A career as a signaller

[superdic]

Finally had my IST location confirmed, Bristol starting on the 11th November. Anyone else on here on the same course?

Hi, I am on the same course too! Bit nervous about the IST, hope that won’t be too hard!

 

[The Difference]

Hello all, I am 15 and doing my GCSE's later this year
I know this is very early in my life and career but recently (last 3-4 months) I have been considering going into signalling out of school (after A-Levels), I have been a rail enthusiast for many year now.

From having read this forum for a while now I see more people entering this job are looking for a career change from another job so I was wondering if people think that it is a possibility to get in out of school or if I need more experience with the key non-technical skills first. It seems that it takes a while to get applications through as well so I would have to take up another job while I wait.

To be honest the main thing I want to know is if it is feasible to go into this job from school or if I need more experience.

Unfortunately at your age (even after a couple more years) I would think you’d be overlooked compared to somebody with years of experience and all the life skills they’re looking for.

I would look at the Network Rail website for their apprenticeship’s and look to get into the business that way. From there, you’l learn all the skills required and be working in the railway which should open up a number of doors for you within the rail industry.

It’s refreshing to see somebody so young be so pro active, I salute you for that. I wish you all the best in your career.

 

[slushypink]

Nice to know somebody else from
The forum on the course. I also got an invite for a corporate induction on the 19th November in Milton Keynes but presumably this will clash with IST?

That seems a bit odd? I haven't received anything about that. Meeting my LOM next week to get my log ins etc for the online learning and then IST on 11th in Bristol.

 

[Buiadh]

I'm considering to apply for a Grade 3 signalling job. I understand that the IST will be the same for all grades (or is it?). Could someone please outline what happens with the IST programme?

I understand its ten to twelve weeks and that you may travel cross country to a specialist centre (Glasgow, Bristol, Newport and York are the four I have heard mentioned) and that you are put up in a hotel for the Sunday to Friday of each week.

I also understand that it is almost like a high school or college course - with revision and such to be done in your own time each evening.

How difficult is the IST as a whole? Having glanced through here I am gathering it is certainly no cake walk in the park but is it deeply onerous like degree or masters level of learning/input? How is the IST carried out - I assume it is classroom environment but how hard are the exams during the time?

Many thanks

I have a degree at undergrad level and I found IST much more intense albeit for a short period, I'd not had a 10 weeks like it in uni.

It is certainly doable but you are going to have to study, the ones who fail it are usually the ones who think it'll be a cakewalk. Exams are as hard as you make them, study and they won't be difficult.

 

[RailwayRookie]

That seems a bit odd? I haven't received anything about that. Meeting my LOM next week to get my log ins etc for the online learning and then IST on 11th in Bristol.

The corporate or route inductions are arranged separately and aren't relevant to your signaller training.l, it's not uncommon for them to be booked when you are at IST. Three of my class had that happen, we were told they would rebook it but that didn't happen.
Essentially you're not going to miss out of anything detrimental to your learning.

 

[slushypink]

The corporate or route inductions are arranged separately and aren't relevant to your signaller training.l, it's not uncommon for them to be booked when you are at IST. Three of my class had that happen, we were told they would rebook it but that didn't happen.
Essentially you're not going to miss out of anything detrimental to your learning.

Thank you! That makes more sense now

 

[SNAK]

Hi, I am on the same course too! Bit nervous about the IST, hope that won’t be too hard!

Yeah I’m also anxious about IST from reading how difficult/intense it is, but I’m ready to knuckle down and put all my efforts in!

 

[High Dyke]

I'm considering to apply for a Grade 3 signalling job. I understand that the IST will be the same for all grades (or is it?). Could someone please outline what happens with the IST programme?

I understand its ten to twelve weeks and that you may travel cross country to a specialist centre (Glasgow, Bristol, Newport and York are the four I have heard mentioned) and that you are put up in a hotel for the Sunday to Friday of each week.

I also understand that it is almost like a high school or college course - with revision and such to be done in your own time each evening.

