A career as a signaller

[nom de guerre]

Hi,

Been a bit of a lurker on here through the process of applying for the Grade 2-4 Signaller - Cambridge, Bury Yard, Stonea, Acton Canal Wharf, Dudding Hill, Neasden, Willesden vacancies advertised recently.

I have applied for the London based vacancies (Acton Canal Wharf, Dudding Hill, Neasden and Willesden) and have passed the first 3 stages and been invited to a live interview.

It's been a great source of information on here, but i just wondered if anyone knew what grades the four London locations above are?

Also, the Grade 2 base salary is advertised at £32,210. As the job ad includes Cambridge, Peterborough and Ipswich postcodes I was presuming/hoping the London vacancies would have the London allowance added to that (think its £3k?)

Any help would be appreciated. Cheers!

Welcome, and good luck with the applications.

Acton Canal Wharf, Dudding Hill and Neasden are all Grade 2 or 3 IIRC. I’m fairly sure Willesden Carriage Sidings are the same, @carriageline may be able to confirm.

They are all great ‘boxes to learn the trade of signalling; Dudding Hill in particular is a nice place to work.

Yes, good luck with the interview.

Canal Wharf, Neasden and Dudding Hill are all Grade 2.

The only "Willesden" job I can see on the internal list within that grading band is a Grade 3 for Anglia route, which, assuming no typos, would likely mean Upper Holloway. The two Willesden Carriage Shed boxes are within the G2-G4 band but are on a different NR route, West Coast South.

All of these would qualify for Inner London allowance (£3270/pa) and associated supplement (£1260/pa).

One factor to consider is that the Grade 2s are on a freight only line, which means they don't always open all day on a Sunday - it's traffic-dependent.

 

[NC99]

Welcome, and good luck with the applications.

Acton Canal Wharf, Dudding Hill and Neasden are all Grade 2 or 3 IIRC. I’m fairly sure Willesden Carriage Sidings are the same, @carriageline may be able to confirm.

They are all great ‘boxes to learn the trade of signalling; Dudding Hill in particular is a nice place to work.

Ah great, thanks mate

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2023 ==

Yes, good luck with the interview.

Canal Wharf, Neasden and Dudding Hill are all Grade 2.

The only "Willesden" job I can see on the internal list within that grading band is a Grade 3 for Anglia route, which, assuming no typos, would likely mean Upper Holloway. The two Willesden Carriage Shed boxes are within the G2-G4 band but are on a different NR route, West Coast South.

All of these would qualify for Inner London allowance (£3270/pa) and associated supplement (£1260/pa).

One factor to consider is that the Grade 2s are on a freight only line, which means they don't always open all day on a Sunday - it's traffic-dependent.

Thank you - interesting. Didn't know about the extra £1260.

 

[Jam67]

Hi all, been on here for a while but haven't posted for a long time, so please be gentle with me...

After a long while trying, I finally secured a job offer from NR yesterday, so to say that I'm chuffed would be somewhat of an understatement! It's for a Grade 2 Signaller Trainee position based in Boston & I wondered if anyone had an idea of the likely shift patterns, etc. I see from RTT that it's open seven days a week & looks like probably two 8-hour (ish) shifts (earlies & lates), but any confirmation would be greatly appreciated

 

[UVB76]

Well.. 2 weeks ago i got an email stating i was unsuccessful in a Grade 2 role in North Wales, but placed on a reserve list.. Today i got a call offering me a position, made up! No start date until September, possibly January but still very happy Thanks again

Well done mate thats great news

 

[High Dyke]

Hi all, been on here for a while but haven't posted for a long time, so please be gentle with me...

After a long while trying, I finally secured a job offer from NR yesterday, so to say that I'm chuffed would be somewhat of an understatement! It's for a Grade 2 Signaller Trainee position based in Boston & I wondered if anyone had an idea of the likely shift patterns, etc. I see from RTT that it's open seven days a week & looks like probably two 8-hour (ish) shifts (earlies & lates), but any confirmation would be greatly appreciated

Well done. The job won't be Boston West Street, as it's a Grade 3 location..You'll be either the boxes between Sibsey & Skegness. They have two 8-hour shifts (M-S). Sunday turns are shorter. The other box in that area is Hubberts Bridge, which has two 8h 30m shifts (M-S), Sunday turns are shorter there as well.

I can drop you a message with the shift pattern when I get access to my work account.

 

[willpilbeam]

Well done mate thats great news

Thank you mate.. Hope you're well

 

[Jam67]

Well done. The job won't be Boston West Street, as it's a Grade 3 location..You'll be either the boxes between Sibsey & Skegness. They have two 8-hour shifts (M-S). Sunday turns are shorter. The other box in that area is Hubberts Bridge, which has two 8h 30m shifts (M-S), Sunday turns are shorter there as well.

