A career as a signaller

[Repent]

Hi there, new to these forums

I’ll apologise in advance if these questions have been asked and answered recently.

I have recently been successful in gaining a place at training school for a grade 2 signaller.

Whilst this career move isn’t about money for me I’m still a bit unsure about what the pay/wage will be throughout the training course.

Also, once the course is complete and I’ve passed out of training, am I assigned to a signal box? I remember the interviewer saying I would have to apply for a role in a signal box?

I’m really excited about this career change, and haven’t stopped smiling since I got the phone call.

Thanks for reading

(I’ve found the answers to these questions I believe, very helpful forum)

 

[Fennel]

Hi there, new to these forums

I’ll apologise in advance if these questions have been asked and answered recently.

I have recently been successful in gaining a place at training school for a grade 2 signaller.

Whilst this career move isn’t about money for me I’m still a bit unsure about what the pay/wage will be throughout the training course.

Also, once the course is complete and I’ve passed out of training, am I assigned to a signal box? I remember the interviewer saying I would have to apply for a role in a signal box?

I’m really excited about this career change, and haven’t stopped smiling since I got the phone call.

Thanks for reading

(I’ve found the answers to these questions I believe, very helpful forum)

Congratulations mate, at the assessment stage,done online bits just waiting to hear, what sort of questions they asked at the interview,was it face to face or online. Thank you and good luck

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jan 2024 ==

Hi Guys,

I have an interview on the 25th of Jan for a Signaller grade 2 role got the confirmation email of time and date and was advised they would send further information at a later date but not heard back since the 14th of Jan and my interview is on Thursday. Do you think I should receive something by today?


many thanks

Did you have your interview on 25th, how was it,could you share your experience please. Thanks

 

[PandaPop]

Does anyone know what a normal amount of time is to wait for things to start moving after the medical.

Had my medical two weeks ago, was told on the day I passed and it had come back from network rail (to the doctor that did the medical) that I had passed.

Haven't heard anything since. Emailed them the day of and a week ago and they just said to wait.

Getting a bit nervous now as I am fast approaching my deadline for giving notice at my current work and still don't have a formal offer in hand.

Don't want to be that guy that's always harassing them, especially as I'm not actually an employee yet.

 

[tomytank]

Hi, I previously applied for a signaller role and seems to be stuck in limbo after initial tests, I have seen another position advertised with a higher grade, when trying to apply it takes me sign in and just shows the earlier application with no way to apply for the new one. Has anyone experienced this and could advise?

 

[dave112]

Hi, I previously applied for a signaller role and seems to be stuck in limbo after initial tests, I have seen another position advertised with a higher grade, when trying to apply it takes me sign in and just shows the earlier application with no way to apply for the new one. Has anyone experienced this and could advise?

I believe you need to email them and ask for them to use your application for that role.

 

[Buiadh]

Does anyone know what a normal amount of time is to wait for things to start moving after the medical.

Had my medical two weeks ago, was told on the day I passed and it had come back from network rail (to the doctor that did the medical) that I had passed.

Haven't heard anything since. Emailed them the day of and a week ago and they just said to wait.

Getting a bit nervous now as I am fast approaching my deadline for giving notice at my current work and still don't have a formal offer in hand.

Don't want to be that guy that's always harassing them, especially as I'm not actually an employee yet.

.

Might be worth chasing them up.

 

[G33]

Has anyone else heard back following interviews for G7 role at York ROC?

 

[LearnerJ]

Hi does anyone know the signal box grades in north west - specifically Warrington area?

 

[CoachB]

Does anyone know what a normal amount of time is to wait for things to start moving after the medical.

Had my medical two weeks ago, was told on the day I passed and it had come back from network rail (to the doctor that did the medical) that I had passed.

Haven't heard anything since. Emailed them the day of and a week ago and they just said to wait.

Getting a bit nervous now as I am fast approaching my deadline for giving notice at my current work and still don't have a formal offer in hand.

Don't want to be that guy that's always harassing them, especially as I'm not actually an employee yet.

Just a thought but are you still waiting for your dbs to come back?
I had my medical on the 10th and was told I had passed so contacted them last week just to check in. Was informed they had it but like I suspected they were still waiting for the dbs to come back.