How difficult is the IST as a whole? Having glanced through here I am gathering it is certainly no cake walk in the park but is it deeply onerous like degree or masters level of learning/input? How is the IST carried out - I assume it is classroom environment but how hard are the exams during the time?

Many thanks

All new IST trainees commence on Grade 2 salary. Upon completing IST, an individual will be moved to Grade 4 (unless it is a lower graded post they are training for). Once you have passed competent for your particular location, then you will be paid the appropriate rate.

Training periods have changed since I went. Locations are spread around the company. You will be accommodated in a local hotel during the course.

As for difficulty, then that depends on how good an individual is at listening, learning and understanding the information. Yes, it can be intense and failures do happen. However, it must be remembered that Network Rail has an interest in successful candidates, as do the individuals themselves.

 

[11_fps]

Unfortunately at your age (even after a couple more years) I would think you’d be overlooked compared to somebody with years of experience and all the life skills they’re looking for.

I would look at the Network Rail website for their apprenticeship’s and look to get into the business that way. From there, you’l learn all the skills required and be working in the railway which should open up a number of doors for you within the rail industry.

It’s refreshing to see somebody so young be so pro active, I salute you for that. I wish you all the best in your career.

Thanks, what apprentiship would you recommend to get my food in the door?
I was thinking rail infrastructure technician if I decided go that route.

 

[muz379]

How difficult is the IST as a whole? Having glanced through here I am gathering it is certainly no cake walk in the park but is it deeply onerous like degree or masters level of learning/input? How is the IST carried out - I assume it is classroom environment but how hard are the exams during the time?

It is defintely no walk in the park , but with putting the effort in revising in the evenings it is achievable . People do fail from time to time , and whilst there is nothing guranteed it is generaly accepted that if you have been putting the effort in and have just had a bad day in the exams or practical then generally there is the opportunity to have another crack at it .

I would liken it to college in that you will be given all the information that you need to pass the exams there isn't really any requirement to research things on your own like with a degree/masters , apart from maybe the occassional look in the rulebook but all the powerpoints that the trainers go through contain information directly from the rulebook and you can take all the notes you need in class .

It is a mixture of powerpoint/lecture style learning , practical demonstrations on the simulator and self directed revision/sim group time .

I would say the hardest part really is getting to grips with pretty new concepts in a short space of time , you only have 10 weeks and because of the volume of material it can often feel like you are rushing through some stuff . If you dont quickly grasp key concepts early on then you will struggle as the course goes on .

The exams are largely just a time pressured memory test so that will obviously vary from individual to individual how you find them . Although part of the assessment at IST also include practical assessments on the SIM as well .

Being away from home obviously effects people differently as well , some can miss family and their home comforts . But at the same time the lack of distractions in the hotel can make it easier to get together in an evening and revise as a group .

Hello all, I am 15 and doing my GCSE's later this year
I know this is very early in my life and career but recently (last 3-4 months) I have been considering going into signalling out of school (after A-Levels), I have been a rail enthusiast for many year now.

From having read this forum for a while now I see more people entering this job are looking for a career change from another job so I was wondering if people think that it is a possibility to get in out of school or if I need more experience with the key non-technical skills first. It seems that it takes a while to get applications through as well so I would have to take up another job while I wait.

To be honest the main thing I want to know is if it is feasible to go into this job from school or if I need more experience.

I would say that they would be looking for someone with relevant experience that aligns to the non technical skills . Although some of these you will undoubtably have from everyday life / being in education maybe a part time job or voluntary work you have been involved in . I mean all I would say is there is no harm in applying and even if unsuccessful you might get some feedback on your application or interview if you get to that stage .

I would also be looking for Apprenticships , not sure what NR offer but TOC's offer them , and it is definitely a good way to gain experience in the industry which would be relevant to future applications .

 

[The Difference]

Thanks, what apprentiship would you recommend to get my food in the door?
I was thinking rail infrastructure technician if I decided go that route.

