A career as a signaller

[Jenny]

Fair play. Good luck and hopefully you get that opportunity soon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2023 ==

For the forum. I have Seen this pay scale attachment for the different signaller grades. Little bit confused though. The top part has the different grades salaries, but the bottom part has the yearly relief premiums. Is your yearly salary as a signaller the bottom yearly relief part? Or the top part?

Does anyone know what the Dorking, Arundel and Oxted relief position % is?

 

[Broonie86]

Hi all, I have successfully completed my full application process including onboarding and medical (pretty stressful but no complaints). I want to thank everyone for the wealth of knowledge in this forum and wish the best of luck to everyone starting the application process. If I can answer any questions I will definitely try either in this forum or from dm's ( not sure if the forum has this capability). Now just waiting for a start date and hopefully starting IST in larbert in October.

I agree, the knowledge and advice on this site is fantastic and definitely helped me during the recruitment process.

I was pencilled in to be on the IST in Larbert in October. Unfortunately, my medical isn't until later this month and I've still to work my notice. My start date has now been pushed back to January. Hope it goes well and you start in October.

 

[LuckyTaffy]

Hi everyone,

Just signed up to the forum after keeping tabs on it for a few months.

I’ve just been hired on for a grade 7 signaller based in South wales, training to start in the next week! Really excited as this is a totally new career for myself & a huge opportunity.

Apologies if this has been mentioned before but I’m curious as to the advertised salary. I’m pretty sure (although) can not find post though.

With the advertised salary, with shift allowance etc am I correct in assuming it’ll add a fair bit on to the advertised salary per annum?

Thanks in advance, looking forward to being involved in this sphere

 

[Jordan4321]

Finally been offered a grade 2 role!!

Just wanted to thank you guys because this forum is an absolute gold mine with the recruitments process

 

[SuperS16v]

Around another 10k - 15k on top of the base advertised salary.

 

[LuckyTaffy]

Thank you bud, appreciate the info!

 

[tiptoptaff]

Do signallers get shift allowance? I thought they just got Sundays paid

 

[LuckyTaffy]

Good question, this is why I asked. I assumed if there was mixed shifts then a shift allowance is paid.

Hopefully someone will be able to shed light on this!

 

[tiptoptaff]

Not necessarily the case on the railway mate. A lot of operational grades had their allowances rolled in to higher base salaries decades ago.

I'm not convinced signallers get a shift allowance, but their Sundays are definitely extra.

I believe Cardiff ROC signallers are on a 12hr roster, which is magical.

 

[LuckyTaffy]

Thanks bud, appreciate that.

The plan is to do as much OT and Sundays as I can, currently working 12 hour shifts & a second job in evenings so no stranger to graft

 

[tiptoptaff]

My advice is try not to do too much too soon. Just get yourself in to it first. Cane the OT when you pass out and it's more likely to lead to incidents!

Not saying don't do any, just build it up slowly! No idea how much OT is available there anyway!

 

[LuckyTaffy]

Totally understand matey, don’t want to run before I can walk.

Going to be a steep learning curve but looking forward to it

 

[tiptoptaff]

All the best mate!

 

[LuckyTaffy]

Aye cheers mate, appreciate the response & feedback

 

[The Puddock]

Do signallers get shift allowance? I thought they just got Sundays paid

Rest day working is paid at time and a quarter (125%) and Sundays are time and a half (150%). Minimum paid shift time is 6 hours. Special arrangements apply on bank holidays and at christmas/new year. There is a nightshift premium for hours worked between 22:00 and 06:00 which currently works out as between £12 and £23 per shift, depended on the grade. There are also various flexibility premiums for relief signallers. The first thing you should do when you start is join the RMT and ask your local rep to talk you through the conditions of service and explain the working hours restrictions (Hidden) to you.

The plan is to do as much OT and Sundays as I can, currently working 12 hour shifts & a second job in evenings so no stranger to graft

That’s a really bad idea, at least for your first year or two in the role. You’ll just end up fatigued, burned out and massively increase the chances of having a safety incident, which could jeopardise your job.

 

[LuckyTaffy]

Thanks for your feedback there bud, appreciate it. I assume you mean joining a union?

Really appreciate it, thank you!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2023 ==

On a side note, what is the dress code for working at a ROC?

I’m assuming smart casual or are polos
Provided etc?

 

[Aprov2000]

I was succesful in being offered a position at Three Bridges ROC in July, with a start date of 8th January 2024. I have been given a medical appointment for the 9th October. All good so far. Then I notice that it's in Doncaster which is over 180 miles away! I ring the company to be informed that they have no other appointments available and their contract ends on 13th October. Has anyone else been given such a ludicrous location and did Network Rail offer any financial support in having to attend. It just seems very unreasonable. I have emailed their generic email address and I am waiting for a reply.

Afternoon bhabloke, I am in the same position as you! Start date early next year. Optima phoned me. I have been given Doncaster for a medical on the 13th October. 300mile(£160 todays price) journey for an 80min appointment. I have emailed recruitment but have had no reply as yet. Like you, i think this is a very unreasonable request especially with the "threat" that if you are more than 10mins late the appointment cannot be completed.

 

[bhabloke]

Afternoon bhabloke, I am in the same position as you! Start date early next year. Optima phoned me. I have been given Doncaster for a medical on the 13th October. 300mile(£160 todays price) journey for an 80min appointment. I have emailed recruitment but have had no reply as yet. Like you, i think this is a very unreasonable request especially with the "threat" that if you are more than 10mins late the appointment cannot be completed.

