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

[Jaytrains]

I wish i could apply and im also fluent in french but i’ve only had my license for 14months

 

[tiptoptaff]

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.

I usually simply write "as advertised"

 

[Jaytrains]

I usually simply write "as advertised"

Yhh or less would make sense

 

[tiptoptaff]

Yhh or less would make sense

No, just write 'as advertised'

Or if it doesn't accept letters, type the fully qualified salary in.

You're not in a negotiation, like some jobs. So just type it in as is.

 

[Efini92]

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…

How did you get on with learning French? Could you speak any before?

 

[martin2345uk]

Yeah I was at the “required” level before joining…

 

[A12]

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.

This is true although the Tax paid for hotels and taxis is 'ofset' paid back by the company so it doesn't cost you anything from your monthly pay

 

[Efini92]

Yeah I was at the “required” level before joining…

Ah fair play. Sounds like a good job. Cheers for all your input.

 

[State]

Yeah I was at the “required” level before joining…

What level was this with regards to CEFR levels? Thanks

 

[S-Car-Go]

This is true although the Tax paid for hotels and taxis is 'ofset' paid back by the company so it doesn't cost you anything from your monthly pay

As far as I remember, yes it doesn't cost you anything presently. However, your tax code in the following tax year is lower. This means your tax free allowance decreases the more you hotel stay or use taxis.

 

[martin2345uk]

What level was this with regards to CEFR levels? Thanks

Level B1 on the TCF.

 

[A12]

The French is hard. Its a tough 6 month course. You have to be prepared for that but it is is possible to join with no french. Aslong as you can demonstrate an ability (and willingness) to learn.
There's a day dedicated to this which forms part of the recruitment process.
The majority of drivers who go to Eurostar don't have any french to begin with.

 

[Janerz]

Do you obtain an EU driver’s license once qualified?

 

[A12]

Do you obtain an EU driver’s license once qualified?

You keep your current UK one and obtain an FR one once you are qualified . So you hold 2

 

[State]

Is the 3 years experience required including or excluding 2 year PQA period? (meaning 5 years + total experience)

 

[Stigy]

Is the 3 years experience required including or excluding 2 year PQA period? (meaning 5 years + total experience)

Usually it’s inclusive of all qualified driving. Not all TOCs have the same PQ period either.

 

[martin2345uk]

Yeah it'll be including PQA

 

[Sam82]

I usually simply write "as advertised"

Thanks

 

[SGD5891]

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.

Could you explain what the tax costs are when you pay the tax in the next month for hotel or taxi? Thanks

 

[Sallysal76]

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

What is the Domestic link?
It’s peaked my curiosity but my French is non-existent and at 48 wonder weather my brain can cope with learning a new language

 

[greatkingrat]

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.

On that reasoning, I should be able to get a job teaching German, because they can't discriminate against me for not knowing any German!

 

[A12]

Could you explain what the tax costs are when you pay the tax in the next month for hotel or taxi? Thanks

S-Car-Go will know more details but as far I know. You pay tax on the hotel/taxi but the company offset this amount in your pay so you not lose any in your monthly pay per say, however, it goes towards your taxable income for the year, therefore increasing it.

 

[Janerz]

You keep your current UK one and obtain an FR one once you are qualified . So you hold 2

Ok thanks. Does the EU license still exist? (I held one before Brexit) or are they given by individual countries now? I want to end up in Italy eventually as that’s where my wife is from

 

[baz962]

What is the Domestic link?
It’s peaked my curiosity but my French is non-existent and at 48 wonder weather my brain can cope with learning a new language

Basically you are a glorified depot driver between st Pancras and the depot at Temple Mills

 

[LoonyToon]

Basically you are a glorified depot driver between st Pancras and the depot at Temple Mills

On £80k

 

[Sallysal76]

The French is hard. Its a tough 6 month course. You have to be prepared for that but it is is possible to join with no french. Aslong as you can demonstrate an ability (and willingness) to learn.
There's a day dedicated to this which forms part of the recruitment process.
The majority of drivers who go to Eurostar don't have any french to begin with.

What happens is you don’t reach the proficient level in French?
Is it bye bye

 

[Chingy]

Is it bye bye

More “Au Revoir”.

 

[tiptoptaff]

More “Au Revoir”.

 

[baz962]

On £80k

Starting on £72k . Goes up when you sign domestic link so near enough.

 

[Stigy]

Ok thanks. Does the EU license still exist? (I held one before Brexit) or are they given by individual countries now? I want to end up in Italy eventually as that’s where my wife is from

The European Driving licence just has UK where the EU flag was on the previous one. It was only European in name anyway to be honest, and couldn’t be used outside the UK, so if you wanted to drive trains in Europe you’d essentially still have to start again as a trainee. I appreciate it’s a bit different on Eurostar though.