I can’t say I have looked at any myself, as I never really thought I had the skills or experience for the Railway until 3 years ago when I started a safety critical job in light rail. 3 years of hard work and applying and I’ve finally landed a post as a Grade 9 at the first time of asking, which I’m truly thankful for! I looked at some apprenticeships just after you asked the question and I wouldn’t be able to afford the wage cut to any of them, however at your age they would be a very good source of income and a means inside the industry. Any you think you’d enjoy will be worth it I would say. Just keep on trying and don’t let any rejections get you down if you happen to have any.

 

[endofthetunnel]

Thanks, what apprentiship would you recommend to get my food in the door?
I was thinking rail infrastructure technician if I decided go that route.

If you want to be a signaller then Network Rail do an Operations Apprenticeship which includes going to IST as well as a load of other operational training and experience

 

[Jordan4321]

Hello all, I am 15 and doing my GCSE's later this year
I know this is very early in my life and career but recently (last 3-4 months) I have been considering going into signalling out of school (after A-Levels), I have been a rail enthusiast for many year now.

From having read this forum for a while now I see more people entering this job are looking for a career change from another job so I was wondering if people think that it is a possibility to get in out of school or if I need more experience with the key non-technical skills first. It seems that it takes a while to get applications through as well so I would have to take up another job while I wait.

To be honest the main thing I want to know is if it is feasible to go into this job from school or if I need more experience.

It’s definitely not impossible but I think the best way would be the operations apprenticeships if they still offer them as that gets you foot in the door and I believe puts you though signalling school but not 100% sure on this, in general though a lot of people are joining quite young 19-20 that I know so definitely something to look into

 

[superdic]

It is defintely no walk in the park , but with putting the effort in revising in the evenings it is achievable . People do fail from time to time , and whilst there is nothing guranteed it is generaly accepted that if you have been putting the effort in and have just had a bad day in the exams or practical then generally there is the opportunity to have another crack at it .

I would liken it to college in that you will be given all the information that you need to pass the exams there isn't really any requirement to research things on your own like with a degree/masters , apart from maybe the occassional look in the rulebook but all the powerpoints that the trainers go through contain information directly from the rulebook and you can take all the notes you need in class .

It is a mixture of powerpoint/lecture style learning , practical demonstrations on the simulator and self directed revision/sim group time .

I would say the hardest part really is getting to grips with pretty new concepts in a short space of time , you only have 10 weeks and because of the volume of material it can often feel like you are rushing through some stuff . If you dont quickly grasp key concepts early on then you will struggle as the course goes on .

The exams are largely just a time pressured memory test so that will obviously vary from individual to individual how you find them . Although part of the assessment at IST also include practical assessments on the SIM as well .

Being away from home obviously effects people differently as well , some can miss family and their home comforts . But at the same time the lack of distractions in the hotel can make it easier to get together in an evening and revise as a group .



I would say that they would be looking for someone with relevant experience that aligns to the non technical skills . Although some of these you will undoubtably have from everyday life / being in education maybe a part time job or voluntary work you have been involved in . I mean all I would say is there is no harm in applying and even if unsuccessful you might get some feedback on your application or interview if you get to that stage .

I would also be looking for Apprenticships , not sure what NR offer but TOC's offer them , and it is definitely a good way to gain experience in the industry which would be relevant to future applications .

May I ask if the assessment is like multiple choice, short questions or an essay type of question?
To be honest, I am not very good at spelling and grammar, especially those technical terms and concepts… I am a bit worry that might affect my passing rate..

 

[Open_G]

May I ask if the assessment is like multiple choice, short questions or an essay type of question?
To be honest, I am not very good at spelling and grammar, especially those technical terms and concepts… I am a bit worry that might affect my passing rate..

There’s a multiple choice section on both papers iirc. As well as some short answer ones. I think it was about 40% for the multiple choice.

The team were quite clear that it was a test of understanding, not spelling. I assume if you have any additional needs that you could get a bit more time to complete.

