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A career as a signaller

SignallerJohn

SignallerJohn

Member
Joined
19 Dec 2017
Messages
160
Peterperfect said:
Thanks for that reply. Is that written down anywhere as ive spoke to someone who says it that wasnt agreed/passed yet?
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Signallers like to pass myths off as fact and vice versa. If you go signalling school they will tell you that you are not allowed to move within a year, this is the Babcock (apprenticeship side) and Network Rail joint thing. I imagine it’s pretty frustrating to employ, train and pass someone out just so they can ‘jump ship’, so I believe that’s why they keep you for a year.
 
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GingerRH

Member
Joined
21 Apr 2015
Messages
176
SignallerJohn said:
Signallers like to pass myths off as fact and vice versa. If you go signalling school they will tell you that you are not allowed to move within a year, this is the Babcock (apprenticeship side) and Network Rail joint thing. I imagine it’s pretty frustrating to employ, train and pass someone out just so they can ‘jump ship’, so I believe that’s why they keep you for a year.
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Check your contract, if it’s not in there (that you cannot move for 12 months), then apply away and wave your contract in their face. If any problems, go to the RMT or your trade union.
 
headshot119

headshot119

Established Member
Joined
31 Dec 2010
Messages
2,051
Location
Dubai
SignallerJohn said:
Signallers like to pass myths off as fact and vice versa. If you go signalling school they will tell you that you are not allowed to move within a year, this is the Babcock (apprenticeship side) and Network Rail joint thing. I imagine it’s pretty frustrating to employ, train and pass someone out just so they can ‘jump ship’, so I believe that’s why they keep you for a year.
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I'll just quote what I've said previously...

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)

It makes sense to allow people on FT contracts to move within the 12 months, especially if the box is closing, or it's to cover for someone on a secondment.
 
H

haigwright

Member
Joined
30 Jul 2016
Messages
21
Hi all,
I've recently applied for a job advertised as grade 1 signaller but know the box in question is a manned crossing. It does say on the job info 12 weeks training.
After reading all the great info on here I'm a wee bit confused, if grade 1 doesn't require as much training as higher grades why is the course the same length...or am I missing something vital?
 
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Tom Quinne

On Moderation
Joined
8 Jul 2017
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2,225
Grade one won’t require you to go to signalling school, as you won’t be a signaller as such. I think it’s more like 4/5 weeks local training before your passed out by your LOM.

But, don’t forget it’s a very valuable entry point to the grade with plenty of opportunities to go into signalling grades.

Best of luck
 
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SquarePeg

Member
Joined
29 Jun 2018
Messages
38
Hi all,

I know the answer to my query is somewhere within the interesting information and anecdotes of this forum but I thought I’d ask to get a one stop shop type reply from one of you.

I’ve got the 3 tests to take for a signaller role and long story short the numerical aspect of things is likely to be my Achilles heel. The questions that throw me the most tend to be the image sequences. A ball in the top right of an oblong, followed by one in the top left etc etc; what comes next.

Are those questions typically a part of NR numerical assessments? Beyond those what type of maths should I be brushing up on? Are there any advisable resources I can refer to?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
S

Static65

Member
Joined
2 Aug 2018
Messages
102
I have just received an invite to attend a signaller assessment day next month as per the below:

"The recruitment day is made up of exercises that test the required attributes for a signaller, these include communication, concentration and the ability to read and understand written information. Feedback will be given throughout the day and only the successful candidates after each assessment will continue to the next stage of the process."

From reading this thread I was under the impression that physical assessment centres had been replaced with the online tests, but clearly that isnt wholly the case.

Does anyone have any knowledge about what the test may consist of?

Also there is no mention of an interview on the day, are these usually done separately?

I will ask network rail the same questions direct, just wondering if anyone had any insight. Thanks
 
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Suzuki04

Member
Joined
6 Jun 2018
Messages
8
Hi, I have a question about NR pay -

I'll be starting my job on 12th November and I understand that this November's pay date is 16/11, so I'm assuming I won't be paid at all until December? Not that I mind, over the moon to have the job but just trying to juggle my finances around having no pay for 8 weeks :D already had my final pay from my current job.

P.S. to the people who have messaged me about upcoming signalling school - I'm sorry I haven't replied, but this site has stopped letting me reply to private messages (getting an error message to say they have detected spam within my message, no matter what I write) so I'm not just ignoring them :) and thanks for all the help and info.
 
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Tom Quinne

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Messages
2,225
So are they using proper assessment days again now?

Dumping the stupid online testing which was open to abuse...not a moment to soon !
 
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Narom

Member
Joined
24 Sep 2018
Messages
141
Tom Quinne said:
Dumping the stupid online testing which was open to abuse...not a moment to soon !
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True. But then those people would have to pass signalling school. I'd imagine if you couldn't apply yourself you'd struggle at the school.
 
headshot119

headshot119

Established Member
Joined
31 Dec 2010
Messages
2,051
Location
Dubai
Tom Quinne said:
So are they using proper assessment days again now?

