A career as a signaller

[NapoleoNik]

Hi all! I was recently successful in securing a Grade 2 role at Llandudno Junction. I was a first time applicant, so both surprised and happy with myself for how well everything went.

I’ll be heading all the way down to Bristol for signalling school this February, subject to all of the pre-employment checks coming back positive. What I’d like to know is: what is a typical day at signalling school like? What time of day does it start and finish? I’d like to find some time to explore Bristol as I have never been; will there be any time to fit this in around studies?

Diolch!

 

[Frothy_B]

They won't book you on signal school if you can't attend all the weeks - the course isn't doable by dipping in and out. You should declare the pre-booked holiday at the interview stage. Down to the LOM then whether they can work round things with either a delayed school start date and they find you something to do in the interim or a delayed employment start date. It might make the difference between you getting the job and someone else getting it...

Family emergencies and other what if scenarios would be dealt with at the time but if you missed two weeks you might have to be back coursed...

Thanks for the reply. I figured it would be something like that, with losing out on the job being a potential consequence.

 

[Amberk]

Hi all. Also had an offer of employment for the Sheffield area the other day. After what was a very goof interview,do I'm delighted with that feedback.Just waiting for optima to get In touch for medical. Still stressing about the paydrop but I'll make it work somehow

 

[Andromeda341]

Hi all. Also had an offer of employment for the Sheffield area the other day. After what was a very goof interview,do I'm delighted with that feedback.Just waiting for optima to get In touch for medical. Still stressing about the paydrop but I'll make it work somehow

Congratulations @Amberk, I also interviewed for the Sheffield area etc and was put on the reserve list, huge achievement being offered a position. Was this your first time applying? All the best with the journey.

 

[Amberk]

Congratulations @Amberk, I also interviewed for the Sheffield area etc and was put on the reserve list, huge achievement being offered a position. Was this your first time applying? All the best with the journey.

Hi. Thank you. Yes first time applying for me

 

[ffesti]

Hi all. Also had an offer of employment for the Sheffield area the other day. After what was a very goof interview,do I'm delighted with that feedback.Just waiting for optima to get In touch for medical. Still stressing about the paydrop but I'll make it work somehow

Congratulations! Out of interest, do you know what are they including in the ‘Sheffield Area’? Kiveton, Maltby… ?

 

[Amberk]

Congratulations! Out of interest, do you know what are they including in the ‘Sheffield Area’? Kiveton, Maltby… ?

Thank you. Yes I believe Kiveton and maltby but I don't think I'm being assigned a particular box. Recruited under the future oppertunies drive. I think maybe Totley tunnel also? But I can apply for any boxes up for grabs when I've been to signalling school

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

Hi all! I was recently successful in securing a Grade 2 role at Llandudno Junction. I was a first time applicant, so both surprised and happy with myself for how well everything went.

I’ll be heading all the way down to Bristol for signalling school this February, subject to all of the pre-employment checks coming back positive. What I’d like to know is: what is a typical day at signalling school like? What time of day does it start and finish? I’d like to find some time to explore Bristol as I have never been; will there be any time to fit this in around studies?

Diolch!

Regarding a typical day, my IST went along these lines (not at Bristol, admittedly)
07:00 - 09:00: Practice on the simulator in pairs.
09:00: Lessons start (09:30 on Mondays). Endless PowerPoint slides.
12:00 - 13:00: Lunch.
13:00 - 15:30: More PowerPoint slides.
15:30 - 17:30: Practice on the simulator in pairs.

On Friday, there tends to be an earlier finish, usually by midday. We made a rota for the simulator training, so the people doing the early session wouldn’t be doing the late turn etc.

If the teacher gets ahead of the syllabus, you might get a couple of revision or simulator practice days prior to the big exams, but that’s not generally built into the timetable. Some people would also work the simulator in the evenings or weekends, if they wanted additional time.

You will be expected to spend time revising in the evenings, and there’s a minimum number of hours on the simulator you’ll need to record.

Good luck!

 

[Leesaclare]

I sent an email last monday and they said they were expecting it back last week.
When I didn't hear anything I sent another one over the weekend asking if they've heard anything and if not then if they had a contact at optima for me to chase.
Does it normally take this long? Worried that with Christmas so close it isn't going to come back this side of new years...

Sorry for delay in reply. I got told 5 days. I'm basically in the same situation as needed to give 4 weeks notice but still haven't had D&A results. I got told "candidates will know if they will pass the D&A" in response to handing my notice in to request a shorter notice period. Fingers crossed it all comes back this week. Have you been given a start date?