 

[Repent]

Congratulations mate, at the assessment stage,done online bits just waiting to hear, what sort of questions they asked at the interview,was it face to face or online. Thank you and good luck

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jan 2024 ==


Did you have your interview on 25th, how was it,could you share your experience please. Thanks

Hello mate, the interview was face to face, two people, one of them was a LOM I believe and the other one recruitment, it was a really laid back interview, not at all what I expected really, and the questions were not really anything I had prepared for (I’d written loads of notes from research and taken them with me)

Some questions I can remember

Tell us about a time you worked with someone completely the opposite of you and how did it go, what happened….etc

Tell us about a time you worked under pressure

What do you think signallers do?

Do you work better or alone and why

Can’t remember the others, but was about 12 in all

 

[PandaPop]

Just a thought but are you still waiting for your dbs to come back?
I had my medical on the 10th and was told I had passed so contacted them last week just to check in. Was informed they had it but like I suspected they were still waiting for the dbs to come back.

Nah I said on my cal a week after my medical what else was there and they said I'd already passed all my other checks so they were just waiting for medical to confirm.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jan 2024 ==

I had the same (Scotland too). Told I'd passed and should hear the next day, didn't hear anything so I emailed NR recruitment a week later who came back to me and said all was complete and they'd be back in touch with an employee number.

Might be worth chasing them up.

I would but I've already emailed twice. Once a couple of hours after my medical and the second time a full week after (7 days ago).

 

[The Puddock]

Nah I said on my cal a week after my medical what else was there and they said I'd already passed all my other checks so they were just waiting for medical to confirm.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jan 2024 ==


I would but I've already emailed twice. Once a couple of hours after my medical and the second time a full week after (7 days ago).

You’ll need to contact them again - no one here can answer this for you. It’s the recruitment team’s job to answer queries from candidates and whether you contact them once or twenty times, it will make no difference to whether or not you’re offered a job.

 

[Fast2London]

Does anyone know what a normal amount of time is to wait for things to start moving after the medical.

Had my medical two weeks ago, was told on the day I passed and it had come back from network rail (to the doctor that did the medical) that I had passed.

Haven't heard anything since. Emailed them the day of and a week ago and they just said to wait.

Getting a bit nervous now as I am fast approaching my deadline for giving notice at my current work and still don't have a formal offer in hand.

Don't want to be that guy that's always harassing them, especially as I'm not actually an employee yet.

I am in exactly the same position! I need to give my notice in within the next two weeks to be able to start on the provisional date they gave me. I am going to wait until I have one week left before I need to give notice and then contact them. I’m usually very patient but it’s definitely a difficult wait for the final confirmation email so I know exactly how you feel!

 

[Repent]

I am in exactly the same position! I need to give my notice in within the next two weeks to be able to start on the provisional date they gave me. I am going to wait until I have one week left before I need to give notice and then contact them. I’m usually very patient but it’s definitely a difficult wait for the final confirmation email so I know exactly how you feel!

My process up to now has been a long one, though I am coming from a railway role already, so from that experience I know things can be slow

 

[Fennel]

Hello mate, the interview was face to face, two people, one of them was a LOM I believe and the other one recruitment, it was a really laid back interview, not at all what I expected really, and the questions were not really anything I had prepared for (I’d written loads of notes from research and taken them with me)

Some questions I can remember

Tell us about a time you worked with someone completely the opposite of you and how did it go, what happened….etc

Tell us about a time you worked under pressure

What do you think signallers do?

Do you work better or alone and why

Can’t remember the others, but was about 12 in all

Perfect, many thanks mate. Please see attached, that’s where i am, not sure how long is going to take. Did the stage 2 (online and assessment) i guess the next one would be interview if successful. Good luck to you for IST. Starting soon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jan 2024 ==

Hi, I previously applied for a signaller role and seems to be stuck in limbo after initial tests, I have seen another position advertised with a higher grade, when trying to apply it takes me sign in and just shows the earlier application with no way to apply for the new one. Has anyone experienced this and could advise?

Can you not use a different email, would this make any difference?

 

[RailNoob]

Hi does anyone know the signal box grades in north west - specifically Warrington area?

