scotrail jobs

littleyogi · 4 May 2010

hi i'm currently a driver for southeastern in London and am interested in relocating to Scotland.
can anyone tell me the size of the depot at Dumfries and how often jobs come up at this location.
also are there any other depots in that area? i read somewhere there was a depot at Stranaer is that true?
thanks for your help
littleyogi

RailUK Forums

CarterUSM · 4 May 2010

Dumfries has about 17 drivers, you've just missed a few posts there, though keep your eyes peeled for more. Stranraer is a tiny depot, only 4 drivers I think, you'll be waiting years for one of them to come up! Ayr depot is not too far away, about forty or fifty miles, it is a larger depot with not to far off 100 drivers, after that your more or less looking at the central belt and smaller northern depots.

littleyogi · 4 May 2010

so the best bet would be Ayr?

CarterUSM · 4 May 2010

Obviously the numbers give you a better chance, though some drivers from falkland yard in ayr who have been made redundant from DB schenker are coming to ScotRail so they will no doubt fill some vacancies. That is more or less your lot depot wise for that part of the country. Is that general area your preference? I've heard a rumour that Cross country are looking for drivers, around 6 iwas told, but that would be Edinburgh, which if living costs are an issue, isn't that much less expensive than down south . Don't forget Carlisle is also a depot for other TOC's, which isn't too far from Dumfries. No idea of any compliment though.

ivor1000 · 7 May 2010

I have just applied for a trainee conductor at Dumfries. I take it you work for Scotrail CarterUSM, and was wondering if there is scope to progress to trainee driver from conductor? Some companies do not promote guards to trainee drivers, but prefer to recruit from outside. Are Scotrail likely to promote from within and if so what is the usual timespan?

ianthescot · 8 May 2010

ivor1000 said:
I have just applied for a trainee conductor at Dumfries. I take it you work for Scotrail CarterUSM, and was wondering if there is scope to progress to trainee driver from conductor? Some companies do not promote guards to trainee drivers, but prefer to recruit from outside. Are Scotrail likely to promote from within and if so what is the usual timespan?

I've just passed out as a driver and our training class had 3 ex conductors, 1 station staff and 4 from "off the street". Scotrail tend to do both.

CarterUSM · 8 May 2010

ivor1000 said:
I have just applied for a trainee conductor at Dumfries. I take it you work for Scotrail CarterUSM, and was wondering if there is scope to progress to trainee driver from conductor? Some companies do not promote guards to trainee drivers, but prefer to recruit from outside. Are Scotrail likely to promote from within and if so what is the usual timespan?

Yes there certainly is scope as ian has said, as long as you do your job well and keep your nose clean the sky is the limit, however, your opportunities for progression at Dumfries would be slightly more limited due to depot size compared to say, Motherwell, Ayr or Waverley. Best of British with your application too.

Albert · 8 May 2010

Hello CarterUSM

Thanks for the PM. I would, if I am succesful in getting the position at Dumfries, possibly consider becoming a trainee driver also at some stage. I would certainly relocate if I had to.

Is there a certain length of service I would have to complete before applying for a position, or doesn't it matter if Scotrail recruit from 'off the street' anyway?

Do you know of any forthcoming trainee driver vacancies?

CarterUSM · 8 May 2010

No bother mate. You will have to work through your probationary period of six months after you pass out, so you are looking at about a year with training taken into account. Trainee driver positions come up reasonably frequently, but I do not think there will be mass intakes as per the last couple of years. If the Glasgow Airport link was re-instated, which for the long term could be a viable viewpoint considering all the preparatory work is being done up to paisley regardless, then there may be a large group employed then however. That is conjecture on my part though.

You will no doubt have your chance all the same. There were a few vacancies for trainees the past few months, but none since. Get the internal vacancy list e-mailed to you if you are successful and you will see the posts advertised.

Albert · 8 May 2010

Thank you once again Carter. Are you a driver or conductor? Do you fancy trying for driver grade if not already one?

CarterUSM · 8 May 2010

I'm a conductor Albert, and I was a ticket examiner before that some years ago. I like my job, but it's time to move on I think, the grade seems to be goosed unfortunately. I was always happy with my position, but scotrail, the scottish executive and Aslef have buried us.

driving was never an ambition of mine, but I think it's going to be the next step for me now. I don't fancy being a ticket examiner again, ringfenced pay and conditions or not.

Bittern · 8 May 2010

CarterUSM said:
I'm a conductor Albert, and I was a ticket examiner before that some years ago. I like my job, but it's time to move on I think, the grade seems to be goosed unfortunately. I was always happy with my position, but scotrail, the scottish executive and Aslef have buried us. driving was never an ambition of mine, but I think it's going to be the next step for me now. I don't fancy being a ticket examiner again, ringfenced pay and conditions or not.

What route(s) do you do? If you're near Glasgow, you've probably seen my ticket quite a few times.

CarterUSM · 8 May 2010

I probably have checked it at some point

Gazscotland · 22 Jun 2010

ivor1000 said:
I have just applied for a trainee conductor at Dumfries. I take it you work for Scotrail CarterUSM, and was wondering if there is scope to progress to trainee driver from conductor? Some companies do not promote guards to trainee drivers, but prefer to recruit from outside. Are Scotrail likely to promote from within and if so what is the usual timespan?

Hi m8
How did your application go for the post at Dumfries ? My application status still states awaiting shortlisting for this post but im led to believe interviews took place a month ago

me123 · 22 Jun 2010

CarterUSM said:
I probably have checked it at some point

If you do Whifflet, you've probably seen me. I think I can recognise just about every guard that does the Whifflets now.

Bittern · 22 Jun 2010

me123 said:
If you do Whifflet, you've probably seen me. I think I can recognise just about every guard that does the Whifflets now.

I love that wee journey. Pity the connecting times at Whifflet for the Motherwell 156 are extremely long, though.

CarterUSM · 22 Jun 2010

Bittern said:
I love that wee journey. Pity the connecting times at Whifflet for the Motherwell 156 are extremely long, though.

Whifflets are smashing, shame about the wait as you say, though if you get the xx46 then you should only wait 5-10 min for Motherwell service. It can be a little tight the other way for Cumbernauld, coming off the xx16 but 'do-able'.

Bittern · 22 Jun 2010

Yeah I did that last week for the Cumbernauld one. I had just got on the Cumbernauld-bound platform when the train arrived. Great timing.

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