Guard (SWT)

Train92 · 20 Sep 2016

South West Trains

I'm due to start work next month as a Guard.

Does anyone know if SWT provide any taxis due to early starts and late finishes? Or possible shuttle services.
Also does anyone know what a typical 26 week roster may look like?

Lastly, what's it like working for SWT?

Robbie

RailUK Forums

Mike11 · 20 Sep 2016

It's amazing mate and welcome on board. It can depend on which depot you are at but when you start ask the other guards/drivers at your depot. At my depot the do do staff taxis but they are very early in the morning and very late at night.

Train92 · 21 Sep 2016

Hi Mike,

Thank you for your response!

In regards to taxis, is this something I would bring up with my manager? Or would it be mentioned during training?

What's SWT like for progression? Is it a difficult process to go from a Guard to a commercial Guard?

Thanks

Robbie

GingerRH · 21 Sep 2016

In terms of staff cars, I'm pretty certain that (depot specific) a taxi is only provided by the company to get you from your depot to a station where a train would be berthed over night, for example at Staines depot, the guard and driver get a taxi from Staines to Windsor in the early hours to get to the stock which is berthed there over night. Is this what you mean by a staff taxi? You will be expected to be able to get to and from the depot by means of your own transport, this would have been made very clear on the application and interview.

In terms of progression, once you have completed your 6 months probation, you are then free to apply for other positions within the company. After this 6 months there is no limit as to how often you can apply for other jobs. So you don't have to wait 6 months after each progressive step as such to apply.

wessex · 21 Sep 2016

I know when I worked for FCC, they provided a taxi home if you wanted one, if your start/finish time was between 00:00 and 06:00 if I remember correctly.

theironroad · 21 Sep 2016

Train92 said:
South West Trains

I'm due to start work next month as a Guard.

Does anyone know if SWT provide any taxis due to early starts and late finishes? Or possible shuttle services.
Also does anyone know what a typical 26 week roster may look like?

Lastly, what's it like working for SWT?

Robbie

On the whole, no taxis are provided. Taxis will be provided during disruption or engineering works to get you back to your home depot at the end of your shift. Generally you have to make your own way to and from work.

Waterloo used to have a taxi agreement (over which there was a strike) but not sure how it applies to recent starters. I think It's mainly for people who were on the job under br. Similarly,there are a couple of depots that still have a staff taxi which replaces the staff trains that disappeared years ago. These taxis are not a door to door service but run a fixed pattern and route and very few in number these days. You'd need to find someone specific to your depot to find out more.

Mike11 · 21 Sep 2016

At BMH we have staff taxis 1 in the morning and 1 late at night. All depots vary!!

pompeyfan · 22 Sep 2016

The basic guards course can be very intense but the trainers and the handouts are very good. I have nothing but praise for the experience so far. Most if not all front line staff are helpful if you ask the right questions, management seem fair. Senior management like Andrew Fairbank (head of on train services (head of guards) will ask to work your train if they have the correct route and traction tickets.

Train92 · 29 Sep 2016

Thank you for all of the information guys.

Would I have the chance to work rest days and extra hours?

TEW · 29 Sep 2016

Yes, there's normally plenty of Rest Day Work available if you want it. Paid an enhanced rate of 1.25 times normal pay.

Train92 · 29 Sep 2016

I thought that might be the case.
I've spoken to other members on this forum and they've advised me that overtime and rest day is paid at 1.25 the usual rate, but when my contract arrived it didn't state that overtime was paid at 1.25 the usual rate.

Is this something that my line manager would mention to me?

pompeyfan · 30 Sep 2016

Enforced overtime (through disruption etc) is only flat rate, as commercial that's £16-something an hour. As a non commercial it will be less. You should also notice in your contract it only states your training wage, it doesn't show your final wage. To see your final contracts you need to speak to the union bodies of the RMT or ATCU who have a copy of the guards restructure agreement.

Need2 · 9 Feb 2017

Just wondering, how long does the training take to become a SWT guard?

pompeyfan · 9 Feb 2017

Need2 said:
Just wondering, how long does the training take to become a SWT guard?

The basic crash course is about 6 weeks, route and traction knowledge take the bulk of the time. It took me 3 and a half months from starting in the company to working a train on my own.

Need2 · 10 Feb 2017

pompeyfan said:
The basic crash course is about 6 weeks, route and traction knowledge take the bulk of the time. It took me 3 and a half months from starting in the company to working a train on my own.

Is there a set time limit to the training, ie you should be on your own within 'X' amount of months?
Thanks for the info mate, much appreciated.

TEW · 10 Feb 2017

The initial guard's course is all planned out day by day, so you can work out when you finish that, that will include traction training. You then go out route learning, which may be a bit more flexible, but each depot will have a plan for route learning and how long it should take. But during your route learning you're generally able to take leave, which can push back the date you go out by yourself. If you are going for a commercial position, you'll also have your commercial training at some point, probably within your route learning period.

Need2 · 12 Feb 2017

TEW said:
The initial guard's course is all planned out day by day, so you can work out when you finish that, that will include traction training. You then go out route learning, which may be a bit more flexible, but each depot will have a plan for route learning and how long it should take. But during your route learning you're generally able to take leave, which can push back the date you go out by yourself. If you are going for a commercial position, you'll also have your commercial training at some point, probably within your route learning period.

So for a non commercial and not taking any leave etc, what would be your best guesstimate for the length of training?

pompeyfan · 12 Feb 2017

Need2 said:
So for a non commercial and not taking any leave etc, what would be your best guesstimate for the length of training?

2 and a half months depending on traction and routes that the depot sign. Somewhere like Waterloo sign a lot more than Guildford (although Guildford also sign down to Portsmouth in cases of staff shortages)

Need2 · 12 Feb 2017

Thanks for the info, just 1 more question! :roll:

On the interview invite letter it says
"Please be aware that you will be asked to assist our customers at the station for around 10 minutes"
Any advice or tips? :idea:

pompeyfan · 12 Feb 2017

Need2 said:
Thanks for the info, just 1 more question! :roll:

On the interview invite letter it says
"Please be aware that you will be asked to assist our customers at the station for around 10 minutes"
Any advice or tips?

That's new then!

Should be pretty straightforward, be open, welcoming and friendly, but don't overdo it.

theironroad · 12 Feb 2017

Need2 said:
Thanks for the info, just 1 more question! :roll:

On the interview invite letter it says
"Please be aware that you will be asked to assist our customers at the station for around 10 minutes"
Any advice or tips?

It's the new staffing plan, using free labour......joking (I think)

I guess it's just to see if you are proactive, for example if a passenger is looking confused or lost, I guess they want you to spot that and approaxh them asking if you can help rather than being a wallflower waiting for someone to approach you. However, (although you won't be in uniform) it could also be an irate passenger wanting to come and rant in your face. Unless you that station every day at the moment or are a very rail enthusiastic person, youd not be expected to know all the service details and answers at the recruitment stage, so I imagine you'll be chapeeoned in a small group.

I'd imagine you're looking at Southampton central or Basingstoke for this, both of which are pretty busy stations with multiple train operators.

TEW · 12 Feb 2017

pompeyfan said:
2 and a half months depending on traction and routes that the depot sign. Somewhere like Waterloo sign a lot more than Guildford (although Guildford also sign down to Portsmouth in cases of staff shortages)

I'd say 3 months is more realistic. It's not just Guildford-Portsmouth that Guildford sign that Waterloo don't, it's Woking-Alton and Guildford-Ascot too. Generally you'll find it evens out and most depots sign a roughly similar amount of routes. Woking probably have the most route knowledge so route learning there would take the longest.

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