Train Drivers Rotas

[joshcoupe]

Has anyone got an example of a drivers timetable? Or can anyone shed any light on how this process works?

Josh

 

[142094]

Depends on whether freight or passenger?

 

[pendolino]

Bit of an open ended question really. Can you be more specific?

 

[12CSVT]

Drivers can be rostered to start duty at almost any time in the 24 hour clock and book off after anything between 5 and 10 hours on duty. Some FCC turns of duty start at the sociable hour of 03:00 or 03:30.

 

[Greenback]

It is a bit open as questions go, but basically, a driver will usually be in a link with other drivers, and they will have rest days of varying amounts inculded in that link. Most companies now group the rest days together wherever possible, and, depending on the make up of the link, this may include such thingss as one week off in 6 plus a couple of weekends.

The link will show which diagram a driver will work on any given day they are rostered to work, though this can be altered according to local agreements. The diagram will show a booking on time, and then a list of trains that the driver is due to work, along with PNB (Personal Needs Break) arrangements and the booking off time at the end of the turn.

This is, of necessity, a brief and general outline. Every company will have their own policies on rostering, which will have been agreed with drvier representatives.

 

[Beveridges]

Never been a Driver myself but having been to many, many Interviews, I have obviously asked to see the rota (or rosta) for the job I'm applying for (who in their right mind wouldn't??) so have a good idea.

It's a mixture of shifts the earliest starts are normally between 03:00 to 07:00 and the latest turns normally something like 18:00 starts and 02:00 finishes. There is of cause everything inbetween, so not all of the shifts are so extreme. I'd say from the ones I've seen, only about 20-25% of shifts start at 06:00 or earlier.

 

[GB]

Never been a Driver myself but having been to many, many Interviews, I have obviously asked to see the rota (or rosta) for the job I'm applying for (who in their right mind wouldn't??) so have a good idea.

Perhaps that is where you are going wrong?

 

[joshcoupe]

Sorry if it was unclear:

I am a southeastern driver and I would like to know what type of timetables other toc drivers have to go by?

 

[Rugd1022]

Drivers can be rostered to start duty at almost any time in the 24 hour clock and book off after anything between 5 and 10 hours on duty. Some FCC turns of duty start at the sociable hour of 03:00 or 03:30.

Some of our diagrams are nearly twelve hours (our current minimum is six) and we can be booked on any time between 00.01 and 23.59...

The job I'm on tomorrow is quite long, 10.57 on / 21.20 off, but it's one of the better turns.

 

[TDK]

Never been a Driver myself but having been to many, many Interviews, I have obviously asked to see the rota (or rosta) for the job I'm applying for (who in their right mind wouldn't??) so have a good idea.

It's a mixture of shifts the earliest starts are normally between 03:00 to 07:00 and the latest turns normally something like 18:00 starts and 02:00 finishes. There is of cause everything inbetween, so not all of the shifts are so extreme. I'd say from the ones I've seen, only about 20-25% of shifts start at 06:00 or earlier.

I have interviewed over 100 perspective drivers and not one asked to see the roster or even ask what times or how long the shifts were so the answer to you question "who wouldn't" should say "who would"

The sifits where I work the earlies nearly all start before 7am and all the lates from 15.00 to 18.00, most jobs are between 7 and 9 hours and this is passenger work.

 

[sultanofswing]

I have obviously asked to see the rota (or rosta) for the job I'm applying for (who in their right mind wouldn't??) so have a good idea.

What? you have been declined 25 times and you ask to see the rosta, I got the job on my second attempt and I never asked to see any rosta?

makes me think, what other questions are you asking to be knocked back so many times?

 

[CarterUSM]

I don't think it's a bad idea, but it is probably more appropriate to know the earliest book on and latest book off times for a depot, from an internal application point of view at least.

 

[sultanofswing]

if you want the job that bad why would you care what time they start or finish? I know I didn't.

 

[CarterUSM]

if you want the job that bad why would you care what time they start or finish? I know I didn't.

Because you get asked? I certainly have been at interview as an internal candidate, as have many of my colleagues. Doing your homework can help you no end.

