh. Was Leicetser/Peterborough mentioned in your interview? Really bugging me that they seemed focussed on that when it wasnt one of my options

Oh, and I forgot, further to my query earlier in the thread, I WAS asked about a mistake I had made at work so had to wing it a little on that one!
 

jossh78

Member
Joined
3 Aug 2020
Messages
32
Location
Uttoxeter
That is good to know Jossh. Was Leicetser/Peterborough mentioned in your interview? Really bugging me that they seemed focussed on that when it wasnt one of my options

Oh, and I forgot, further to my query earlier in the thread, I WAS asked about a mistake I had made at work so had to wing it a little on that one!
Didn’t mention any particular areas in the interview but I too had selected Derby and Staffordshire, unsure whether they take into account your distance from home to your local box ? If so Uttoxeter for me :D
 

amanda08

Guest
Joined
19 Oct 2019
Messages
304
So I have today been given my start date for Signalling School I’ll be starting on the 14th September in York, is anyone else starting on this date?
Really excited and really nervous at the same time!
Not starting but I'll be in week 7 then (all being well lol) Good luck :)
 

BigRob21

Member
Joined
14 Jul 2020
Messages
39
Location
Wombourne
Congrats!

Any news on a start date for you yet?
Thank you!

Nothing as of yet, although the recruitment team did say I would get this following the outcome of the medical and the DBS check (if they both come back clear that is :) which I'm sure they will).
 

Virgin788

Member
Joined
24 Apr 2020
Messages
11
Location
England
Thank you!

Nothing as of yet, although the recruitment team did say I would get this following the outcome of the medical and the DBS check (if they both come back clear that is :) which I'm sure they will).
Great news! With the medical so soon it seems it may happen quickly.
 

TLM

Member
Joined
31 Aug 2020
Messages
10
Location
United Kingdom
Just done my deductive test, not confident either, doing the scenario one tomorrow when I'm not as flustered... my interview is the 10th for the same positions as you fingers crossed for us both

Yeah, I basically did the scenario had a cup of tea and polished off the deductive whilst awaiting the interview date. Interview with the wepow site was amusing to say the least, why they don't use teams or zoom who knows, the drop out and audio quality was not the best but we muddled on and made the interview a bit more relaxed in a weird way. Definitely did better in interview than my two tests, which were pretty bad especially deductive, and now it's just awaiting the scores as they add them up and whittle the applicants down. I did read correct earlier in the thread that people have applied 6,7 or more times for the signaller job? did that include getting to interview stage or was that just to get to interview stage? I'd have one more go at it but I doubt I'd be as persistent as that. Good luck all in the mix btw!
 

matty1984

Member
Joined
20 May 2014
Messages
27
Its all go this end and it's safe to say i am busting with excitement. Formal offer received, signed and sent back. Oh, and my medical is booked for Monday in Birmingham (which I'm hopeful will go well).

:lol::lol::lol:
Good luck! Ive got to wait till the 18th for my medical, that was the earliest they could offer, maybe it all's a bit slower down south! :)
 

Rubble

Member
Joined
20 Aug 2020
Messages
12
Location
Birmingham
So I have today been given my start date for Signalling School I’ll be starting on the 14th September in York, is anyone else starting on this date?
Really excited and really nervous at the same time!

Congratulations! Wow you’re starting so soon. I was given my start date a while ago for york but its not till next year. I’m hearing a few people recently are getting quick spots into signal school. How did you get fast tracked?
 

RedMum77

Member
Joined
13 Nov 2019
Messages
55
Location
Alfreton
Wow Cumbo thats a really fast start. When did you have interview/get offered job etc?
So I have today been given my start date for Signalling School I’ll be starting on the 14th September in York, is anyone else starting on this date?
Really excited and really nervous at the same time!
 

Cumbo92

Member
Joined
22 Jul 2020
Messages
20
Location
Chesterfield
Wow Cumbo thats a really fast start. When did you have interview/get offered job etc?
I had my interview March then didn’t get my job offer till end of July then it all happened fairly quick I had my medical at the start of August and got my start date with all checks being passed as the 7th September and Signalling School on. The 14th.

