Easiest depot in the world that ... don’t even work for a living
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Suggestions for qualified driver relocating
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In my case metro work was just 4Christmas, rather than 4life
. It’s an interesting question, though, what is the pinnacle of train driving?! Not sure of the answer myself (apologies this is slightly off topic).Joking aside having done both metro and mainline intercity type work I have nothing but respect for metro drivers. At my depot it would take drivers ten years, or more, to stop at as many stations as a typical metro driver stops at in one year.
Some of the skills involved are different. Mainline work involves a lot of time in the chair, maintaining concentration for long periods of time when you aren’t doing very much, just driving to the speeds and running on greens, and it’s easy for your mind to wander. Then before you know it you’ve triggered an overspeed grid or flown through a booked station. Things can happen very fast and you need to remain alert and maintain situational awareness at all times - easier said that done when you can leave London and then not stop for an hour or so.
The good side of it (for me at least) is that it’s satisfying actually driving, covering large distances, handling the train smoothly, using the gradients to slow for speed restrictions etc. It’s enjoyable whizzing passed the traffic on the motorway, watching the weather and scenery changing over long distances. Then you finish your journey in a totally different area of the country where people speak with funny northern accents.
Metro is a lot more intense, constantly running on cautionary aspects, dealing with different train lengths etc., staring into DOO monitors every 2 minutes. I would say metro is a good grounding for mainline work as you can (hopefully) rapidly acquire good non technical skills which are relevant to both disciplines of driving.
The grind of metro work can take its toll. Changing ends every 45 mins, 8-10 trips per shift, 100+ stops etc. is far, far more draining than (max) four much longer trips per shift, only stopping at 8 - 20 stops. Much as I can respect the skills required, it wouldn’t have been for me longer term.
I reckon metro drivers adjust to intercity type work much better than someone who started intercity type driving would adjust to metro. Although interestingly some metro drivers do struggle to make the transition.
Overall it’s horses for courses. One things for sure when I hear people moaning about a diagram with 15 stops, I just think back to the type of work I used to do! That helps me retain a sense of perspective.
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I've done a little bit of all. Intense/Light Metro, Mainline fast to London, 100mph heading Northwards with 2hrs in the chair etc. I've been lucky at my depot with routes and traction; although, I just missed out on ATO
A lot of what you say is true. Different styles, different skills and very much each to their own. I get excited when I see two greens in a row but when I'm coasting at 70mph and the AWS is going bing, bing, bing, I do tend to wander off. Metro certainly makes you appreciate the mainline stuff.
The only thing I'd really want if I changed depots (keeping on topic for a second) Is a Guard. Some of the Drivers who have left, left because its DOO and that where they have Guards, they remark how different their day is. A few of our Trainees who worked at other depots with Guards also say how different it is. A priority, for me, if I ever moved TOCs, would be to avoid DOO like the plague.
Having a guard is definitely a plus, when I was a trainee I did the occasional trip with a DI on a route which had guards, very nice indeed. From the dispatch point of view it's handy but it's also for keeping the passengers happy, I think it's also less tiresome and having the extra energy for the driving task can't be a bad thing. We did however once have someone demanding we get in front of the stopping service prior to a particular stop, when we didn't we said he "couldn't wait for us to be privatised". I didn't bother to point out to him it had been that way for twenty years...
I wouldn't touch DOO/DCO with a bargepole if I were to consider a move. I've heard one or two rumours that certain places want to bring DCO in with the IETs (well, one already has) and quite why the drivers would want to sell it as a condition baffles me, especially when most of the IET drivers are £60k+ outside of London anyway.
We could add the AWS to the list:
I wouldn't touch DOO/DCO with a bargepole if I were to consider a move. I've heard one or two rumours that certain places want to bring DCO in with the IETs (well, one already has) and quite why the drivers would want to sell it as a condition baffles me, especially when most of the IET drivers are £60k+ outside of London anyway.
We could add the AWS to the list:
craigybagel
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Which thread is that, as a matter of interest? I'd not noticed it.
Do Oban just sign Glasgow and back? I've holidayed up there and occasionally day dreamed about a transfer but I bet the winters are hard work!
Currently recruiting for qualifieds at Cardiff (which will almost certainly be the Valleys) and Carmarthen - the latter has a stunning route card and already has a load of people who've transferred in from England so you wouldn't be alone!
IIRC only the senior of two links at Skipton go up the S&C. As a new driver there most of your work would be on the dreaded triangle: all stops to Leeds Bradford and Ilkley. Other then the fact it has a guard it's not really much better then what you'd get in London!
SlimJim1694
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craigybagel
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Thanks, hadn't noticed that one at all.
Yeah I get the work might not be the best but being able to live up in the yorkshire Dale's or close would be fantastic.
We holiday there every year and love it.
Not the case at all - simply due to service enhancements, which have been significant over the past year, and more to come this year.
Lots of places seem to be short of drivers at the moment, to be fair it's probably a great time to be considering a move with plenty of options out there.
If a place is recruiting trainees, is it worth the OP contacting the TOC in question and asking if they'd consider a qualified move? I know there's some TOCs which don't seem to openly advertise for qualified drivers.
If a place is recruiting trainees, is it worth the OP contacting the TOC in question and asking if they'd consider a qualified move? I know there's some TOCs which don't seem to openly advertise for qualified drivers.
SlimJim1694
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Just having a look around today and see TPE are advertising. Manchester or Preston stand out.
SlimJim1694
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I remember an instructor from Gill went up there
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