 

[11_fps]

It’s definitely not impossible but I think the best way would be the operations apprenticeships if they still offer them as that gets you foot in the door and I believe puts you though signalling school but not 100% sure on this, in general though a lot of people are joining quite young 19-20 that I know so definitely something to look into

Thanks Jordan I'll look into it and it does seem you do signaling school with it.

If you want to be a signaller then Network Rail do an Operations Apprenticeship which includes going to IST as well as a load of other operational training and experience

Thanks for the tips definitely look into it as your the 3rd person to mention it!

 

[SimplyLovely]

Is there any way to find out how many people are getting interviewed for a role?

First time applying for a signallers role as living in rural Scotland can be a bit tricky with the 60 minute commute max, but I am happy to say I have made it to final interview stage for a grade 3 position.

The online tests went well, and I got some really good feedback so am feeling positive, but don’t want to get my hopes up too high if there were lots of applicants.

Also, as it is for Greenloaning box, which is quite small, I imagine there is only one position available? Or is it possible they could be recruiting for more than one signaller?

 

[macmed94]

Does anyone still have their IST learning material that they wouldn’t mind sharing/uploading? It’d help a lot of us who are still waiting to start to get a head start

 

[endofthetunnel]

Don’t get ahead!
It’s been said over and over on here. Just go with the process and learn in the right order at the right speed with the simulator there to put it into practice as you go.
If you’re desperate, learn the phonetic alphabet.
If you’re really desperate, learn some bell codes.

 

[1642]

Is there any way to find out how many people are getting interviewed for a role?

First time applying for a signallers role as living in rural Scotland can be a bit tricky with the 60 minute commute max, but I am happy to say I have made it to final interview stage for a grade 3 position.

The online tests went well, and I got some really good feedback so am feeling positive, but don’t want to get my hopes up too high if there were lots of applicants.

Also, as it is for Greenloaning box, which is quite small, I imagine there is only one position available? Or is it possible they could be recruiting for more than one signaller?

2 positions advertised for Greenloaning.

 

[SimplyLovely]

2 positions advertised for Greenloaning.

That’s great, thanks for the info!

Don’t suppose you also know their roster type lol?

 

[vinoboxer]

Greenloaning box is 'officially' 0000 to 1200 and vice versa.

It's locally agreed to do 2230-1030 and vice versa.

 

[SimplyLovely]

Greenloaning box is 'officially' 0000 to 1200 and vice versa.

It's locally agreed to do 2230-1030 and vice versa.

Thanks, really helpful!

Can I just ask, by “locally agreed” will the 2230-1030 time be the one put on rosters, or is it 0000-1200 and there is just an agreement in place between the signallers to change over earlier.

To be honest I would be worried about it being the latter and potential consequences if something went wrong a la Quintinshill.

 

[CoachB]

Does anyone still have their IST learning material that they wouldn’t mind sharing/uploading? It’d help a lot of us who are still waiting to start to get a head start

Like many others have said previously don't try and learn anything before IST it won't help you. The course is designed to teach you everything in a set way and at a set speed.

Only real thing to make sure you know is the phonetic alphabet as bell codes will only properly make sense when combined with the course content

 

[macmed94]

Like many others have said previously don't try and learn anything before IST it won't help you. The course is designed to teach you everything in a set way and at a set speed.

Only real thing to make sure you know is the phonetic alphabet as bell codes will only properly make sense when combined with the course content

Fair enough, do you have a link to the bell codes? I’ve searched online and I’m getting varying results, some are very long and some are shorter

 

[Llanigraham]

Thanks, really helpful!

Can I just ask, by “locally agreed” will the 2230-1030 time be the one put on rosters, or is it 0000-1200 and there is just an agreement in place between the signallers to change over earlier.

To be honest I would be worried about it being the latter and potential consequences if something went wrong a la Quintinshill.

If it is anything like my old area the changed times will be by agreement of all the residents, and condonned by the local management.

 

[slushypink]

May I ask if the assessment is like multiple choice, short questions or an essay type of question?
To be honest, I am not very good at spelling and grammar, especially those technical terms and concepts… I am a bit worry that might affect my passing rate..

