• 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!

Shunter/depot driver to Mainline

Status
Not open for further replies.

Nevergiveup

Member
Joined
19 Jun 2019
Messages
254
What are the chances of moving into mainline from depot/shunter?
I’m considering applying for depot/shunter just to get some experience and get into railway..
have applied to few trainee train driver roles but haven’t heard anything back!
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

heedfan

Member
Joined
4 Oct 2017
Messages
277
Depends on the TOC for specifics really but on the whole it is an established route into mainline driving, once you haves served your time on the depot.
 

Tooktook

Member
Joined
18 Feb 2015
Messages
83
Location
Japan
Apparently with C2c it’s quite good.

There used to be a automatic progression.

But now you do a years service and can apply when the role is advertised. I’ve been told they use a suitability test to determine who goes forward.

Ie a exam with a bit of rules and traction.

From what I’ve heard C2c have out a lot of shunters through the driving course recently.
 

Nevergiveup

Member
Joined
19 Jun 2019
Messages
254
Thanks guys much appreciated, are the assessments same for both shunter/depot and mainline?
 

Tooktook

Member
Joined
18 Feb 2015
Messages
83
Location
Japan
I only have knowledge of C2c. But yes they are the same.

I don’t know if there are any C2c shunters on here who have gone mainline ? But there used to be a question over whether enhanced passes only were needed for progression to mainline . But I believe they’ve relaxed that too.
 

Nevergiveup

Member
Joined
19 Jun 2019
Messages
254
That’s great, thanks a lot for the information! I’ll apply to c2c and hopefully get through assessment stages
 

jimfrst

Member
Joined
10 Oct 2016
Messages
72
I only have knowledge of C2c. But yes they are the same.

I don’t know if there are any C2c shunters on here who have gone mainline ? But there used to be a question over whether enhanced passes only were needed for progression to mainline . But I believe they’ve relaxed that too.
c2c used to only accept enhanced pass when the role was depot driver and it was automatic progression when you got to the top of the list. Now the time has been renamed to shunt driver you have to apply the same as every other shunt driver at the depot. Lots of shunt drivers are progressing at the moment. With more courses planned in the future.
 

Lewis H

Member
Joined
11 Dec 2018
Messages
146
I applied for a Shunter role and when they asked me for my long term goals, I said that in the future I wanted to go onto mainline, they didnt like that, so maybe keep that to yourself during the interview process! Keep plugging away at the trainee driver roles though!
 

Stigy

Established Member
Joined
6 Nov 2009
Messages
4,879
I applied for a Shunter role and when they asked me for my long term goals, I said that in the future I wanted to go onto mainline, they didnt like that, so maybe keep that to yourself during the interview process! Keep plugging away at the trainee driver roles though!
Unless the role is meant to be a stepping stone to mainline driving I’d definitely not mention that being the longterm goal. They want people who will be value for money. People to train up and stick around, otherwise they’ve wasted their time and money.
 

tunde

Member
Joined
24 Feb 2015
Messages
41
I am currently being offered the Shunter role at one of GTR depo, does anyone knows the roster like, how many Nights and off. And how many days and the time. Please.
 

Firestarter

Member
Joined
15 Sep 2009
Messages
542
I am currently being offered the Shunter role at one of GTR depo, does anyone knows the roster like, how many Nights and off. And how many days and the time. Please.

I presume shunter only not Shunter Driver?

What location?
 

Nevergiveup

Member
Joined
19 Jun 2019
Messages
254
Did they not offer you shunter role because of long term goal?

I applied for a Shunter role and when they asked me for my long term goals, I said that in the future I wanted to go onto mainline, they didnt like that, so maybe keep that to yourself during the interview process! Keep plugging away at the trainee driver roles though!
 

Dynamonic

Member
Joined
10 Jan 2013
Messages
648
Location
Nottinghamshire
East Midlands Trains also use a progression system for their Nottingham and Derby based Drivers.
To become a Mainline Driver at these locations, you start out as a Depot Driver, where you are given full Mainline Rules training and after an average of about 18 months doing depot work, (depending on need) you’ll get the chance to apply to move onto the Mainline.
 

Lewis H

Member
Joined
11 Dec 2018
Messages
146
I see, so what happened then? Didn’t get the job?
No didnt get the job, luckily I was offered a Trainee Driver role with a different TOC! I think a few companies see it as natural progression, Greater Anglia etc. However others want Shunters to stay that way, as mentioned above, cost of training etc.
 

