First capital connect trainee train driver

[anthony263]

First Capital connect have advertised a trainie trainer driver vacancy on the first group careers page.

https://firstgroup.hua.hrsmart.com/ats/js_job_details.php?reqid=3455

Just started my application however it appears that someting is wrong with the site as it is very slow to respond at times.

Edit - I have now finished completing the application process, so wish me luck. vacancy closes 07/02/2012

 

[jon0844]

Isn't there 7 billion people on the planet now or something? By 7th Feb 2012, I reckon almost 6 billion will have applied.

Either that or the deadline is to account for the slow website. It's to give you three months to complete the application!

 

[william]

Do you see the wolf in your garden

 

[Crawley Ben]

Hmm this of great interest to me, I live in Crawley so am within easy reach of Brighton. I have done shift work for nearly 7 years. Its tempting.

 

[francisoldfield]

does anyone know where this will be??

It says London area on the main page

but when you start to apply it asks what location you want to go to ??

 

[HH]

There are a number of vacancies in various locations, both TL and GN. Brighton will be one, although you might expect that (or part thereof) to change to Three Bridges in the mid term - this is where the new Siemens depot will be in 2015(?).

I believe that they are recruiting for not just this intake but the following one as well, so there's a fair number of spots up for grabs.

The majority of GN jobs will be at King's X, as there's a big vacancy gap there, but laterals shouldn't take too long based on recent history. Cambridge is another likely destination.

 

[12CSVT]

Isn't there 7 billion people on the planet now or something? By 7th Feb 2012, I reckon almost 6 billion will have applied.

Either that or the deadline is to account for the slow website. It's to give you three months to complete the application!

It won't make any difference - knowing FCC's track record they will probably still only recruit the bare minimum they can get away with

 

[HH]

It won't make any difference - knowing FCC's track record they will probably still only recruit the bare minimum they can get away with

This comment is operating under a false premise. FCC haven't deliberately kept their driver numbers low - it's been down to incompetence! It might seem hard to believe, but they went for a period of over a year without taking on a single trainee. What's more Ops management didn't even realise they were in trouble.

When they finally got around to taking them on they took them all at once and then had problems training them. I could go on (and on and on and on). Honestly if you tried to sell a sitcom based on this it would be dismissed as unrealistic.

Thankfully things are slowly getting better.

 

[Dan24uk]

does anyone know where this will be??

It says London area on the main page

but when you start to apply it asks what location you want to go to ??

Further down the application it states these locations:

That they are able to travel from their residence to either Brighton, Bedford, Hitchin, Cambridge or Peterborough within 60 minutes or King’s Cross and Blackfriars within 90 minutes

 

[francisoldfield]

Doesn't matter they have changed the wording of the advertisement to say that they vacancies across the whole network now!

 

[GingerbreadMan]

Does anyone know roughly how many vacancies they have for London Bridge or Brighton?

 

[HH]

Does anyone know roughly how many vacancies they have for London Bridge or Brighton?

There is no Depot at London Bridge. Possibly you mean Blackfriars.

TBH it's impossible to say. If there are 2 today, next week there might be 3, or 1. And it will probably change in December because I'd expect them to re-balance work across the route in the next TT.

 

[bob1]

Does anyone know the shifts that drivers work at London midland, and what the weekly rotation is. For example over a three week period. Thanks for any help

 

[E&W Lucas]

Does anyone know the shifts that drivers work at London midland, and what the weekly rotation is. For example over a three week period. Thanks for any help

If that bothers you at the trainee stage, this is not the career for you.

 

[CarterUSM]

If that bothers you at the trainee stage, this is not the career for you.

Helpful. The boy was only asking.

 

[E&W Lucas]

Helpful. The boy was only asking.

Realistic -

Rosters change, terms and conditions change.

Train driving requires 24/7 availability when you are required to work, but with the compensatory factor that you are not going to be at work anything like as much as many other jobs. You are going to have to manage your life around the job. If that's a problem, then it's not the career for you. Better to realise that at the application stage.

 

[CarterUSM]

Realistic -

Rosters change, terms and conditions change.

Train driving requires 24/7 availability when you are required to work, but with the compensatory factor that you are not going to be at work anything like as much as many other jobs. You are going to have to manage your life around the job. If that's a problem, then it's not the career for you. Better to realise that at the application stage.

That would've been better said in the first place, but still doesn't answer his question. He wanted an idea of the shift pattern.

 

[sultanofswing]

If that bothers you at the trainee stage, this is not the career for you.

He never said it bothered him?