 

[Anneruon]

Sorry for delay in reply. I got told 5 days. I'm basically in the same situation as needed to give 4 weeks notice but still haven't had D&A results. I got told "candidates will know if they will pass the D&A" in response to handing my notice in to request a shorter notice period. Fingers crossed it all comes back this week. Have you been given a start date?

I've had the D&A results back, thankfully all good! Took over 3 weeks though. They seem to have a substantial back log currently.
Starting on 4th Jan at the box then starting on 10th Jan at Milton Keynes on the course.
Fingers crossed you get it back soon!

 

[ffesti]

Thank you. Yes I believe Kiveton and maltby but I don't think I'm being assigned a particular box. Recruited under the future oppertunies drive. I think maybe Totley tunnel also? But I can apply for any boxes up for grabs when I've been to signalling school

By a ‘quirk’ of organisation, Totley and the Hope Valley come under Manchester Outer on the North West and Central route. Nothing stopping you from applying for jobs on the Hope Valley as they come up though

 

[Amberk]

By a ‘quirk’ of organisation, Totley and the Hope Valley come under Manchester Outer on the North West and Central route. Nothing stopping you from applying for jobs on the Hope Valley as they come up though

Ah i see, no i guess not! thats what they are expecting us to do anyway, apply for vacancies as they come up as we arent assigned to a box, curious to know where i will be training though, anyone any ideas?

 

[Woody27]

Hi all, I am a frequent visitor to this thread, and I would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year, and wish all the successful candidates all the very best, and to those, like myself, who have not yet made the grade, keep chasing those dreams

 

[Casey_Jones]

Hi all, I am a frequent visitor to this thread, and I would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year, and wish all the successful candidates all the very best, and to those, like myself, who have not yet made the grade, keep chasing those dreams

Merry Christmas Woody, it took me over three years and a double figure number of applications to get in so keep working on it and you'll get there.

 

[Woody27]

Merry Christmas Woody, it took me over three years and a double figure number of applications to get in so keep working on it and you'll get there.

Thank you Casey, I will never stop trying!!!

 

[WoollyMammoth]

Thank you Casey, I will never stop trying!!!

Good luck Woody. What stage are you failing at? Feel free to drop me a PM if you want.

 

[Woody27]

Good luck Woody. What stage are you failing at? Feel free to drop me a PM if you want.

Thanks Woolly, I will after Christmas if that’s ok

 

[Dandan062]

Merry Christmas everyone. Anyone starting signal school 10th Jan in York ?

 

[Signal_Box]

Oooo, thank you for your reply! That's fair, I'll just have to find out when I find out.

MV is just short of 20 years old now (Opened in mid 2004), it’s ongoing operation really depends on from where the East to West railway is controlled from. Logic would suggest added onto MV as it really doesn’t warrant a workstation in itself at either TVSC [Western end Oxford workstation), or added to the Bletchley area workstation at Rugby.

From memory MV is spilt into a East and West panel (Westcad I think) due to the number of level crossings on the line, double manned on days and single on nights.

But there’s only a 1 tph service (when it runs!) with little freight, I think it’s a grade 3 or 4 as well.

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Any signallers on here able to comment on what the situation is regarding wearing of Network Rail uniform whilst on duty, ie are you expected to wear it?? What is the uniform allowance in terms of what and how much uniform NR issue to a signaller?

You’ll be issued a full uniform, smart or casual. Whether you wear it, or how much you wear is down to where you work and your LOM. ROCs tend to require at least your polo / t shirt, where as single manned boxes require just you to wear clothes !

 

[WoollyMammoth]

Thanks Woolly, I will after Christmas if that’s ok

Yep no worries!

 

[Demx93]

If you start off as a grade 2.. can you apply for higher grades say 6-7 or do people normally go from 2-3 3-4 ect ?

 

[godfreycomplex]

If you start off as a grade 2.. can you apply for higher grades say 6-7 or do people normally go from 2-3 3-4 ect ?

Yes indeed you can apply for higher grades and be awarded them on the strength of your application and interview in comparison to the strengths of the applications and interviews of other applicants. No restriction is generally placed on what jobs you can apply for (though when you can apply for them is another topic of discussion)

The strength of the field varies widely from job to job. For example, in an area like Cumbria/Staffs/Lincolnshire/the West Country, with lots of small single crewed boxes and perhaps one local Grade 6/7, whenever jobs at the Grade 6/7 come up they are often hotly contested by signallers at local mechanical boxes and as such there is more competition. In areas with more higher grade locations (mostly major urban areas) the competition can be less intense.

