• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Do you choose what you drive?

Status
Not open for further replies.

GodAtum

On Moderation
Joined
11 Dec 2009
Messages
2,637
I'm a huge Microsoft Train Simulator nerd and am quite fussy with what I would want to drive in I was a train driver! Would hate to work on pacers, but would love to drive a class 800 for FGW.

Are members fussy enough to move to their favourite TOC or just what is available?
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

Inamberclad

Member
Joined
23 Mar 2017
Messages
70
After being in the talent pool for ~ 20 months I'd just like to drive a train at this point!
 

Eccles1983

On Moderation
Joined
4 Sep 2016
Messages
841
I sign 9 types of traction.

The only time I am bothered about what I drive is leaf fall. The rest of the time it is irrelevant.

But to answer your question, no. You get what's given.
 

Trainguy90

Member
Joined
8 Sep 2016
Messages
109
Location
London
I can imagine drivers consider the traction when thinking of making a possible move, but I doubt many would use it as the main reason. However having only driven 66’s myself it’s always refreshing to sit in a clean, quite and air conditioned cab when out route learning
 

Aivilo

Member
Joined
15 Jan 2014
Messages
646
Location
Surrey
Ive driven a reasonable amount of different stock. Each traction have their unique quirks and whilst something like 377 is same and comfortable id prefer rattling around in something old like a 455.
 

Shaw S Hunter

Established Member
Joined
21 Apr 2016
Messages
2,951
Location
Sunny South Lancs
I can imagine drivers consider the traction when thinking of making a possible move, but I doubt many would use it as the main reason. However having only driven 66’s myself it’s always refreshing to sit in a clean, quite and air conditioned cab when out route learning

A few years back TPE had a major recruitment drive which resulted in them gaining quite a few drivers from Northern. Nearly all of these transferees mentioned not having to drive any more 142s as a significant factor in making the decision to move TOC.
 

Bennski

Member
Joined
10 Apr 2018
Messages
82
Makes you wonder which TOC has the most types of traction in their fleet across the UK... I would imagine ScotRail would be up there.
 

Bennski

Member
Joined
10 Apr 2018
Messages
82
Makes you wonder which TOC has the most types of traction in their fleet across the UK...
 

Val3ntine

Member
Joined
29 Apr 2015
Messages
376
Location
London
Funniest thing is you don’t actually know what you would like to drive until you actually drive them. For example when applying to my TOC I was so excited at the prospect of driving the great looking 707 stock, however the idea of 455/456 didn’t appeal to me much. Now tables have massively turned and I so much prefer driving 455 stock to 707s. Each stock has such different characteristics that you just won’t know.

As Big All said above variety is great, even a stock you really hate driving is nice to drive after driving different ones. However a TOC with say only 1 traction to sign (are there any?), if a driver realllyyy did not like that stock I’d dare to think perhaps that’s a reason they may want to move, but even then it would’t be for a reason like they just don’t like driving it but perhaps that stock has no air con and the driver is dreading yet another heatwave. Drivers moving TOCS are usually to do with location, terms and conditions, salary etc. What stock they will be driving is usually bottom of the list if even on the list at all.
 

yorkie

Forum Staff
Staff Member
Administrator
Joined
6 Jun 2005
Messages
67,808
Location
Yorkshire
There are examples of people moving to particular operators or depots in order to drive particular types of trains. For example a member of this forum transferred to the Metropolitan Line in order to drive A stock before they went.

Similarly I've heard of maintenance staff switching jobs because of a change in traction at their original TOC.
 

BTU

Member
Joined
13 Jan 2016
Messages
247
Ive driven a reasonable amount of different stock. Each traction have their unique quirks and whilst something like 377 is same and comfortable id prefer rattling around in something old like a 455.
Clearly you work for Southern.
 

WrongRoad

Member
Joined
3 Nov 2017
Messages
78
Makes you wonder which TOC has the most types of traction in their fleet across the UK... I would imagine ScotRail would be up there.

Probably South Western Railway.
Class 455, 456,458,450,444,707,158. I expect the 701’s will be also running with them for a while as they start to replace the 455,456,458’s
 

driver9000

Established Member
Joined
13 Jan 2008
Messages
4,246
I sign 2 types and predominantly drive 1 of them. At the start of my career it was about getting my keys and experience. I wasn't fussed about what I signed although I'm glad I worked BR era stock. When I moved TOCs I moved because the depot is closer to home and the work appealed to me over the traction.
 

GodAtum

On Moderation
Joined
11 Dec 2009
Messages
2,637
I can only speak as a passenger ... if I was a driver I'd like to drive what I like to travel in lol. And the more removed from dealing with passengers the better, so a high speed train with a train manager is ideal!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top