Congratulations! Wow you’re starting so soon. I was given my start date a while ago for york but its not till next year. I’m hearing a few people recently are getting quick spots into signal school. How did you get fast tracked?
I’m not sure I applied for this job in March unsure if that’s got something to do with it then was offered in July. Not sure if things were delayed due to Covid reasons and that has something to do with it.

Enjoyable but hard is how I’d sum it up :)
Yeah I’ve spoke to a couple of signallers who have said it is hard but like you have said enjoyable and they have all said if you put the work in you’ll be fine.
 

Ben123

New Member
Joined
1 Sep 2020
Messages
3
Location
Derby
Hi all,

Anybody that did the futures interview yesterday received an email saying they will let you know by 30th September?
I'm confused as yesterday they said 2-3 days?!
 

_Odo_

Member
Joined
14 Jan 2020
Messages
31
Location
Lincolnshire
Well done. Yet another recruit to our area. I seem to hear about these quicker than management at the moment.

Derby is a new school. I know management were looking at utilising the old Derby PSB, but to get a school back in Derby is a good call. Probably helped by the amount of new recruits we need.

As for the boxes, it could be either. The whole line is having a re-org at the moment, as I've mentioned in these forums. The proposal by management increases resident staff to three in each signal box, working a two shift system (inc. Sunday). The proposed roster is anticipated to commence in January 2021, but it's still in the negotiation stages with the local trade union representatives.

Ancaster works both Absolute Block and Track Circuit Block, whilst Rauceby is Absolute Block in both directions. Both locations are steady enough to work, with two passenger trains per hour throughout the day. Various types of level crossings are supervised at both locations.

Thanks High Dyke for that information - good to know. I did notice that the level crossing at Ancaster crosses a restricted byway (so no cars), with a main gate and a smaller one for pedestrians. So I'm guessing the only times the main gate would be opened is if somebody needed to cross on horseback or with farm animals - which I can't imagine happens very often!
 

TLM

Member
Joined
31 Aug 2020
Messages
10
Location
United Kingdom
Yep I have same email, I got told sometime after 15th. No worries as I appreciate they must have had a huge amount of applicants.
 

High Dyke

Established Member
Joined
1 Jan 2013
Messages
4,267
Location
Yellabelly Country
Thanks High Dyke for that information - good to know. I did notice that the level crossing at Ancaster crosses a restricted byway (so no cars), with a main gate and a smaller one for pedestrians. So I'm guessing the only times the main gate would be opened is if somebody needed to cross on horseback or with farm animals - which I can't imagine happens very often!
Correct. You do get the odd car turn up, but then see the folly of their ways and turn round. The only other time they are opened is when the box closes overnight - early turn closes them when the box opens.
 

Thebullet

Member
Joined
23 Apr 2020
Messages
24
Location
North West
It's a funny thing NR recruitment, just received another application unsuccessful for a Grade 2 post that makes 8 in total including one interview.
Not long after that I receive a call offering me a Grade 7 position.
Over the moon now, start signalling school next month if all goes well.

Thanks to the people who use this platform to help others and not moan about this and that.
 

MrsP2010

Member
Joined
31 Mar 2020
Messages
105
Location
Ellesmere
It's a funny thing NR recruitment, just received another application unsuccessful for a Grade 2 post that makes 8 in total including one interview.
Not long after that I receive a call offering me a Grade 7 position.
Over the moon now, start signalling school next month if all goes well.

Thanks to the people who use this platform to help others and not moan about this and that.
Congratulations! The weeks will fly by!!
 

LincsBobby

Member
Joined
9 Aug 2019
Messages
17
So after signalling school, training, rules verification, passing out and then being left to my own devices i've finally been offered a full term permanent contract (i was on a fixed term contract). Almost 14 months to the day since i officially started with the company. It's a long old ride but totally worth so keep at it people
 

89jordanbj

Member
Joined
16 Dec 2019
Messages
208
Location
Newport
So after signalling school, training, rules verification, passing out and then being left to my own devices i've finally been offered a full term permanent contract (i was on a fixed term contract). Almost 14 months to the day since i officially started with the company. It's a long old ride but totally worth so keep at it people
Congratulations! How long was the original FTC?
 

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