Eurostar - Qualified Train Driver - St Pancras (11/09/24)

[martin2345uk]

Eurostar International

Chez Eurostar, nous nous efforçons de rendre l'expérience de voyage la plus appréciée d'Europe encore meilleure que jamais. Rejoignez-nous et vous ferez partie d'une équipe dynamique, connectée et cosmopolite qui se sent chez elle dans cinq...

apply.workable.com

Closes 25th September but may close sooner…

 

[Kells21]

Do you have to live in London and surrounding areas !?

 

[Class2ldn]

Probably within 60 mins

 

[NSEWonderer]

• Advert closes on 25th September 2024
• Video interviews W/C October 15th October 2024
• Language assessments W/C Dec 09th December 2024
• Assessment Centres held W/C February 10th 2025
• Psychometric Testing/ Medicals will need to be completed as part of the process
• Anticipated start date July 2025

Wonder what Psychometrics a Qualified driver sits and if it affects their existing OPC ones.

 

[Class2ldn]

View attachment 165311


Wonder what Psychometrics a Qualified driver sits and if it affects their existing OPC ones.

They wouldn't affect you're current ones, once you're qualified they basically become redundant anyway

 

[martin2345uk]

View attachment 165311


Wonder what Psychometrics a Qualified driver sits and if it affects their existing OPC ones.

They’re to satisfy the French authorities and they’re nothing to worry about

 

[Class2ldn]

Like how it says language assessment, mine would last about 5 seconds for French lol, would be willing to learn it more though and does say training will be given.

Any ideas what the shifts are like?

 

[NSEWonderer]

They’re to satisfy the French authorities and they’re nothing to worry about

Lovely, have a few friends interested in the post and saw that haha.

 

[BEF7439]

Quite interested in this, as a qualified Driver with a degree in French it's pretty much the dream job. Sadly it would mean having to move closer to London, but wondered if anyone knows if E* have many train crew commuting from areas outside of London and if there are any popular spots for them to live?

 

[martin2345uk]

Like how it says language assessment, mine would last about 5 seconds for French lol, would be willing to learn it more though and does say training will be given.

Any ideas what the shifts are like?

Shifts are not bad, earliest book on is generally about 5am, latest book off around 11:30pm, but there is a hotel in London for starts before 6:30am weekdays (bit later weekends) which is super helpful!

There are night shifts too...

 

[NSEWonderer]

What would be the longest shift length? Thanks

Shifts are not bad, earliest book on is generally about 5am, latest book off around 11:30pm, but there is a hotel in London for starts before 6:30am weekdays (bit later weekends) which is super helpful!

There are night shifts too...

 

[martin2345uk]

Not sure off the top of my head but some are quite long, over 10 hours I think? I think that’s for a shunt shift; but it’s only 2 hours 20 to Paris and you only ever do out and back so max driving time is quite short

 

[NSEWonderer]

Not sure off the top of my head but some are quite long, over 10 hours I think? I think that’s for a shunt shift; but it’s only 2 hours 20 to Paris and you only ever do out and back so max driving time is quite short

Wow, not bad at all.

 

[Nacho85]

Anyone know the pattern on the links? How long is training?

 

[martin2345uk]

It’s a few weeks classroom at first, once you’re qualified on rules and traction you go into a domestic link for 6-8 months or so, then you’d do around 7 months of French, then French and ET rules and finally you are unleashed internationally

 

[Class2ldn]

Shifts are not bad, earliest book on is generally about 5am, latest book off around 11:30pm, but there is a hotel in London for starts before 6:30am weekdays (bit later weekends) which is super helpful!

There are night shifts too...

So you can stay there for the week then?

 

[martin2345uk]

If you have several early starts in a row you can stay there for several nights in a row yes

 

[Class2ldn]

Brilliant thanks

 

[Nacho85]

It’s a few weeks classroom at first, once you’re qualified on rules and traction you go into a domestic link for 6-8 months or so, then you’d do around 7 months of French, then French and ET rules and finally you are unleashed internationally

Thanks,

What about the links? Is there an early/late link? Easy to swap shifts?

 

[martin2345uk]

No there is just one link for either domestic, France or Belgium qualified drivers. Not too clued up on shift swaps, I’ve swapped a couple and it seemed quite straightforward.

 

[Nacho85]

No there is just one link for either domestic, France or Belgium qualified drivers. Not too clued up on shift swaps, I’ve swapped a couple and it seemed quite straightforward.