I know of a Grade 7 panel that had 23 applications from existing signallers for 1 vacancy and the successful applicant more or less had to recite the rule book backwards in Cantonese whilst standing on their head, and a grade 7 panel where internal applicants were checked for pulse and number of limbs and those were negotiable. And everywhere in between.

 

[Demx93]

that’s brilliant haha, thank you for that it’s appreciated

 

[Signal_Box]

If you start off as a grade 2.. can you apply for higher grades say 6-7 or do people normally go from 2-3 3-4 ect ?

Yes, personally I kinda wish I’d started low then worked up rather than go into at a high grade. You don’t know how lucky you are to work solo!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Dec 2021 ==

Yes indeed you can apply for higher grades and be awarded them on the strength of your application and interview in comparison to the strengths of the applications and interviews of other applicants. No restriction is generally placed on what jobs you can apply for (though when you can apply for them is another topic of discussion)

The strength of the field varies widely from job to job. For example, in an area like Cumbria/Staffs/Lincolnshire/the West Country, with lots of small single crewed boxes and perhaps one local Grade 6/7, whenever jobs at the Grade 6/7 come up they are often hotly contested by signallers at local mechanical boxes and as such there is more competition. In areas with more higher grade locations (mostly major urban areas) the competition can be less intense.

I know of a Grade 7 panel that had 23 applications from existing signallers for 1 vacancy and the successful applicant more or less had to recite the rule book backwards in Cantonese whilst standing on their head, and a grade 7 panel where internal applicants were checked for pulse and number of limbs and those were negotiable. And everywhere in between.

We’re really struggling to get applicants from within for a grade 7 job with multiple lines up for grabs. There isn’t even a shortage of lower grade boxes for people to move up from, it’s much deeper problem.

 

[Exscrew]

Yes, personally I kinda wish I’d started low then worked up rather than go into at a high grade. You don’t know how lucky you are to work solo!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Dec 2021 ==



We’re really struggling to get applicants from within for a grade 7 job with multiple lines up for grabs. There isn’t even a shortage of lower grade boxes for people to move up from, it’s much deeper problem.

Wheres that from out of interest

 

[Signal_Box]

A large IECC.

 

[Anneruon]

A large IECC.

Don't suppose that's around the south?

How does it work with applying for a higher grade? Is it accepted practice or is there a degree of resentment from the LOM for you leaving for another box?

 

[godfreycomplex]

that’s brilliant haha, thank you for that it’s appreciated

No worries dude any ol time

Yes, personally I kinda wish I’d started low then worked up rather than go into at a high grade. You don’t know how lucky you are to work solo!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Dec 2021 ==



We’re really struggling to get applicants from within for a grade 7 job with multiple lines up for grabs. There isn’t even a shortage of lower grade boxes for people to move up from, it’s much deeper problem.

It’s perhaps illustrative that in a recent interview for a fairly industrial strength non signalling job more than half of the railway based examples/anecdotes I used were from the single crewed grade 3 that I left 4 years before, and there’s not a day that I haven’t drawn on that experience since then, despite living the big panel life these days.

That is another can of sardines altogether, some boxes have such gruesome reputations (some warranted, some less so) and also if boxes are scheduled to close that can put off applications

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Dec 2021 ==

Don't suppose that's around the south?

How does it work with applying for a higher grade? Is it accepted practice or is there a degree of resentment from the LOM for you leaving for another box?

Depends when you do it. A good LOM will recognise the talents of their staff and encourage them to reach their full potential, whether in one of “their” jobs or elsewhere.

However there is a lot of time, money and effort invested in new signallers by LOMs and others and it probably isn’t really cricket to not at least attempt to repay this in some way

 

[Leesaclare]

Finally got all my confirmation required ready to start on 4th Jan I'm super excited. Slightly nervous about going back into learning very different to what I was doing before. Start signal school 10th Jan in Bristol. I was wondering if anyone knew what hotels NR use? And how they provide our meals I.e. From hotel or on site at training centre?

 

[Signal_Box]

Don't suppose that's around the south?

How does it work with applying for a higher grade? Is it accepted practice or is there a degree of resentment from the LOM for you leaving for another box?

Down South yes.

Regards the other question, I can see it from the LOMs point of view.

“You” invest a significant sum of money into a new signaller recruitment, training etc then within a year their applying for a new job so you have to start the process again. Especially if the signaller is leaving your patch.

But from a signallers viewpoint your nothing but a number to 99% of LOMs so why not apply for higher grade jobs?
Some LOMs will actively encourage you to apply for new higher grade jobs, don’t get me wrong but they won’t thank you if your day one andappgirn for a higher grade job or you’ve been offered a job by them and then take a higher grade before you actually start.