Theres warrington PSB G7, Warrington Central G5, Monks Sidings G2, Arpley G4, Littons Mill (crossing keeper) G1, Fiddlers Ferry G3

 

[LearnerJ]

Theres warrington PSB G7, Warrington Central G5, Monks Sidings G2, Arpley G4, Littons Mill (crossing keeper) G1, Fiddlers Ferry G3

Thanks for the info. Hopefully be working in one of the above soon!

Do you work in the area?

 

[RailNoob]

Thanks for the info. Hopefully be working in one of the above soon!

Do you work in the area?

Yes mate, feel free to private message if you need any info!

 

[George151200]

Hi all, long time lurker here.

I received my offer as a grade 2 signaller in October, it took them over 2 months to complete my medical (something about the new system), I finally got a call this week, saying the earliest I can start is the 18th March, with IST starting 1st April. In the meantime, I'm chafing at the bit to get started, so is there anything anyone suggests reading up on/ learning before I go?

I know you don't need to, but I'd like to. I've got a copy of the bell codes so I'm starting with them.

Many thanks all

 

[The Puddock]

In the meantime, I'm chafing at the bit to get started, so is there anything anyone suggests reading up on/ learning before I go?

I know you don't need to, but I'd like to. I've got a copy of the bell codes so I'm starting with them.

Bell codes and the phonetic alphabet. Nothing else.

You will be taught everything you need from first principles.

 

[George151200]

Bell codes and the phonetic alphabet. Nothing else.

You will be taught everything you need from first principles.

Thanks. I'll stick with just the bell codes then. A military upbringing has ingrained the phonetic alphabet in my mind already.

Guess I'm learning more patience

 

[Rocketsjay93]

Hi guys,

First time poster here. Just a question to see if anyone knows.

I had an online interview for the signaller role (west coast of Scotland) last Wednesday (24th of January). At the end of the interview they told me I would hear from them the following Wednesday (31st January). It's now Friday and I haven't heard anything, is this something that happens often like they take longer than they say, or should I just assume I haven't gotten the job because I didn't hear back on wednesday? Also do they let you know either way, if you have the job or not?

I haven't had an phonecalls or emails, and I'm not sure how they let you know if it's email or phonecall (any ideas?)

T.I.A

 

[Jamie195]

Has anyone else heard back following interviews for G7 role at York ROC?

Hi there. Yes, I was interviewed on Thursday 18th January and received a call the next day offering the job.

 

[CoachB]

Hi guys,

First time poster here. Just a question to see if anyone knows.

I had an online interview for the signaller role (west coast of Scotland) last Wednesday (24th of January). At the end of the interview they told me I would hear from them the following Wednesday (31st January). It's now Friday and I haven't heard anything, is this something that happens often like they take longer than they say, or should I just assume I haven't gotten the job because I didn't hear back on wednesday? Also do they let you know either way, if you have the job or not?

I haven't had an phonecalls or emails, and I'm not sure how they let you know if it's email or phonecall (any ideas?)

T.I.A

Sometimes these things do take a bit longer to sort out.

If you've got the job they will phone you and let you know.

On the otherside if you don't get the job you'll receive an email at some point saying you didn't get it and you've been put on the reserve list or an email saying you didn't get the job.

 

[Streethawk]

Some things to point out to people starting from my own observations after joining NR.

1. Getting through the hr onboarding process can be a long process with mixed times as to how long it takes for you to get to medical stage to actually getting start dates and ist dates after completing. Im not sure how it is at present as it's all done by 3rd party I hear now.
2. Network rail appears have over recruited last year. So even if you get a start date and a promise of ist, you may find that ist part may change and very chaotic as limited spaces or positions taken up by people having a 2nd or 3rd attempt and some senior staff having to sit in on courses which limits the number of spaces .
3. You can complete E learning and induction and may find yourself waiting for weeks or months without spaces to slot in for ist. While others in your group from induction my end up starting depending on the needs of the boxes you will work in eventually or external factors like people's Pre booked annual leave etc.. .
4. Double check if you can in induction what ist course they are going to put you in as I've seen people incorrectly put in a tcb course when they should have been put on a ab course. So seems to be a breakdown in communication between hr and the needs of the lom.
5. Expect last minute changes or a sudden offer of a ist course in any location in case of drop outs so you will have like a day or an hour to get back to them to say yes or no so you cant really plan in advance to be away for months as that can change if your delayed in starting ist course.