 

[Beveridges]

makes me think, what other questions are you asking to be knocked back so many times?

I always like to know what I'm getting myself in for before I start a job. Unbelievable how no one asks to see the rosta, surely they want to know. The hours being one of the most important thing. Imagine getting the job and its permenant nights or permenant earlies or something. Or how many people get a job on permenant nights on the railway without knowing it was permenant nights when they applied for it? I know a few. Whether they knock me back or not for it, I always like to see what I'm getting myself in for. I was ready to go for a job with DRS as a trainman but got put off in the Interview when I found out many of the shifts BOOK ON times are between 23:00 and 05:00! They knocked me back anyway but I wasn't bothered, had lost interest by that point. Think it would have been a bit of a shock if I had got the job and was stuck on those shifts right now. It would not be what I'd call diserable

 

[Cherry_Picker]

I asked about the shifts at my interview and I was successful at the first attempt.

 

[westcoaster]

For my first railway job I was shown the rosta/link at the interview stage, it always pays to do the homework first.
I've seen many guys go through the union to find out about shifts at other depots, all it takes is a phone call to that depots llc to find out what the work / link / hours are.
At our depot the earliest start is 0247 and the latest finish is 0255, I knew this before I started.

 

[Beveridges]

makes me think, what other questions are you asking to be knocked back so many times?

All they normally do is refer me to the rosta which is up in the messrooms so it hardly wastes any time. Doubt that is the reason I keep getting (A) knocked back outright or (B) put on hold on "waiting lists" only to be told after an elapsed period of time to reapply.

 

[GB]

I think there is a slight difference between actually asking to see the roster and gently asking what kind of shift pattens can you expect.

I was ready to go for a job with DRS as a trainman but got put off in the Interview when I found out many of the shifts BOOK ON times are between 23:00 and 05:00!

"Many" obviously does not mean all and I think you have thrown away a perfectly good job opportunity. Booking on after c0300 does not count as a night shift anyway.

I think Mr Beveridges if you want a drivers job you will have to be more alot flexible and be willing to put up with some the negatives that go with most drivers positions....its not always so rosey.

 

[Beveridges]

I will accept a level of flexibility, but in the case of DRS, booking on at times like 2300, 0100, 0200, 0300 on a very frequent basis would have been a bit rough. Failed the interview anyway so it's not like I threw anything in anyway. But think I would have done anyway.

 

[GB]

Unfortunately you will probably find most companies (especially freight) have similar booking on times. They are usually derived for the benefit of the company rather than the employees.

What sort of hours are you actually after?

 

[Beveridges]

I've seen a variety of rostas, some looked alright, others looked undesirable
Currently work permanent nights anyway but want anything that's better than that, DRS however looked a step backwards. Lodging and trying to sleep after a 12:00 finish (01:00 start) looked somewhat worse than my current shifts which are like 20:00-06:00 etc and then going home

 

[GB]

Probably becuase they are freight and have little WTT work in your area?

 

[notadriver]

Because you get asked? I certainly have been at interview as an internal candidate, as have many of my colleagues. Doing your homework can help you no end.

Are you on a driver training course now?

 

[CarterUSM]

Are you on a driver training course now?

No, not myself.

 

[HH]

Can we be clear here. It's ROSTER. It doesn't wear dreadlocks.

For Passenger TOCs night turns are rare, but early starts (around 04:30-05:30) are common. Not surprising when you realise that the morning peak starts at 07:00.

 

[whhistle]

I always like to know what I'm getting myself in for before I start a job. Unbelievable how no one asks to see the rosta, surely they want to know.

This is something to be investigated before hand though, not really an interview question.
Then again, the interviewers should give this information anyway. Most I have been to (on both sides of the desk), the info has been given or I have been told.

 

[francisoldfield]

in my interview at FCC I asked what the earliest starts and latest finishes were... they didn't seem to mind and I was successful at interview!

 

[notadriver]

Youve finally got a drivers job? Great! When do you start?

 

[Beveridges]

Passing a corporate Interview does not mean you get the job as I have found out 4 times over