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Recent content by Blanka

  1. Blanka

    Automation and Train Driver Job Security

    Totally see where you're coming from, but if you abstract the elements of the job into its individual parts much of it could be carried out by current and emerging technologies. If technology could perform all aspects of a driver's job (or any job for that matter) it doesn't matter if you think...
  2. Blanka

    Automation and Train Driver Job Security

    Any job that has an element of unskilled repetitive labour is in line for automation. The technology is available, just a matter of cost and implementation. ERTMS seems to be the first step in future full automation of European railways, but whether we see an autonomous train on the mainline in...
  3. Blanka

    How 2 become a Train driver

    Take your car and drive to the office of the company you want to work for and do a massive set of doughnuts while everybody watches from above.
  4. Blanka

    Freightliner Trainee Drivers - Tilsbury, Ipswich

    The advert says you must presently live within 60 minutes of the depots
  5. Blanka

    Trainee Train Driver - Virgin Trains East Coast

    Disgraceful. Not only is this company adept at destroying employee morale, they are now destroying the morale of potential employees.
  6. Blanka

    Trainee Train Driver - Virgin Trains East Coast

    Edinburgh oversubscribed? Not likely, many jobs getting covered by overtime and still a number of retirements upcoming. Can't comment on the other depots. The issue is getting the required number of driver trainers. They are mobbed at the moment trying to get through the current trainees.
  7. Blanka

    Virgin Trains East Coast franchise to end 24 June 2018 and is temporarily re-nationalised

    When you cut through the fat this is a renegotiation of the franchise contract that appears to allow virgin/stagecoach to bailout before they take massive financial damage.
  8. Blanka

    Trainee Train Driver - Virgin Trains East Coast

    Probably won't affect the trainee driver intake, fact is they still have the need for all the trainees that they have on hold. Simply don't have the capacity to train that number up simultanelously, they are seriously struggling for driver trainers in the depots and the trainers they do have...
  9. Blanka

    Greater anglia depot drivers

    Thanks for the insight! Have applied for Ilford and will see where it takes me.
  10. Blanka

    Greater anglia depot drivers

    Have you been given an exact start date in March or is it a matter of them letting you know the exact day closer to the time?
  11. Blanka

    Greater anglia depot drivers

    What would you say are the best and worst parts of the role?
  12. Blanka

    Greater anglia depot drivers

    Also received the email saying I passed the first part. Anybody able to explain the "Sunday outside working hours" aspect? I work for a TOC currently but Sunday is included in the working week, so I'm a little curious as to how this works? Is one rostered to work Sundays and paid at overtime...
  13. Blanka

    Trainee Train Driver - Virgin Trains East Coast

    Info from company newsletter of pal who works at vtec . I don't know if you're aware at the moment but there's a big transition taking place within the company in regards to changing of grades being scrapped and amalgamated. If Virgin stagecoach took on 78 drivers externally I would imagine...
  14. Blanka

    Trainee Train Driver - Virgin Trains East Coast

    Just a touch over 5000 applications received with further internal recruitment taking place in January

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