Great, thanks. What about the actual pattern? Week of lates, then earlies? How many weekends on average? Is it block leave?

 

[martin2345uk]

Groups of 3 or 4 rest days, working days seem mostly to be grouped into earlies or lates, French roster is 9 weekends out of 17, yes it’s block leave.

 

[Nacho85]

Thanks! Sorry for the 100 questions! Just wanted to get a jist. Really appreciate your help!
Are sundays in?
Is there like a week of rest days anywhere?
Whats the average work content like in terms of hours and trips?
I heard there is extra payment for early starts etc. Also heard there is taxi if early start instead of hotel
Do you get priv & ptac card?

 

[Trackboy]

Just out of curiosity regards to this language requirement. Can they actually refuse someone based on not knowing French. I mean you are hired in UK and our offical language is English. Although it says French is desirable, I am pretty sure someone that speaks French will be at advantage than someone that doesn't, which seems unfair.

What are your thoughts on this?

P.s I am not a train driver.

 

[SWR_DRIVER]

Just out of curiosity regards to this language requirement. Can they actually refuse someone based on not knowing French. I mean you are hired in UK and our offical language is English. Although it says French is desirable, I am pretty sure someone that speaks French will be at advantage than someone that doesn't, which seems unfair.

What are your thoughts on this?

P.s I am not a train driver.

The more qualified you are to do a job, the more likely you are to get it. I don't think that's unfair in the slightest...

 

[NSEWonderer]

Indeed, there will be many other qualities besides just French speaking that will make a likely candidate an option for a seat. You've just got to sell your advantages over the next candidate and show a willingness to learn as well as times you've adapted and actually done so in your work history.

 

[londonboi]

Just out of curiosity regards to this language requirement. Can they actually refuse someone based on not knowing French. I mean you are hired in UK and our offical language is English. Although it says French is desirable, I am pretty sure someone that speaks French will be at advantage than someone that doesn't, which seems unfair.

What are your thoughts on this?

P.s I am not a train driver.

Not an advtange at all just means they are more qualified in terms of that park of the process.

The same could be said for French drivers when E* recruit for a french depot. The requirement will be for them to speak english. So if that advantage you have because you speak english fair to them ??

See how it works both ways.

 

[driver9000]

Just out of curiosity regards to this language requirement. Can they actually refuse someone based on not knowing French. I mean you are hired in UK and our offical language is English. Although it says French is desirable, I am pretty sure someone that speaks French will be at advantage than someone that doesn't, which seems unfair.

What are your thoughts on this?

P.s I am not a train driver.

Language skills has always been a requirement for Eurostar recruitment but they will give you the opportunity to learn French. Yes you are a UK based employee where we speak English but you will be working to France where they speak French and the people you will potentially interact with (Signallers for example) may not speak English. The same comes the other way where the French crews will be required to speak English on this side of the tunnel.

If a Driver that speaks French applies then naturally that will give them advantage over an applicant that doesn't speak French. Having an additional skill the employer wants doesn't make it unfair.

 

[S-Car-Go]

Thanks! Sorry for the 100 questions! Just wanted to get a jist. Really appreciate your help!
Are sundays in?
Is there like a week of rest days anywhere?
the average work content like in terms of hours and trips?
I heard there is extra payment for early starts etc. Also heard there is taxi if early start instead of hotel
Do you get priv & ptac card?

You do get a priv (for leisure only) and a tfl ptac for commuting. I think there's a fixed allowance towards national rail season tickets (but the further out you are, the overall % discount will be less). The subsidised commuting seems to favour within the London zones.

Sundays are within the working week. Eurostar's peak demand is Friday pm, Sat am, Sun all day, Mon am, and the start/end of school hols. So no guesses as to when they want you in!

You can have a taxi instead of hotel room for early starts. Bear in mind both of these you have to pay the tax on in your next monthly pay.

You do get an allowance of free travel on Eurostar per year. This increases with length of service. As does annual leave.
If you exhaust your free travel allowance, you can buy tickets with FIP card for a cheaper internal staff rate. Weirdly, you're not eligible for International Coupons.

 

[Sam82]

Just for clarification please, on the application page there is a space for expected salary. Why to ask this when the salary breakdown is already mentioned on the overview page of the job advertisement? Any thoughts on this please.