Operations Apprentice (Control) Arriva Trains Wales

Hey,

Applied for this last week and waiting to hear. Anyone heard anything? I know it's quick but they want a September start.

Also, it covers Train Running Control which is self explanatory, but it also covers Customer Service Information and Delay Attribution. Can anyone tell me what sort of customer information is done from the control room and what to expect with delay attribution?

Thanks,
Keiran

KeiranNewberry said:

Hey,

Applied for this last week and waiting to hear. Anyone heard anything? I know it's quick but they want a September start.

Also, it covers Train Running Control which is self explanatory, but it also covers Customer Service Information and Delay Attribution. Can anyone tell me what sort of customer information is done from the control room and what to expect with delay attribution?

Thanks,
Keiran

Click to expand...

The customer service controllers, route controllers and delay attribution staff (along with a few other branches of control) are all in the same enormous room.

Most of the messages that go out on the CIS screens or on the train running page on the website about alterations and cancellations come from the customer service staff in control, and they're also a point of contact for train crew for customer service issues.

Hi there, glad to hear that you have applied for this in Cardiff Control. I am a conductor for ATW and both ATW and Network Rail are in the same room. Literally its mirrored on either side so they can liaise with each other when something goes wrong.

While I am not sure exactly what the role will be I have had to visit there multiple times and by the sound of it you will be stationed in the main control room. Like the other person said all the CIS boards, etc are dealt with from this central location. You wont have direct contact with any customers in there though. It will be other staff, mostly conductors and drivers contacting you for one thing or another.

Apart from the Duty Control Manager, CCTV operative and Maintenance Control everyone picks up each others calls.

We also have our phones which receive multiple emails to tell us what is going on on the network at any given time. The people at control are nice and it seems like a positive place to work. It is extremely quiet (Until something drastic goes wrong on the Cardiff lines XD)

I'm not sure if you will be dealing with the alterations and strengthening of services when needed but we certainly have to let Delays know if we are running late for whatever reason.

I don't particularly know what the job is you have applied for but I thought I could tell you a bit about my experience of being in the place where you have applied to work. If you are going to be learning about the operations in the control room it can vary from finding replacement transport, to taking a phone call that a conductor cant do ticket duties, delays to making sure conductors are aware of any problems on the line or trains needing to be terminated.

Either way good luck and perhaps I will be ringing you when things are going horribly wrong!

Hi both, thanks for the replies and info.

I take it then control is based in the new ROC? What's that like for getting to? Ideally I'd like to get the train (not only becuase it'd be free but I always have when working in Cardiff) where shifts allow.

Do you know what kind of roster pattern they follow?

Thanks,
Keiran

It is indeed located in the ROC. One side of the building is Network Rail, the other side is Arrivas. It's a very impressive facility. I believe there is some sort of staff with hi vis only path beside the line from the station.

craigybagel said:

It is indeed located in the ROC. One side of the building is Network Rail, the other side is Arrivas. It's a very impressive facility. I believe there is some sort of staff with hi vis only path beside the line from the station.

Click to expand...

Thanks - maybe something for post-PTS then! It mentions spending time with frontline staff - would this include train crew? Have either of you had newbies to other roles tagging along for a spell?

Thanks,
Keiran

craigybagel said:

It is indeed located in the ROC. One side of the building is Network Rail, the other side is Arrivas. It's a very impressive facility. I believe there is some sort of staff with hi vis only path beside the line from the station.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure the signallers would agree with that!!

Correct; and you are supposed to take a special training course to use it!

Llanigraham said:

I'm not sure the signallers would agree with that!!

Correct; and you are supposed to take a special training course to use it!

Click to expand...

Well the building looks good at least I know the signaling itself leaves something to be desired (in the most diplomatic terms possible). I've not heard of any problems with the Arriva side of the building though to be fair, and for us as traincrew it's pretty handy that if we speak to one desk and the message needs to get passed on to another desk, they're all in the same room!

You can walk over the bridge past the holiday inn towards the opposite way of the Cardiff city centre and you keep walking for about 15-20 mins until you see the building. There is a very small side road which you can take which has a comm entrance and green gate. You can get in that way as well but you do have to then walk aaaalllll the way round the building lol. If its the same building I am thinking of anyway.

Agreed craigybagel that it does make communication that bit easier when we need advice or something you tend to get them asking the others inside the same room which is good for getting the right information to advise in our job safely and properly.

KeiranNewberry said:

Thanks - maybe something for post-PTS then! It mentions spending time with frontline staff - would this include train crew? Have either of you had newbies to other roles tagging along for a spell?

Thanks,
Keiran

Click to expand...

It's not very often front line staff actually get to meet control managers unless it's organised. If you are at a depot close to the control centre then maybe but I have only ever met control staff at meetings.

On some rare occasions the staff do go out and meet drivers, guards and platform staff but to be fair they are always pretty busy and when they are not they are on rest days.

Hi mate, have you heard anymore of the job?

Hey, nope I emailed them and they told me they were shortlisting and would contact everyone by email either way. Not heard since

Seems to be taking a while for them to shortlist for this job

Yeah still no news!

I see it has moved to shortlisting fingers crossed!

Aye - applied for the conductor too as I'd given up hope! We shall see what happens
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Got the call!! Interview next week! Any ideas what I should expect? I know I need to brush up on my ATW general knowledge, but anything specific to control?

Thanks,
Keiran