Dumping the stupid online testing which was open to abuse...not a moment to soon !
Click to expand...

It's been mentioned on this thread before. A LOM can now opt to have people attend an assessment day in place of the online tests. So far not many seem to have gone that way.
 
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Tom Quinne

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Narom said:
True. But then those people would have to pass signalling school. I'd imagine if you couldn't apply yourself you'd struggle at the school.
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Indeed, but it’s the point of them griffin to school then failing, rather than a proper candidate getting through and succeeding.

The paper tests were so much better I personally think.
 
E

Ex NR Planner

New Member
Joined
17 Jun 2017
Messages
4
Does anyone know what shifts a Gainsborough (Joint line) signaller would be expected to do?

There is a grade 3 vacancy advertised.
 
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Danc87

Member
Joined
16 Oct 2018
Messages
87
SquarePeg said:
Hi all,

I know the answer to my query is somewhere within the interesting information and anecdotes of this forum but I thought I’d ask to get a one stop shop type reply from one of you.

I’ve got the 3 tests to take for a signaller role and long story short the numerical aspect of things is likely to be my Achilles heel. The questions that throw me the most tend to be the image sequences. A ball in the top right of an oblong, followed by one in the top left etc etc; what comes next.

Are those questions typically a part of NR numerical assessments? Beyond those what type of maths should I be brushing up on? Are there any advisable resources I can refer to?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
what tests are required to be taken please so I can brush up asap
 
dsb

dsb

Member
Joined
23 Oct 2018
Messages
10
Just after a bit of advice need to sit my online assessment's. there's one called complete instrument and I can find a example test paper for it on the shldirect website. Anybody any idea what this test is all about
 
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galaxynew

Member
Joined
1 Sep 2017
Messages
128
In reply to recent comments regarding the online tests, i have just completed my 3 within the last week so this doesn't suggest they have been replaced by an assessment day, can only presume this must be in certain regions but strange as you would imagine that the recruitment procedure would be standard nationally.

For anyone about to take them and a little concerned, i can honestly say that the 3 actual tests were, in my opinion, easier than the practice tests i tried before doing the "real" one's, might just have been me but i would recommend practice tests 2 or 3 times to get you used to the make up of the questions and then set some quality time aside to do the real tests and as i a sure others have mentioned you DO NOT have to complete every question nor are you expected to, the right balance between accuracy and speed i would say is the key.

Good Luck anyone taking them
 
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Danc87

Member
Joined
16 Oct 2018
Messages
87
galaxynew said:
In reply to recent comments regarding the online tests, i have just completed my 3 within the last week so this doesn't suggest they have been replaced by an assessment day, can only presume this must be in certain regions but strange as you would imagine that the recruitment procedure would be standard nationally.

For anyone about to take them and a little concerned, i can honestly say that the 3 actual tests were, in my opinion, easier than the practice tests i tried before doing the "real" one's, might just have been me but i would recommend practice tests 2 or 3 times to get you used to the make up of the questions and then set some quality time aside to do the real tests and as i a sure others have mentioned you DO NOT have to complete every question nor are you expected to, the right balance between accuracy and speed i would say is the key.

Good Luck anyone taking them
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where are the practice tests please
 
G

GingerRH

Member
Joined
21 Apr 2015
Messages
176
Suzuki04 said:
Hi, I have a question about NR pay -

I'll be starting my job on 12th November and I understand that this November's pay date is 16/11, so I'm assuming I won't be paid at all until December? Not that I mind, over the moon to have the job but just trying to juggle my finances around having no pay for 8 weeks :D already had my final pay from my current job.

P.S. to the people who have messaged me about upcoming signalling school - I'm sorry I haven't replied, but this site has stopped letting me reply to private messages (getting an error message to say they have detected spam within my message, no matter what I write) so I'm not just ignoring them :) and thanks for all the help and info.
Click to expand...

The next day pay is 16th October, and it is paid 1 weeks in arrears.

So your first pay packet will be 12th November - 8th of December, which will be paid on December 14th. This will be paid at a grade lower than your location, but will include any allowances such as inner London etc.
 
T

Tom Quinne

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Joined
8 Jul 2017
Messages
2,225
GingerRH said:
The next day pay is 16th October, and it is paid 1 weeks in arrears.

So your first pay packet will be 12th November - 8th of December, which will be paid on December 14th. This will be paid at a grade lower than your location, but will include any allowances such as inner London etc.
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Are London/South East or Relief allowances paid during training, or only on pass out ?
 
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GingerRH

Member
Joined
21 Apr 2015
Messages
176
Tom Quinne said:
Are London/South East or Relief allowances paid during training, or only on pass out ?
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Area allowances are paid out during training, relief flexibility is only paid out once you pass out on a panel (believe this is done as an incentive to pass out on a panel to stop high %’ers taking forever and a day to pass out whilst getting paid potentially £14k flexibility over a years training (14k being the 32% grade 7)).
 
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