Just some things to bear in mind once you got start dates and even rough plans for ist that nothing is set in stone and expect the unexpected.

I personally don't feel it right to have that amount of uncertainty of not knowing when ist will start as you do need to plan to be away if journeying far to get to centre weekly so you will be away from home. So you do need a heads up to plan this depending on home situations. As it is a two way straight the commitment to under take the course.

I don't blame the lom or anyone in induction as this problem seems to have been created in recruitment and whoever decided it was wise to recruit more the actual positions and ist course placements there is.

Network rail is a great company to work for but it's getting through this onboarding process and actually starting the ist which is the difficult part from what I've observed.

 

[Iddy015]

Hi all, long time lurker here.

I received my offer as a grade 2 signaller in October, it took them over 2 months to complete my medical (something about the new system), I finally got a call this week, saying the earliest I can start is the 18th March, with IST starting 1st April. In the meantime, I'm chafing at the bit to get started, so is there anything anyone suggests reading up on/ learning before I go?

I know you don't need to, but I'd like to. I've got a copy of the bell codes so I'm starting with them.

Many thanks all

Hi mate i guess i will be with you, i start on the 18th march with IST starting on the 1st April.

 

[J-P]

Network rail appears have over recruited last year. So even if you get a start date and a promise of ist, you may find that ist part may change and very chaotic as limited spaces or positions taken up by people having a 2nd or 3rd attempt and some senior staff having to sit in on courses which limits the number of spaces.

Network Rail haven't over recruited last year, they have just chronically under recruited year after year which has left the workforce stretched very thin, and they have relied on overtime to cover the shortfall.
The issue is that from a vacancy becoming available, the process from then, through advertising, paper sifting, interviewing, IST and location training to reach the point of being a competent Signaller, is so long, that by that point someone else has moved on or retired from that location leaving another gap.

Finally, NR have started recruiting pool Signallers in anticipation of vacancies coming up, hence the unknown time frames for starting training, or where a new starter will be based. Undoubtedly, this leaves a lot of unknowns for new starters, but believe me once you're in you'll appreciate it, because waiting almost a year to be released from one location to another because your position needs to be filled first is no fun at all.

The issue that feeds into what you've mentioned is that trying to get pool Signallers through IST all at the same time with the same number of WDS's is impossible, so creates a bottleneck there.

 

[Napier]

Network Rail haven't over recruited last year, they have just chronically under recruited year after year which has left the workforce stretched very thin, and they have relied on overtime to cover the shortfall.
The issue is that from a vacancy becoming available, the process from then, through advertising, paper sifting, interviewing, IST and location training to reach the point of being a competent Signaller, is so long, that by that point someone else has moved on or retired from that location leaving another gap.

Finally, NR have started recruiting pool Signallers in anticipation of vacancies coming up, hence the unknown time frames for starting training, or where a new starter will be based. Undoubtedly, this leaves a lot of unknowns for new starters, but believe me once you're in you'll appreciate it, because waiting almost a year to be released from one location to another because your position needs to be filled first is no fun at all.

The issue that feeds into what you've mentioned is that trying to get pool Signallers through IST all at the same time with the same number of WDS's is impossible, so creates a bottleneck there.

NR are simply a government vessel that struggles to deliver because of poor management from the very top down.

 

[Pblyth90]

Hi all,
I've been offered a job as a G2 trainee and recruited into the West Manchester area. Can anyone tell me what boxes fall into that area and what grades they are? I was told I'd have to apply for a box during IST where there are currently vacancies once I've passed IST.

Thanks

 

[muz379]

Hi all,
I've been offered a job as a G2 trainee and recruited into the West Manchester area. Can anyone tell me what boxes fall into that area and what grades they are? I was told I'd have to apply for a box during IST where there are currently vacancies once I've passed IST.

Thanks

Eccles & Astley G3
Glazebrook G4
Northenden Jn G3
Deansgate Jn G5

Although I wouldn't worry too much about the specific area , once you are in IST you can apply for any vacancies on the internal vacancy list so wont be tied into just applying in that area , in fact you might find there arent even any vacancies when you come to apply .