Transport for Wales - Trainee Train Drivers

[railwaymania27]

I've been on her case for ages. Feel sorry for her. Lol. Must be swamped with work. Don't think anybody really knows beyond a potential January course tbh. Would be surprised if Holyhead wasn't on the agenda for that.

Haha. Think I am just going to have to be patient and wait probably until next year.

 

[wobman]

I've been on her case for ages. Feel sorry for her. Lol. Must be swamped with work. Don't think anybody really knows beyond a potential January course tbh. Would be surprised if Holyhead wasn't on the agenda for that.

There's a course running now at Chester, the trainees were being shown around a 150 at Chester.

 

[Sparky9909]

Just come off my dmi teams call and was notified that the courses available for cardiff/valleys would be early spring towards end of 2nd quarter

 

[railwaymania27]

Fingers crossed for you Sparky9909!

 

[Sparky9909]

Fingers crossed for you Sparky9909!

Thanks mate i dont feel it went well but you never know they did discuss when the next course was likely to be and the wage structure, i asume they do they with everybody

 

[Plodster]

I've been on her case for ages. Feel sorry for her. Lol. Must be swamped with work. Don't think anybody really knows beyond a potential January course tbh. Would be surprised if Holyhead wasn't on the agenda for that.

Hope HHD is on the Jan course

Just come off my dmi teams call and was notified that the courses available for cardiff/valleys would be early spring towards end of 2nd quarter

Good luck with it Sparky

 

[BrokenSam]

There's a course running now at Chester, the trainees were being shown around a 150 at Chester.

Forgive me. I meant future courses not ones running now.

 

[Sparky9909]

Hope HHD is on the Jan course


Good luck with it Sparky

Thanks for the support plodster

Just had the email saying im added to the talent pool and passed the dmi

Thats a big relief

 

[railwaymania27]

Well done Sparky! Great news!.

 

[mic1610]

Thanks for the support plodster

Just had the email saying im added to the talent pool and passed the dmi

Thats a big relief

Well done mate. That's a quic turnaround for you. Saved you a couple days of stress

 

[Sparky9909]

Thanks both

Yes it did i was pulling my hair out not knowing the results of my mmi

 

[Plodster]

Thanks for the support plodster

Just had the email saying im added to the talent pool and passed the dmi

Thats a big relief

Nice 1

 

[Leospinks]

Does anyone know how long you normally wait after doing your medical to start a course?

 

[Steam Power]

I was 48 when I first applied, I’m now 50, What Hope have I got now, not a lot.
Still nothing here.

 

[craigybagel]

Does anyone know how long you normally wait after doing your medical to start a course?

Normally you're only sent for a medical when you have a confirmed start date.

I was 48 when I first applied, I’m now 50, What Hope have I got now, not a lot.
Still nothing here.

Two on my course were in their fifties. You've plenty of time left.

 

[wobman]

I was 48 when I first applied, I’m now 50, What Hope have I got now, not a lot.
Still nothing here.

You have as much of a chance as anyone, your age is not relevant. There's been many trainees aged 50 plus recruited at TFW.

 

[Burt807]

You have as much of a chance as anyone, your age is not relevant. There's been many trainees aged 50 plus recruited at TFW.

I'm in the pool for Northern depots and I'll be best part of 52 by the time I start, or I could be 53 depending on how long it takes

 

[sw1ller]

Oldest I know of recently is 58. Not saying that’s the cut off at all, just giving an idea of who they consider young enough. So don’t let your age have a negative impact on your application. Good luck.

 

[Speck]

Thanks mate i dont feel it went well but you never know they did discuss when the next course was likely to be and the wage structure, i asume they do they with everybody

What did they say about wage structure?

 

[Sparky9909]

What did they say about wage structure?

The information they give at the end was a bit overwhelming and lots of it

They mentioned
11wks training @ £29,000 then goes upto
£39-42,000 for 2yrs (not sure which amount)
£52,000 once qualified

Might have got the £39-42,000 info wrong but it was about that bracket

 

[craigybagel]

The information they give at the end was a bit overwhelming and lots of it

They mentioned
11wks training @ £29,000 then goes upto
£39-42,000 for 2yrs (not sure which amount)
£52,000 once qualified

Might have got the £39-42,000 info wrong but it was about that bracket

It's the lowest rate until you complete all training - not just the 11 weeks in the school but the months of handling afterwards.
It goes up to 90% of the full salary (~£47000) when you drive a train by yourself for the first time.
2 years after that point you go to the full salary, which is currently a little over £52000.

There is a pay award currently outstanding for this year, and ongoing negotiations around larger changes (including Sundays part of the working week) so all of the above figures are likely to change.

 

[wobman]

It's the lowest rate until you complete all training - not just the 11 weeks in the school but the months of handling afterwards.
It goes up to 90% of the full salary (~£47000) when you drive a train by yourself for the first time.
2 years after that point you go to the full salary, which is currently a little over £52000.

There is a pay award currently outstanding for this year, and ongoing negotiations around larger changes (including Sundays part of the working week) so all of the above figures are likely to change.

I wonder if applicants realise that TFW drivers work a committed 1 in 3 Sundays as overtime in most depots !

Plus it's shifts through 24/7 in the bigger depots, the only non working days are Christmas & Boxing day except for the frost protection overtime staff.