Nevergiveup

Member
Joined
19 Jun 2019
Messages
254
Yeah that’s understandable, Glad you got it elsewhere, I’ve applied to few trainee driver roles so hopefully hear from one of them soon.. unfortunately failed on first hurdle with SWR lol
No didnt get the job, luckily I was offered a Trainee Driver role with a different TOC! I think a few companies see it as natural progression, Greater Anglia etc. However others want Shunters to stay that way, as mentioned above, cost of training etc.
 
Joined
13 Jun 2019
Messages
191
Afternoon.. Any current mainline driver on her please
What is the current salary for East Midlands and pay rise soon?
Aslef website info is not correct currently
Thanks
 
Last edited:

Choochoo0001

Member
Joined
28 Jun 2019
Messages
28
East Midlands Trains also use a progression system for their Nottingham and Derby based Drivers.
To become a Mainline Driver at these locations, you start out as a Depot Driver, where you are given full Mainline Rules training and after an average of about 18 months doing depot work, (depending on need) you’ll get the chance to apply to move onto the Mainline.

Do you know if they ever take on qualified drivers directly at these depots? Been weighing up a move in this direction, but can’t seem to find any history of them taking on qualified drivers....
 

Dynamonic

Member
Joined
10 Jan 2013
Messages
648
Location
Nottinghamshire
Do you know if they ever take on qualified drivers directly at these depots? Been weighing up a move in this direction, but can’t seem to find any history of them taking on qualified drivers....

I’ve seen the odd one or two qualified vacancies for Derby in recent years, but not for Nottingham. These vacancies certainly don’t appear often for either depot as there is an abundance of Depot Drivers working their way up into the roles. (You might observe that there’s some Derby mainline vacancies open at the moment for currently serving Depot Drivers.)
Obviously, with Abellio taking over on Sunday there’s every chance there may be changes in the future but there’s no news about any as of yet. The current system seems to work well for EMT so it may well go unchanged with the new franchise.
 
Last edited:

Choochoo0001

Member
Joined
28 Jun 2019
Messages
28
I’ve seen the odd one or two qualified vacancies for Derby in recent years, but not for Nottingham. These vacancies certainly don’t appear often for either depot as there is an abundance of Depot Drivers working there way up into the roles. (You might observe that there’s some Derby mainline vacancies open at the moment for currently serving Depot Drivers.)
Obviously, with Abellio taking over on Sunday there’s every chance there may be changes in the future but there’s no news about any as of yet. The current system seems to work well for EMT so it may well go unchanged with the new franchise.

Thanks for the heads up. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and my eyes peeled.

I plan to move (family issues) from London, where I am based at the moment with one TOC, to pretty much in the middle of both Derby and Notts. Easy commute within an hour to either location, so would really be interested in a move to either depot!

Don’t fancy leaving the industry altogether and it seems increasingly unlikely that remaining in London is an option!
 

Amanda

Member
Joined
5 Mar 2018
Messages
197
The one thing I have noticed is that although East Midlands Trains only advertise internally for mainline drivers based at Derby, they do advertise externally for drivers at St Pancras.
 

Daz1310

Member
Joined
29 Oct 2018
Messages
43
Hi Re c2c I dont no if anyone can help

I'm waiting on my DMI just wanted to no the shift pattern that they work

And also what a shunter DMI is like? Same as mainline?
 

strangemonk

Member
Joined
10 Jun 2019
Messages
61
Apparently with C2c it’s quite good.

There used to be a automatic progression.

But now you do a years service and can apply when the role is advertised. I’ve been told they use a suitability test to determine who goes forward.

Ie a exam with a bit of rules and traction.

From what I’ve heard C2c have out a lot of shunters through the driving course recently.

C2C wanted shunters for East Ham but I’m waiting for shoeburyness.
 
Last edited:

Daz1310

Member
Joined
29 Oct 2018
Messages
43
C2C wanted shunters for East Ham but I’m waiting for shoeburyness. Depot driving to me is better alright less pay but no fatalities no grief from moaning passengers no track/signal failures etc I’m a guard at the moment passed assessments to enhanced awaiting for trainee vacancies
Are you waiting on your dmi?
 

jimfrst

Member
Joined
10 Oct 2016
Messages
72
C2C wanted shunters for East Ham but I’m waiting for shoeburyness. Depot driving to me is better alright less pay but no fatalities no grief from moaning passengers no track/signal failures etc I’m a guard at the moment passed assessments to enhanced awaiting for trainee vacancies
At Shoeburyness shunt drivers take trains from the platforms into the yard so you will encounter passengers moaning if there are delays or cancellations. And could encounter track / signal failures as well. Most new starters have been sent to East Ham recently and been told to apply for transfer to Shoebury once all their assessments have been passed. Think all have transferred now so don’t think there’s any on the list at the moment but there are I think 12 new shunters in training so some of them may want to transfer to Shoebury.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top