We will all be there to help eachother. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and I'm sure we will all be ok of we work together. I'm nervous too but can't wait to meet you all

 

[gator op]

Does anyone still have their IST learning material that they wouldn’t mind sharing/uploading? It’d help a lot of us who are still waiting to start to get a head start

If you want to get ahead in IST learn the following and nothing more. Let the course take its natural course but what I put down below will always be used in AB

Bell codes - There is a app but classification of trains is a good start

Class 1 = 4
Class 2 = 3-1
Class 3 = 1-3-1
Class 4 = 3-1-1
Class 5 = 2-2-1
Class 6 = 5
Class 7 = 4-1
Class 8 = 3-2
---------------------------
Class 9 = 1-4 or 1-4-1
Class 0 = 2-3

Call attention = 1
Train in section = 2
Train out section = 2-1

P.S There's plenty more bell codes but just start with these.

Definitions - These need to learnt word for word. 100% these will come up in your week 5 exam especially 3.4.1 & 3.4.2 check.

* Principle of Absolute Block - To prevent more than one train being in a section on the same line at the same time. (TS3 Page 8)

* 3.4.1 check Before allowing a train to approach. (TS3 Page 12)

* 3.4.2 check Maintaining the clearing point. (TS3 Page 13)

* Absolute Block section (TS3 Page 6)

* Home signal (TS3 Page 6)

* Section signal (TS3 Page 6)

* Intermediate block home signal (TS3 Page 6)

* Clearing point (TS3 Page 6)

* Intermediate block section (TS3 Page 7)

* Station limits - The line between the home signal and the section signal worked by the same signal box in the same direction of travel (NOI) - Check this definition wording as its been a while but it will be close.


What I found useful was using flash cards so question on one side, answer on the back. My first flash cards would be these principles and 3.4.1 & 3.4.2

If you can get this nailed and I'm assuming your learning Absolute Block then that's a great start.

HTH

 

[Dave Tasty]

Like many others have said previously don't try and learn anything before IST it won't help you. The course is designed to teach you everything in a set way and at a set speed.

Only real thing to make sure you know is the phonetic alphabet as bell codes will only properly make sense when combined with the course content

Agree with all of this. Going any further without context will be at best confusing.

 

[SimplyLovely]

If you want to get ahead in IST learn the following and nothing more. Let the course take its natural course but what I put down below will always be used in AB

Bell codes - There is a app but classification of trains is a good start

Class 1 = 4
Class 2 = 3-1
Class 3 = 1-3-1
Class 4 = 3-1-1
Class 5 = 2-2-1
Class 6 = 5
Class 7 = 4-1
Class 8 = 3-2
---------------------------
Class 9 = 1-4 or 1-4-1
Class 0 = 2-3

Call attention = 1
Train in section = 2
Train out section = 2-1

P.S There's plenty more bell codes but just start with these.

Definitions - These need to learnt word for word. 100% these will come up in your week 5 exam especially 3.4.1 & 3.4.2 check.

* Principle of Absolute Block - To prevent more than one train being in a section on the same line at the same time. (TS3 Page 8)

* 3.4.1 check Before allowing a train to approach. (TS3 Page 12)

* 3.4.2 check Maintaining the clearing point. (TS3 Page 13)

* Absolute Block section (TS3 Page 6)

* Home signal (TS3 Page 6)

* Section signal (TS3 Page 6)

* Intermediate block home signal (TS3 Page 6)

* Clearing point (TS3 Page 6)

* Intermediate block section (TS3 Page 7)

* Station limits - The line between the home signal and the section signal worked by the same signal box in the same direction of travel (NOI) - Check this definition wording as its been a while but it will be close.


What I found useful was using flash cards so question on one side, answer on the back. My first flash cards would be these principles and 3.4.1 & 3.4.2

If you can get this nailed and I'm assuming your learning Absolute Block then that's a great start.

HTH

Hiya,

What is the name of the app? Am having trouble finding anything on iOS and google play