 

[bob1]

Doesn't bother me in the slightest, was merely asking for future reference, surely pre-planning isn't a bad thing.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thanks for advice, I know its a life changing job and i'm looking forward to it. I know different tocs have different shifts, hence me asking. Thanks again for advice

 

[CarterUSM]

Doesn't bother me in the slightest, was merely asking for future reference, surely pre-planning isn't a bad thing.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thanks for advice, I know its a life changing job and i'm looking forward to it. I know different tocs have different shifts, hence me asking. Thanks again for advice

It isn't a bad thing at all mate, best of luck with it!

 

[E&W Lucas]

Doesn't bother me in the slightest, was merely asking for future reference, surely pre-planning isn't a bad thing.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thanks for advice, I know its a life changing job and i'm looking forward to it. I know different tocs have different shifts, hence me asking. Thanks again for advice

If no one can give you a definite answer, here's a rough idea, based on knowledge of some other North of London commuter depots.

Expect a lot of early mornings, in the 4-6 am start time range, and you'll be lucky if there aren't a few in the 2-3 range! Late turns anything up to 2am finishes, and some night work is inevitable. Expect most turns to be 9- 10 hours, with the odd short 6 or so hour job. If it is easier than what i have described, then view it as a major bonus!

 

[westcoaster]

Im not sure if the poster is on about lm or FCC, seeing as this is an FCC thread I'll go by that , earliest starts are 0245 at Bedford around 0430-0500 at blackfriars and Brighton, latest finishes are 0255 for Bedford and 0200-0230 for blackfriars and brighton all depots do nights Bedford every 16- 18 weeks blackfriars and Brighton more often, you are on a three week rosta week 1 Monday Tuesday off, week 2 Wednesday Thursday off, week 3 Friday Saturday off, lates followed by earlies. Hope that helps.

 

[rickydean]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and new to the industry (well actually haven't even started yet)

Iv'e been applying like mad to various TOC's trainee driver vacancies over the past few months and understand that due to the number applying that it does take a long time to get a reply.

However I have just heard back from FCC for the position of Depot driver at Bedford. I also have an application with them as a trainee mainline driver but as yet haven't heard back.

I have a few questions,

1) What is the salary as a depot driver at bedford ?

2) Is the FCC depot driver position a good one and does it lead to mainline ?

3) Shall I withdraw my depot driver application and await for the mainline vacancy.

I currently work for the London Ambulance Service so this would be a big change.

Thank you in advance for your kind information.

Ricky..

 

[westcoaster]

Hi Ricky welcome to the forums, I can answer your questions;

1, iirc 32k Or 38 i cant remember,4day week, 35 hours.
2, I would say it is a good position to have, your duties will be shunting units, train preparation and operating the signalling panel, yes it can lead to main line driving as 8 shunters are going main line driving hence some vacancies still to be filled.
3, sorry don't know what to say.

No problem chap and good luck.

 

[rickydean]

Hi, thank you so much for your advice. Do you work for FCC?

Cheers mate

Ricky

 

[jsmith9114]

I'm in the same position as you!
I've just had an email from FCC about an assessment day on 9th Dec for the Depot Driver position and don't know If I should hang it out for the Trainee mainline vacancy. :cry:

James

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and new to the industry (well actually haven't even started yet)

Iv'e been applying like mad to various TOC's trainee driver vacancies over the past few months and understand that due to the number applying that it does take a long time to get a reply.

However I have just heard back from FCC for the position of Depot driver at Bedford. I also have an application with them as a trainee mainline driver but as yet haven't heard back.

I have a few questions,

1) What is the salary as a depot driver at bedford ?

2) Is the FCC depot driver position a good one and does it lead to mainline ?

3) Shall I withdraw my depot driver application and await for the mainline vacancy.

I currently work for the London Ambulance Service so this would be a big change.

Thank you in advance for your kind information.

Ricky..

 

[rickydean]

Hi,

I've just received my assessment date which is 8th december at cannon street.

I've decided to go all the way with the depot drivers role, because it seems like to good move to become a mainline driver next year.

At least this way we'll have a foot in the door if we get the job.

Plus the salary westcoaster believes is 32 or 38k is still very good.

 

[jsmith9114]

I didn't think it would of been anywhere near that much, So I hope it is, It's 10k more a year than I earn as a Bus Driver!

James

Hi,

I've just received my assessment date which is 8th december at cannon street.

I've decided to go all the way with the depot drivers role, because it seems like to good move to become a mainline driver next year.

At least this way we'll have a foot in the door if we get the job.

Plus the salary westcoaster believes is 32 or 38k is still very good.

 

[branchline]

Hi folks,
I know the starting salary for the trainee driver is £21,775 but does anyone know what the break down is leading up to full salary?

 

[francisoldfield]

if you get the job at beford as a depot driver then I would go for it. theres no guarantee you would get the mainline job and from what people have put on here in the past, Bedord seems to have a high turnover so theres a good chance that you will get the chance to apply for mainline.

i'm still kicking myself for not taking the job at Brighton last year when it was offered to me...