I can drop you a message with the shift pattern when I get access to my work account.

Thanks for that - I was initially going off what the lass told me on the phone, but when I received the email with all the documentation, it did say that I'd only be attached to Boston for the purposes of training, but once passed out, I'd be allocated to another box within 60 minutes travelling time.

It's weird, but I've always thought of places out in that part of East Lincs to be 'far away', but having checked all the boxes between Boston & Skegvegas, ALL of them are apparently within a 60 minute commute - that wasn't what I was expecting at all!

If you get the chance to have a look at the shift pattern, that would be greatly appreciated

Just need to pass the bloody medical now...

 

[High Dyke]

Thanks for that - I was initially going off what the lass told me on the phone, but when I received the email with all the documentation, it did say that I'd only be attached to Boston for the purposes of training, but once passed out, I'd be allocated to another box within 60 minutes travelling time.

It's weird, but I've always thought of places out in that part of East Lincs to be 'far away', but having checked all the boxes between Boston & Skegvegas, ALL of them are apparently within a 60 minute commute - that wasn't what I was expecting at all!

If you get the chance to have a look at the shift pattern, that would be greatly appreciated

Just need to pass the bloody medical now...

The LOM for that area is based at Boston. I'm not sure how the in-box training is carried out, though you normally attend the box you have been appointed to.

For most of those boxes the basic shift pattern, and rotates through, is:
Su M T W Th F S L L L L L RD RD - RD RD E E E E E E E RD RD L L L L L L L RD RD
Some weeks have spare turns instead of a RD, and you also have safety brief and training days incorporated throughout the roster. Most locations work 2 out of 3 Sundays.

All the best.

 

[Jam67]

The LOM for that area is based at Boston. I'm not sure how the in-box training is carried out, though you normally attend the box you have been appointed to.

For most of those boxes the basic shift pattern, and rotates through, is:
Su M T W Th F S L L L L L RD RD - RD RD E E E E E E E RD RD L L L L L L L RD RD
Some weeks have spare turns instead of a RD, and you also have safety brief and training days incorporated throughout the roster. Most locations work 2 out of 3 Sundays.

All the best.

Thank you very much - greatly appreciated

 

[Jovisd79]

Hi all, first of all, I'd like to say what a great forum this is, wealth of info.
I have recently applied for network rails advert for signallers grade 2-4, looking at the posts at Cambridge and bury yard.

I just wondered if any body was aware of the shift the shift pattern for these? Are they 24hr?
And if they attract any type of shift allowance at all?
I'd be taking a fairly significant pay drop for the position which isn't the be all and end all as looking at longer term better job and conditions. Just in interested so can roughly work out budget. Interview later this month so fingers crossed. Cheers guys

 

[Goggins]

Afternoon guys, was anyone in here successful in the North Wales position, Bangor, Holyhead and Llandudno. If so have you received a start date and course start date by anychance?

 

[Harls24]

Hi Depending on passing medical i will be starting at Basingstoke ASC on 21st August 2023 as a grade 7. Then its signalling school in september. I'm looking forward to it. Any info on roster would be much appreciated

Congratulations!!! I’m starting IST September, around the 11th? Have they confirmed anything for you or where you’re going. Had my medical so waiting for final offer

 

[Jovisd79]

Kirkgate is 8 hour roster, 12 hour Sundays, on the ‘usual’ pattern for the region:

Su M T W Th F S
RD RD RD L L L L
N N N N N N N
RD L L RD E E E
D E E E RD RD RD

Am I reading that right? That you do 11.30 days on the trot followed by 1 rest day after nights?

 

[Andy9gc]

Hi All,

I attended an interview on the 25/05/23 and was told to expect contact in the 1st week of June if I was successful or not.

Is it worth getting in contact to find out as its now the 16th? Or is it likely that there has been some delay and just to hang on? thanks

 

[endofthetunnel]

Am I reading that right? That you do 11.30 days on the trot followed by 1 rest day after nights?

Yep, it’s a pretty standard 8 hour pattern, certainly round most of the north. The flip side is the 6 days long weekend every 4 weeks.

 

[Horizon22]

Yep, it’s a pretty standard 8 hour pattern, certainly round most of the north. The flip side is the 6 days long weekend every 4 weeks.

Certainly odd (and I imagine fails fatigue matrix?) to have one RD after 11 shifts (7 nights), but 6 after 7 early shifts.

 

[endofthetunnel]

Certainly odd (and I imagine fails fatigue matrix?) to have one RD after 11 shifts (7 nights), but 6 after 7 early shifts.

