Recent content by Toots

Preston CCTV has been a revolving door for new Signallers in the past few years, in fact,in this area at least, up until covid I've never seen so much active recruitment. I noticed one box's entire roster allocation were either trainees or in Signalling school. There are periods when there seems...

It certainly highlights the differences between areas .If we had continuity of Management it would help but I've had about twenty people refer to themselves as my LOM in the past fourteen years, so getting replacements for boxes, and indeed Management positions, that are simply turnstiles for...

It may be worth noting that Sundays are an anomaly when it comes to the working week. In our area you can only have a booked Sunday off if there is available cover, but you cannot book one off as you would any other day.You make yourself unavailable and hope there is sufficient cover which there...

I must have misunderstood you.I got the impression it was a case of I'm alright Jack now you are earning the big bucks.If that wasn't the case,accept my apologies.

'Ample opportunity to move upwards'?. That isn't really the point. I don't begrudge a grade 6 in a PSB getting grade 6 money,what I draw exception to is that a grade 6 (or whoever) says we (Signallers) shouldn't ask for a pay rise. The way figures like 80k get bandied about on here probably give...

There is resentment towards MP's for their above inflation pay rises year on year but I don't see them wringing their caps saying how lucky they are to have a job. Indeed there are many people who are sadly losing their jobs but by the same token there are people who are making a lot of money...

It's been stopped on West Coast for two weeks.As has previously been said,the size of box makes a difference,even in normal times the amount of colds and flu that you catch can be a nuisance,a situation that isn't helped by pointless MOM visits who then take it from box to box<(

We've all been there Tom, don't sweat it it,especially over regulating.I've been let down by Drivers who you give a run to and they drive past like Miss Daisy!,I've been O coded for a dozy Signaller at the PSB who forgot a train I'd sent him early,I've even been O coded for a late TRUST input...

To be honest,it varies.I know a grade 4 box that gets two trains a day.It's not so much whether it's busy,its how many routes you have, and crucially how much hassle there is. IECC's have automatic route setting generally,so the trains practically run themselves.A Signaller earns his money when...

Sammy,what you have to realise is that getting through Signalling is one thing,but applying yourself to the job itself is a different matter. My advice is learn and take in everything you can.When you get to the IECC try to suss out who is the best and stick to them like sh!t to a blanket...

I'd say no you wouldn't have to give the money back because you are hoping to go to a higher grade position. If however you had changed your mind and returned to your grade 5 role or taking a lower grade job for whatever reason, then I think you probably would have to pay it back.As you say, it...

Do you mean 'do I get paid for the unworked day turn as well as the night turn you do work'?...no you don't . If the roster is published you can refuse to change turns, and I suppose you could try to cut a deal if they are desperate, but generally speaking the only day or night turn you get paid...

That's exactly what it is, it will save them a fortune. That said, you can kind of understand it given the fact that even experienced small box Signallers go into power boxes/IECC's and ROC's and can't hack it. Going in off the street was taking in excess of a year to train just one panel at...

We have about 20 trainees on our roster at the moment,all off the street,and all have done the 10 week course, no apprenticeships.

It would guarantee you a job in practice though. NWR has had real problems recruiting off the street in London, and has done for years,simply because with very few small boxes there,it's a huge step up to start as a grade 8 or 9.It's a smart move by the company to train people on a much smaller...