Brooksy
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If I remember correctly the practice papers are more for the actual OPC part one and two test.
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I wouldn’t say they’re ‘nothing like the actual test’. They’re similar in terms of what is expected on the day. They’re also not intended to require any prior knowledge of the railway or trains and simply test one’s aptitude.
Gary Craig
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- 16 Nov 2018
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Hi not yet. Have stage 2 to go yet. So I'm thinking a bit far ahead. Am confident I have most of it covered, just wondered if there are any low ballers to worry about on the medical Don't want to get through stage two and the MMI to find out the medical causes issues.
Gary Craig
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Hi thanks for that. One less thing to worry about
StuFreight
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- 15 Oct 2018
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Hi all. For those who got a confirmed start date how much notice did they give you?
Barely 4 weeks!
StuFreight
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See that's my worry I would prefer a few months because I can't book a holiday now just not knowing and it could last till summer from what I've been reading on here.
So book the time off from work and get a late deal for the holiday if nothing happens by then?
Westcoast-ting
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- 26 Nov 2017
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Yes and no,
Originally I said 12 weeks notice but thin the talent pool email I said it’s actually 4, but at dmi they said thy would plan for 12 weeks.
coppernut29
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- 17 Nov 2018
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Irs just an email i got giving me pratice papers to do ....which was nothing like the VSE and M7 online
StuFreight
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- 15 Oct 2018
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By holiday I mean quit my job and have a month or 2 between jobs. Would be nice.
Just eager to get started now as I'm sure everyone is. The worst part is the not knowing when.
Seejwalker
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If you have a three month notice period then quit now, you will be finished in time to start for febs course, if you don't make that you will have a couple of months off until may.
Although anything can happen between now and next year.
I told them my notice was 12 weeks (I did also add they were prepared to be flexible) - they gave me 4.
Did you tell them that it was fine for 4 weeks? Or did they just spring it upon you to start in 4 weeks and ignore the notice period?
I didn't say 4 weeks was fine specifically, no. It's worked out great for me though, the sooner I can start the better!
Diff
Member
OK then cheers both
I'll try and decide but if I still haven't I will let them give me more info on the day.Unrelated, but on the email I got it said I have to bring proof of NI, so payslip, ID and "TWO forms of proof of address e.g. utility bill, phone bill, bank statement etc which is dated within the last 6 months." - What can I bring for this other than a bank statement? Can I bring another bank statement from a different bank account I have? Utility bills and phone bills aren't paid for from my name so I can't bring those and I don't know what else would be sufficient to bring.
Cheers
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See if you can find an experienced driver thread and ask for some advice on IM or HH, yeah I think 2 from different banks would be ok, I don’t even think they asked to see mine to be honest.OK then cheers both
Unrelated, but on the email I got it said I have to bring proof of NI, so payslip, ID and "TWO forms of proof of address e.g. utility bill, phone bill, bank statement etc which is dated within the last 6 months." - What can I bring for this other than a bank statement? Can I being another bank statement from a different bank account I have? Utility bills and phone bills aren't paid for from my name so I can't bring those and I don't know what else would be sufficient to bring.
Cheers
WirralWanderer
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They didn’t ask to see mine. I think I had to show my NI and proof off at the beginning and then my CV.
Diff
Member
Ok cheers both, hahaha they made a point on the email and said I wouldn’t sit the assessments without the letters and they didn’t even ask for them?
I have searched the forum @Mgv1349 I’ve found some info on them but I still don’t know which I’d prefer. I don’t actually understand the shift pattern for either at all, so I think it would fall down to that.
Cheers
Seejwalker
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Ok cheers both, hahaha they made a point on the email and said I wouldn’t sit the assessments without the letters and they didn’t even ask for them?
I have searched the forum @Mgv1349 I’ve found some info on them but I still don’t know which I’d prefer. I don’t actually understand the shift pattern for either at all, so I think it would fall down to that.
Cheers
Just take utility bills or a letter from a bank, i had to show mine for every stage.
As for IM or HH, my understanding is IM is a little better in work balance and HH is better for salary. If I'm wrong then I'm happy to be corrected but to keep it simple that's what I know.
It’s in the emails they send to invite candidates to stage 2 by default I think. I wasn’t asked for mine, although I recommend taking these items just in case. If the statements are from two banks I’d say that’s fair enough. I think I took a bank statement and a credit card statement? It’s only to verify your name/address details and as long as it’s two different companies it shouldn’t matter, as obtaining any bank account, as you’ll know, isn’t a walk in the park and often requires lots of diving through hoops!Ok cheers both, hahaha they made a point on the email and said I wouldn’t sit the assessments without the letters and they didn’t even ask for them?
I have searched the forum @Mgv1349 I’ve found some info on them but I still don’t know which I’d prefer. I don’t actually understand the shift pattern for either at all, so I think it would fall down to that.