The TFW franchise committment is an increase in Sunday services, so a full 7 day railway is there aim. Plus more added early and late night services aswell, aswell as more routes and extra services in the near future.

It's an exciting time especially with the new traction now on test and replacing an aged fleet that TFW have now.

 

[Sparky9909]

It's the lowest rate until you complete all training - not just the 11 weeks in the school but the months of handling afterwards.
It goes up to 90% of the full salary (~£47000) when you drive a train by yourself for the first time.
2 years after that point you go to the full salary, which is currently a little over £52000.

There is a pay award currently outstanding for this year, and ongoing negotiations around larger changes (including Sundays part of the working week) so all of the above figures are likely to change.

Thanks for the correct info you have provided do you know how many months of handling there are and what does the handling entail

 

[craigybagel]

I wonder if applicants realise that TFW drivers work a committed 1 in 3 Sundays as overtime in most depots !

Plus it's shifts through 24/7 in the bigger depots, the only non working days are Christmas & Boxing day except for the frost protection overtime staff.

The TFW franchise committment is an increase in Sunday services, so a full 7 day railway is there aim. Plus more added early and late night services aswell, aswell as more routes and extra services in the near future.

It's an exciting time especially with the new traction now on test and replacing an aged fleet that TFW have now.

Definitely exciting times! I'm looking forward to it all - but also intrigued as to how things are likely to change on the rostering front.

Thanks for the correct info you have provided do you know how many months of handling there are and what does the handling entail

The handling involves 265 hours of driving a train under the instruction of a driver instructor - 40 hours of which must be in darkness.

You get paired with a driving instructor, and you work their normal rostered shifts. Only hours spent driving count, not just the hours you're actually at work - so even though you'll be doing a normal 35 hours a week, you'll probably only get around 20 hours a week of driving in.

It can take anywhere from 5 months to a year - it's hard to give an exact amount as it varies by depot and time of year (it's hard to get 40 hours of darkness driving in June!), and the availability of Driving Instructors.

 

[railwaymania27]

The availability of D.I.s is an issue amongst all TOCS at the moment! Lets just hope it eases.

I was 48 when I first applied, I’m now 50, What Hope have I got now, not a lot.
Still nothing here.

I believe many people do change their career later on in life and come on the railway albeit as a train driver or in another role so you are really never too old .

 

[wobman]

Definitely exciting times! I'm looking forward to it all - but also intrigued as to how things are likely to change on the rostering front.

The handling involves 265 hours of driving a train under the instruction of a driver instructor - 40 hours of which must be in darkness.

You get paired with a driving instructor, and you work their normal rostered shifts. Only hours spent driving count, not just the hours you're actually at work - so even though you'll be doing a normal 35 hours a week, you'll probably only get around 20 hours a week of driving in.

It can take anywhere from 5 months to a year - it's hard to give an exact amount as it varies by depot and time of year (it's hard to get 40 hours of darkness driving in June!), and the availability of Driving Instructors.

There's big problems at Chester especially with the new 230 delayed training and the lack of DIs available, then there's the 197's now on test and other depots DIs released for that project. Plus secondments for other projects and then the covid backlog !

The training bubbles are stopping soon though, so once that happens training should then speed up thank goodness.

The issue with hours is trainees from depots going to other depots for their hours but not driving over their depot specific core routes !
It's a huge headache for the planners and the poor training centres. Glad I'm not involved...

 

[BrokenSam]

It's the lowest rate until you complete all training - not just the 11 weeks in the school but the months of handling afterwards.
It goes up to 90% of the full salary (~£47000) when you drive a train by yourself for the first time.
2 years after that point you go to the full salary, which is currently a little over £52000.

There is a pay award currently outstanding for this year, and ongoing negotiations around larger changes (including Sundays part of the working week) so all of the above figures are likely to change.

Hmm. I also thought it goes up to 42 when you first get into the seat with DI. Ah well...

 

[richfoz84]

I was 48 when I first applied, I’m now 50, What Hope have I got now, not a lot.
Still nothing here.

There was a guy on my course, late 50’s! You’ll be fine, keep on trying mate!

 

[craigybagel]

There's big problems at Chester especially with the new 230 delayed training and the lack of DIs available, then there's the 197's now on test and other depots DIs released for that project. Plus secondments for other projects and then the covid backlog !

The training bubbles are stopping soon though, so once that happens training should then speed up thank goodness.

The issue with hours is trainees from depots going to other depots for their hours but not driving over their depot specific core routes !
It's a huge headache for the planners and the poor training centres. Glad I'm not involved...

Indeed - I know some Chester trainees have been with DIs from other depots of late but they're not going to get much experience of Bidston like that.

Unlike at other TOCs where handling and row learning are done separately, at TfW drivers do a higher amount of hours which also incorporates route learning over the core routes

Hmm. I also thought it goes up to 42 when you first get into the seat with DI. Ah well...

I'm afraid not. The good news is (shortage of DIs at Chester aside) drivers do tend to pass out quicker than is the case at other TOCs. It took me less than 9 months from my first day in the training school to my first solo drive, and I wasn't atypical.

 

[RyanMabey12]

Hey guys, first time posting. Found out I passed the DMI and have been added to the talent pool.

Does anyone know how much holidays etc you get with TFW? Got excited today as Laura emailed asking for the number best to contact me on but didn’t get a phone call after I sent her my number lol