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Recent content by Mattmatt

  1. Mattmatt

    Any benefit to joining the railways in a non-driver position first?

    with my TOC You start on basic - this depends on where you've come from, as i came from a conductors role (within the same company) i started on the conductors basic wage of £25k- which is a struggle! (as i did a fair bit of rest day working & commission from tickets all added up) if you're...
  2. Mattmatt

    Any benefit to joining the railways in a non-driver position first?

    I came into the railway via the Conductors role from the off the street; which took around 12 months to get in! once in there's plenty of internal jobs that never go out to the public - In saying that - It took a couple of go's at getting into the drivers seat - the amount of internals wanting...
  3. Mattmatt

    Northern Rail Drivers Strike

    regardless of any subsidy paid to Northern, the staff including Guards etc only want to be paid the industry standards.... TPE got approx 3.5% rise, and they are in the same situation as Northern, (as in the last part of the franchise) Management have cited that they are constricted by the...
  4. Mattmatt

    Two handed coordination test

    You do get a set of shapes to try with the practice material; but it's just not the same in my opinion... as I can whiz through them easy, it's the joy sticks that get me, left hand is left to right and the right hand is up and down. suppose we'll just have to see :D
  5. Mattmatt

    Two handed coordination test

    Does anyone have any tips for practicing on the new Two Handed Coordination test for driving? (I've passed all others except that & the structured interview) last time I failed (in Feb) I was told I was too slow, but with amazing accuracy.... Colleagues have told me that they whizzed through it...
  6. Mattmatt

    Northern Conductor

    Where do you start; if your working in the west; you'd spend a couple of months at Bolton training centre, & then you spend some time at your depot with a minder, then back school again before your pass out. Once on your depot, you'd have a full rules & traction test over a couple of days. Once...
  7. Mattmatt

    FTPE Trainee Train Drivers

    Just went to apply for it & Boom they've pulled the vacancy already! less than 24 hours!
  8. Mattmatt

    priv discount to be allowed on off peak tickets

    The new Priv's haven't been up loaded to Avantix as yet (well Northern's Manchester Pic avantix anyway) hopefully tomorrow.
  9. Mattmatt

    priv discount to be allowed on off peak tickets

    Brfares.com haven't uploaded the new fares as yet as of 09:10 this morning.
  10. Mattmatt

    priv discount to be allowed on off peak tickets

    This is great news; but for me (as a conductor) but I'll still let staff travel for free with me anyway. But who'll be the first to report that they've been excessed by a fellow member of staff because they've travelled in a peak time but on an off peak ticket. I won't be; can you imagine the...
  11. Mattmatt

    priv discount to be allowed on off peak tickets

    HR Colleagues within my TOC called to ask and ATOC are still publicly denying it, so they're keeping very close nit, if the TOC's still don't know and are in the dark. As much as I want to believe this, I'm struggling.....
  12. Mattmatt

    Guide Bridge Parkway?

    Having just read an article in this weeks 'rail' and noted that Alliance rail are looking to plan a Leeds - Euston service via Stockport (as a map shows), but oddly mentions via Man Vic. But there's a station mentiond on it called Guide Bridge parkway, does anyone know of such plans for the...
  13. Mattmatt

    priv discount to be allowed on off peak tickets

    I was just pointing out that, if you're creative, you don't have to pay the extortionate prices for a PRV (if traveling to London) at peak times. But on the whole I can't wait until the PRV changes. :D Plus there are other tickets in the system that, if you look, will enable you to travel the...
  14. Mattmatt

    priv discount to be allowed on off peak tickets

    Depending on who you work for, & if you're going to London & can get to Crewe, (I'd imagine most can) I've found a ticket that can be used at peak time but costs £14.90 (Single) £23.30 (return) with a PRV, Crewe to Clapham Jnc. It's an Anytime ticket & can be used into Euston. It's not an any...
  15. Mattmatt

    priv discount to be allowed on off peak tickets

    I'll start on the original topic; PRV's becoming more accessible & to be used on more tickets. This is a huge relief as it will mean that the hard working staff of the railway will be able to use them on long distance journeys again & making use of the privilege (thus still bringing in revenue...

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