Yes it’s not a pattern I especially liked or one I work anymore, just answered the question.

 

[PF19]

Afternoon all!
Has anybody been confirmed on the July IST in Salford yet?
Trying to find any fellow classmates!

 

[Frothy_B]

Hi All,

I attended an interview on the 25/05/23 and was told to expect contact in the 1st week of June if I was successful or not.

Is it worth getting in contact to find out as its now the 16th? Or is it likely that there has been some delay and just to hang on? thanks

It’s always worth an email to HR just to see if there is any update. I think it was 5 weeks for me from Interview before I heard I’d been successful (we were told we would likely hear the start of the following week), so at 3 weeks I wouldn’t be too worried yet, although the wait can be gruelling at times.

 

[vinoboxer]

Anyone confirmed for IST at end of July in Scotland? Shettleston to be exact?!

 

[BrummieBobby]

Am I reading that right? That you do 11.30 days on the trot followed by 1 rest day after nights?

I used to work a very similar roster when my signal box was on 8 hour shifts; that run of lates followed by nights was awful frankly. The long weekend of rest days was also a red herring, as I was so tired from the lack of rest days that the first two rest days were a write off as I found I was too tired to do anything.

Thank God we voted, overwhelmingly, to change to 12s when offered the chance!

 

[Jovisd79]

I used to work a very similar roster when my signal box was on 8 hour shifts; that run of lates followed by nights was awful frankly. The long weekend of rest days was also a red herring, as I was so tired from the lack of rest days that the first two rest days were a write off as I found I was too tired to do anything.

Thank God we voted, overwhelmingly, to change to 12s when offered the chance!

Yeah I'm amazed that any union would agree or allow that run of shifts.

 

[Goggins]

Hi All,

I attended an interview on the 25/05/23 and was told to expect contact in the 1st week of June if I was successful or not.

Is it worth getting in contact to find out as its now the 16th? Or is it likely that there has been some delay and just to hang on? thanks

It was 8 weeks for me, i emailed a few to times in that time, and got the same email back each time, sorry for delay, and update will be sent out soon etc.

 

[Andy9gc]

It’s always worth an email to HR just to see if there is any update. I think it was 5 weeks for me from Interview before I heard I’d been successful (we were told we would likely hear the start of the following week), so at 3 weeks I wouldn’t be too worried yet, although the wait can be gruelling at times.

It was 8 weeks for me, i emailed a few to times in that time, and got the same email back each time, sorry for delay, and update will be sent out soon etc.

Thank you, I have dropped an email and see what happens.

 

[bhabloke]

Hello All, Does anyone know what the ratio is likely to be for how many are interviewed for each advertised post?

 

[Andy9gc]

Hi All,

On Monday I was verbally offered a G7 Position. How long should it take for my contract to arrive?

 

[PF19]

Hello All, Does anyone know what the ratio is likely to be for how many are interviewed for each advertised post?

This could literally be anything, combination of hiring managers discretion, how many people actually applied and a bunch of other factors - There won't be a definitive answer to this

Hi All,

On Monday I was verbally offered a G7 Position. How long should it take for my contract to arrive?

Congrats!! Did you apply externally? Contracts within NR can take a while... everything does... From experience, you shouldn't be waiting more than 2 weeks... Have you done a medical etc yet? They might hold off a written contract until all of that has been sorted

 

[Andy9gc]

This could literally be anything, combination of hiring managers discretion, how many people actually applied and a bunch of other factors - There won't be a definitive answer to this



Congrats!! Did you apply externally? Contracts within NR can take a while... everything does... From experience, you shouldn't be waiting more than 2 weeks... Have you done a medical etc yet? They might hold off a written contract until all of that has been sorted

Thank you! I am external and no medical booked in yet, however I am railway staff currently with a valid medical for a TOC. I was told IST is likely to be January. Should I expect a long wait for a contract in this case?

 

[PF19]

Thank you! I am external and no medical booked in yet, however I am railway staff currently with a valid medical for a TOC. I was told IST is likely to be January. Should I expect a long wait for a contract in this case?

Ah okay, crickey that's a long time until school! In that case, I wouldn't expect anything else to happen quickly... they have a long time to get things done, I assume you will have a date to start with the company relatively close to school starting...?

 

[Andy9gc]

Ah okay, crickey that's a long time until school! In that case, I wouldn't expect anything else to happen quickly... they have a long time to get things done, I assume you will have a date to start with the company relatively close to school starting...?

Yes very long time, I was told this was due to backlogs. In the case of start date yes I was told I should know this as soon as its confirmed.