A career as a signaller

Tom Quinne · 11 Oct 2018

nom de guerre said:
I don't want to sound unnecessarily harsh, but even the most basic of internet searches will answer this question.

Wainfleet is in Lincolnshire!

Is there a similar sounding place down South ?

Rainfleet or something?

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Narom · 11 Oct 2018

Tom Quinne said:
Rainfleet or something?

You may be thinking of Ebbsfleet?

Tom Quinne · 12 Oct 2018

Probably lol

nom de guerre · 14 Oct 2018

Anyone know of a box/area where signallers are job-sharing?

Sunset route · 14 Oct 2018

nom de guerre said:
Anyone know of a box/area where signallers are job-sharing?

I can’t help you with a known location, but at our ASC we did have a member of staff who wanted to go part time and job share. It never got of the ground because the management weren’t supportive to the request, the other staff weren’t behind the requester and the Union (locally) didn’t have a clue how to progress it and as custodians of the roster and conditions how to reflect it within the base roster. Not to mention that shift logic at the time could barely run our roster under normal conditions let alone start placing two people on the same line in the roster all be it half a week each.

nom de guerre · 14 Oct 2018

Ta. A couple of colleagues are interested and are trying to find examples.

High Dyke · 14 Oct 2018

leomc1627 said:
Hi does any one have any information on what toc's pass through wainfleet and also what roster they work thanks in advance

Currently East Midlands Trains are the TOC responsible for the regular passenger services. Occasional charter services operate, as does the odd engineering train/machine.

Is it the Rest Day Relief (RDR) vacancy or General Purpose Relief (GPR) position?

galaxynew · 14 Oct 2018

Does anyone know how long your online test results remain valid for?

I applied approx 12 months ago, passed the tests but had to withdraw at the interview stage due to a personal reason. I have just made another application and had the invite to do the 3 online tests so guess my previous results are no longer valid

Thanks

cogload · 14 Oct 2018

nom de guerre said:
Anyone know of a box/area where signallers are job-sharing?

Salisbury

Static65 · 14 Oct 2018

galaxynew said:
Does anyone know how long your online test results remain valid for?

I applied approx 12 months ago, passed the tests but had to withdraw at the interview stage due to a personal reason. I have just made another application and had the invite to do the 3 online tests so guess my previous results are no longer valid

Thanks

When I took them last month they said results will be kept for 12 months before needing to resit.

nom de guerre · 15 Oct 2018

cogload said:
Salisbury

Ta. Someone else just mentioned that, funnily enough. Sounds like slightly... interesting circumstances.

Cerebral · 15 Oct 2018

galaxynew said:
Does anyone know how long your online test results remain valid for?

I applied approx 12 months ago, passed the tests but had to withdraw at the interview stage due to a personal reason. I have just made another application and had the invite to do the 3 online tests so guess my previous results are no longer valid

Thanks

They say they are valid for 12 months, but during my applications I was asked to resit some after 6 months. They CAN last for 12 months but some people have previously said you can ask to resit them after 6 months if you feel you did not do very well on them the first time.

Best to just ring the recruitment team and ask, they don't bite!

Narom · 15 Oct 2018

What do signallers in quieter boxes (grade 2) do between spurts of activity?

Is there checks etc that need to be carried out or is it a case of a bit of free time?

Southernsig · 15 Oct 2018

Narom said:
What do signallers in quieter boxes (grade 2) do between spurts of activity?

Is there checks etc that need to be carried out or is it a case of a bit of free time?

Stare intently at the diagram for however long between trains waiting for not much to happen!

Tom Quinne · 15 Oct 2018

Southernsig said:
Stare intently at the diagram for however long between trains waiting for not much to happen!

Or the figure at the mouth of the tunnel....

SignallerJohn · 16 Oct 2018

Narom said:
What do signallers in quieter boxes (grade 2) do between spurts of activity?

Is there checks etc that need to be carried out or is it a case of a bit of free time?

Oh they 100% read their rule books...

Narom · 16 Oct 2018

SignallerJohn said:
Oh they 100% read their rule books...

Ha

I think I'll expand on that if asked what I'll do in the interview!

f1nch26 · 16 Oct 2018

Does anyone know what the opportunities for internal progression are like with NR? Do signaller positions come up very often? If you are new to the role, is there a minimum time that you must stay in a position before you can apply for other positions?

SignallerJohn · 16 Oct 2018

f1nch26 said:
Does anyone know what the opportunities for internal progression are like with NR? Do signaller positions come up very often? If you are new to the role, is there a minimum time that you must stay in a position before you can apply for other positions?

