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Controlling careers?

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Runner

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Hi,

I read an article about a controller for FGW in Swindon and I thought it seemed like a really great job. I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to detail any similar roles within the railways (I am based in Cheshire) and give me an appreciation of a typical career path into this or similar roles? Unless you can go straight in to controlling?

Thanks for taking the time to help me out, it is much appreciated

Runner
 
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LBSCR Times

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Operating jobs within Controls are normally for experienced rail staff.
To get in to a Control from outside the industry, you normally have to take one of the Information Controller posts first.
 
EM2

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You could look at the Network Rail side of things.
There's a new Rail Operations Centre being built in Gorton (which admittedley is still quite a trek), and although you're unlikely to get in 'off the street', you can work up, for example as a Customer Service Assistant and then as a Station Controller.
 
Mojo

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Northern Rail did advertise externally some Controller jobs based at York fairly recently; but as others say they don't come up externally that often.
 
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Runner

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ChrisTheRef said:
'Square One', which is just outside Piccadilly.

ATW have Train Crew controllers in Crewe, I believe, but their mainline Control is in Cardiff.
Click to expand...

I shall keep a close eye on the ATW careers site now.

Thanks very much
 
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Jim

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What do you define as a controller? Train service etc or do you mean just working in a control centre?

The odds of getting external in to train service controlling are fairly slim, but (where I work) information controller type jobs can be got not too badly, with doors open quite often to work further up.

My office has taken on about 6 informationey people this year already, only 2 from previous railway background :)
 
R

Runner

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Jim said:
What do you define as a controller? Train service etc or do you mean just working in a control centre?

The odds of getting external in to train service controlling are fairly slim, but (where I work) information controller type jobs can be got not too badly, with doors open quite often to work further up.

My office has taken on about 6 informationey people this year already, only 2 from previous railway background :)
Click to expand...

Is there a natural progression from information controller?

Quite honestly, I don't know enough to define a controller. I think Air Traffic Control is an intriguing occupation and came to also thinking about trains in a vaguely similar light.

That is why I am hugely grateful for any advice at all
 
F

fabs

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I'm a current Air Traffic Controller in the military and didn't even get short listed for the Northern Rail Service Controller job. After 20 years I think I need to practice filling out application forms!
 
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Tomnick

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I'd have thought that an air traffic controller would be closer to a signalman in terms of job description, though perhaps with an element of 'control' as the railway would know it. Given how much railway-specific knowledge and experience a good controller requires, I'd have thought it'd be very difficult to get straight in off the street! I wouldn't be too disheartened - I'd have thought that air traffic controllers would be very attractive potential recruits for the main safety-critical roles.
 
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