Hi There. I didnt want to delay my medical as they (Optima) said when Network Rail start doing in their in-house medicals, it won't be until November. I heard back from them stating that they would contact the on-boarding team and they would be in touch. This doesnt help me as I am looking for three weeks off over Christmas (worked every single Christmas for the last 25 years) Therefore I have a small window to get my notice in, before my start date in early January. I have decided to bite the bullet and just do it. Going from Gatwick and the cost was £60 return. But I do feel that is shocking that they do not offer to pay the train journey. If you have more luck, then please let me know. looks like we may be at the same IST in January (Romford?)

 

[Aprov2000]

Hi There. I didnt want to delay my medical as they (Optima) said when Network Rail start doing in their in-house medicals, it won't be until November. I heard back from them stating that they would contact the on-boarding team and they would be in touch. This doesnt help me as I am looking for three weeks off over Christmas (worked every single Christmas for the last 25 years) Therefore I have a small window to get my notice in, before my start date in early January. I have decided to bite the bullet and just do it. Going from Gatwick and the cost was £60 return. But I do feel that is shocking that they do not offer to pay the train journey. If you have more luck, then please let me know. looks like we may be at the same IST in January (Romford?)

I hear you, it feels like a rock and a hard place. If my train cost was £60 I wouldn't think twice but as it is nearly triple, with either a 3.5hr train journey or 3.5hr car journey I feel it is a big ask. In house in November still allows 2months to get me through what I hope will be a closer venue. I think my BP will be through the roof sitting in a train or car for that time worrying about getting there on time! Of course, I'll keep you posted but no reply from recruitment following an email last week to them. I am off to Bristol IST on Jan 15th all being well!

 

[tiptoptaff]

Thanks for your feedback there bud, appreciate it. I assume you mean joining a union?

Really appreciate it, thank you!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2023 ==

On a side note, what is the dress code for working at a ROC?

I’m assuming smart casual or are polos
Provided etc?

Dress code for signallers is the uniform provided. The light blue polo's, and the darker blue fleece. Not sure what trousers are provided.

In the ICC I worked in, the NR staff wore smart clothes/NR polo's in the days, and more casual clothing at nights and weekends. Would imagine Cardiff ROC to be similar

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2023 ==

Rest day working is paid at time and a quarter (125%) and Sundays are time and a half (150%). Minimum paid shift time is 6 hours. Special arrangements apply on bank holidays and at christmas/new year. There is a nightshift premium for hours worked between 22:00 and 06:00 which currently works out as between £12 and £23 per shift, depended on the grade. There are also various flexibility premiums for relief signallers. The first thing you should do when you start is join the RMT and ask your local rep to talk you through the conditions of service and explain the working hours restrictions (Hidden) to you.


That’s a really bad idea, at least for your first year or two in the role. You’ll just end up fatigued, burned out and massively increase the chances of having a safety incident, which could jeopardise your job.

Thanks for the info. As a driver, all my allowances are in my salary (apart from Sundays) and I was led to believe Signallers were the same!

 

[mac]

If you want the job buy a ticket every medical or anywhere else they send you when you work for them will be paid

 

[LAX54]

Fair play. Good luck and hopefully you get that opportunity soon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2023 ==

For the forum. I have Seen this pay scale attachment for the different signaller grades. Little bit confused though. The top part has the different grades salaries, but the bottom part has the yearly relief premiums. Is your yearly salary as a signaller the bottom yearly relief part? Or the top part?

If you are a resident signalman, ignore the bottom 4 lines stop at 12 hr sat nigh RDW

 

[Goggins]

If you want the job buy a ticket every medical or anywhere else they send you when you work for them will be paid

Exactly my thoughts.. Mine was an hour and a half away and i cracked on, its worth it to get in and like you say, you wont pay for one again.

 

[chrislfc]

If you want the job buy a ticket every medical or anywhere else they send you when you work for them will be paid

Agree with this to be honest. If I’m lucky enough to be offered a job they can send me wherever the hell they like for a medical!

 

[damz]

Finally been offered a grade 2 role!!

Just wanted to thank you guys because this forum is an absolute gold mine with the recruitments process

Congratulations is that for the three bridges roc?

 

[Jordan4321]

Congratulations is that for the three bridges roc?

Hi, no it’s for pembrey

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2023 ==

Also does anyone know why they’ve changed signalling school from 12 to 10 weeks when I had the call they said that the training is now only 10 weeks

 

[Open_G]

Hi, no it’s for pembrey

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2023 ==

Also does anyone know why they’ve changed signalling school from 12 to 10 weeks when I had the call they said that the training is now only 10 weeks

A lot of the early stuff has been written into e-learning packages I think. I’ve been told that it is to be able to fit in more courses as IST is oversubscribed with long waiting lists.

 

[The Puddock]

Also does anyone know why they’ve changed signalling school from 12 to 10 weeks when I had the call they said that the training is now only 10 weeks

As above, the first two weeks before you start the course is now self-directed structured online learning which theoretically should get everyone up to the same basic foundation level of knowledge ready to start the IST course running. Whether or not this is a good idea remains to be seen.

 

[Dyl44]

Hi everyone hope all is well. Anyone heard anything from grade 2 valley and gaerwan?

 

[2BeNot2Be]

Hi all,

I’ve been invited for an interview for G9 position at Three bridges. Can anyone tell me more about the location / work culture? I always see G9 at Three bridges advertised externally.

Is it a less desirable roc to be at compared to others?
How much can I realistically expect to tack onto my basic?
What’s the shift like and times. I.e start and finish times and days off (I know it’s 12 hours a shift)

Does anyone work there or know about the location that’ll be happy for me to pm them?