With the new rules and apprenticeships you are tied in to your location for a year unless they are exceptional circumstances. You can become a MOM, LOM, OM or any other position really.

Tom Quinne · 16 Oct 2018

Once your a signaller you’ll probably not want to go any further.

Especially LOM or OM, there’s always opportunity to go up the grades or to Grade 10 SSM roles but the latter aren’t really something I would want to do to be honest, to close to the BS of management grades.

However, there’s a lot to be said about a little solo manned Grade 3/4/5 box where you haven’t got to put up with other people...

f1nch26 · 16 Oct 2018

Hmm.... I've seen a Grade 1 position advertised, it's quite a drive from where I live, and it's similar to the wage i'm already on. Just wondering whether to go for it. My travel costs would double, but if there are plenty of opportunities to progress, or make some extra money, maybes it wouldn't be too bad....

Narom · 16 Oct 2018

f1nch26 said:
Hmm.... I've seen a Grade 1 position advertised, it's quite a drive from where I live, and it's similar to the wage i'm already on. Just wondering whether to go for it. My travel costs would double, but if there are plenty of opportunities to progress, or make some extra money, maybes it wouldn't be too bad....

They may request you to move if it's quite some distance. I've seen that before for other ones in that area of the country .

JMH77 · 17 Oct 2018

Cerebral said:
They say they are valid for 12 months, but during my applications I was asked to resit some after 6 months. They CAN last for 12 months but some people have previously said you can ask to resit them after 6 months if you feel you did not do very well on them the first time.

Best to just ring the recruitment team and ask, they don't bite!

This is what I did after a couple of applications where I didn't reach the benchmark score. This was after about 8 months from when I sat the tests originally. I emailed HR and said I felt I was in a better position than previously etc and was it possible to resit the tests. They emailed back including links to the three tests and said to do them before my next application, although this I am yet to do,

Llanigraham · 17 Oct 2018

Narom said:
What do signallers in quieter boxes (grade 2) do between spurts of activity?

Is there checks etc that need to be carried out or is it a case of a bit of free time?

It depends on the Box.
We averaged 4 trains an hour but each train could involve up to 10 minutes activity, from the time it took to accept the train until we received "Train out Section", plus we had 3 User Worked Crossings, plus maintenance staff wanting track access.
Night shifts were less busy so I read lots of books and did a bit of railway modelling.
Atleast we were allowed a radio! I can heartedly recommend the comedy hour on 4 Extra.

Tom Quinne · 17 Oct 2018

f1nch26 said:
Hmm.... I've seen a Grade 1 position advertised, it's quite a drive from where I live, and it's similar to the wage i'm already on. Just wondering whether to go for it. My travel costs would double, but if there are plenty of opportunities to progress, or make some extra money, maybes it wouldn't be too bad....

There are plenty of Crossing keepers who have moved up to Signalling grades, definitely go for it. Remember nights and Sundays are on top of your basic salary.

Peterperfect · 17 Oct 2018

f1nch26 said:
Does anyone know what the opportunities for internal progression are like with NR? Do signaller positions come up very often? If you are new to the role, is there a minimum time that you must stay in a position before you can apply for other positions?

Are you sure that an apprentice is tied for rge 12 months and cant apply for another post?

What if its a 12 month fixed term contract. Can they not apply for a full time post?

headshot119 · 17 Oct 2018

Peterperfect said:
Are you sure that an apprentice is tied for rge 12 months and cant apply for another post?

What if its a 12 month fixed term contract. Can they not apply for a full time post?

The general policy is that you are tied in from 12 months from the date of employment to the location and role recruited for. People on fix term contracts are allowed and encouraged to apply and move on within the 12 months. Other people have been able to move on within the 12 months by mutual agreement (Usually easier if it's to a box under the same LOM)

Peterperfect · 18 Oct 2018

headshot119 said:
The general policy is that you are tied in from 12 months from the date of employment to the location and role recruited for. People on fix term contracts are allowed and encouraged to apply and move on within the 12 months. Other people have been able to move on within the 12 months by mutual agreement (Usually easier if it's to a box under the same LOM)

Thanks for that reply. Is that written down anywhere as ive spoke to someone who says it that wasnt agreed/passed yet?

Qball · 18 Oct 2018

Just wondering if anyone has recently applied there seems to be a problem with the questionaire.

Sabs5296 · 18 Oct 2018

Does anyone know what’s happening with the grade 8 vacancy at three bridges ROC advertised in August?

A career as a signaller

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