Cheers
It all depends on your personal life really, I picked IM because I want to have the best work balance I can with my family, I think HH is a better wage but after booking on and overtime there isn’t much diffenrce I don’t think, if you want to know the benefits then search ASLEF in google and click company imformation and it will show you the different pay and benefits on thereOk cheers both, hahaha they made a point on the email and said I wouldn’t sit the assessments without the letters and they didn’t even ask for them?
I have searched the forum @Mgv1349 I’ve found some info on them but I still don’t know which I’d prefer. I don’t actually understand the shift pattern for either at all, so I think it would fall down to that.
Cheers
WirralWanderer
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- 28 Sep 2018
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Pretty much my angle as well. It’s a career I really want, the money is better than my current job and I want to still be able to spend quality time with my daughter. So I picked IM too
SP Man
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- 26 Aug 2018
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For Crewe the differences are
IM lower pensionable pay than HH but they get additional payments (booking on allowances, change of shift payments, etc). They will drive 08 (Trafford Park), 66, 70, 86 and 90s. Main routes are Garston, Trafford Park, Daventry and depending on link etc Carlisle, Peterbotough and Wembley. They have more of fixed roster and more weekends off.
HH - More pensionable money and is based on knocking down your allowed hours. Rest days are now additional payments. No fixed roster but booked banding (0001-0800, 0801-1600, 1601- 2359). Along with a fixed rest day pattern (currently have a small number of floating rest days but these may change in next pay deal). HH Crewe is a very flexible work mainly based around Infrastructure work. Also cover Coal, cement, steel, etc over a varied area. Crewe HH drivers also regularly do what is called Rail Services work (moving units and currently doing testing and commissioning on CAF TPE 68/mk5a and class 397s after just finishing 3 years of 387 work). Random drivers will have diverse route knowledge and diverse traction. Mainly it's 66/70, those that do the Daventry do 90s, some cover IM work so do 86s. A couple will do the 47 as well. If it's variety try HH, if you want more fixed try IM.
IM lower pensionable pay than HH but they get additional payments (booking on allowances, change of shift payments, etc). They will drive 08 (Trafford Park), 66, 70, 86 and 90s. Main routes are Garston, Trafford Park, Daventry and depending on link etc Carlisle, Peterbotough and Wembley. They have more of fixed roster and more weekends off.
HH - More pensionable money and is based on knocking down your allowed hours. Rest days are now additional payments. No fixed roster but booked banding (0001-0800, 0801-1600, 1601- 2359). Along with a fixed rest day pattern (currently have a small number of floating rest days but these may change in next pay deal). HH Crewe is a very flexible work mainly based around Infrastructure work. Also cover Coal, cement, steel, etc over a varied area. Crewe HH drivers also regularly do what is called Rail Services work (moving units and currently doing testing and commissioning on CAF TPE 68/mk5a and class 397s after just finishing 3 years of 387 work). Random drivers will have diverse route knowledge and diverse traction. Mainly it's 66/70, those that do the Daventry do 90s, some cover IM work so do 86s. A couple will do the 47 as well. If it's variety try HH, if you want more fixed try IM.
exactly why I why I'm happy with HH
Diff
Member
Cheers for the replies yeah I’ll take the 2 statements just in case, maybe dig out a letter from my car insurance just in case just as something else with my name and address on.
As for the work life balance, I agree and that’s what I hate about my current job. At the moment I’m on a permanent 6 on 2 off work shift working nights. I don’t have children but I will in the future, also I’m never off when my friends are so it’s a useless shift to be working at 23. A lot of the older guys here seem to love the 6/2 shift pattern.
I imagine whatever I choose will be better than what I’m doing now.
Cheers for that @Mgv1349, I’ll have a look for the company info now
yeah I’ll take the 2 statements just in case, maybe dig out a letter from my car insurance just in case just as something else with my name and address on. As for the work life balance, I agree and that’s what I hate about my current job. At the moment I’m on a permanent 6 on 2 off work shift working nights. I don’t have children but I will in the future, also I’m never off when my friends are so it’s a useless shift to be working at 23. A lot of the older guys here seem to love the 6/2 shift pattern.
I imagine whatever I choose will be better than what I’m doing now.
Cheers for that @Mgv1349, I’ll have a look for the company info now
WirralWanderer
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- 28 Sep 2018
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If I didn’t have children I’d probably have picked HH well not been as picky lolCheers for the replies
As for the work life balance, I agree and that’s what I hate about my current job. At the moment I’m on a permanent 6 on 2 off work shift working nights. I don’t have children but I will in the future, also I’m never off when my friends are so it’s a useless shift to be working at 23. A lot of the older guys here seem to love the 6/2 shift pattern.
I imagine whatever I choose will be better than what I’m doing now.
Cheers for that @Mgv1349, I’ll have a look for the company info now
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