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A career as a signaller

Tom Quinne

On Moderation
Joined
8 Jul 2017
Messages
2,225
Plenty of people reap the benefits of the Union. I know plenty of people who would also take RDW if a strike came to fruition. The same people who moan about the Union don’t mind that they have secured fantastic benefits, even more so during Covid-19 (current signallers will know all about this).

The job is well paid and garnished now but it wasn’t 30 years ago. I personally say don’t join the RMT unless you’re willing to one day have to give up a week or so wage for a strike should it happen.

Or 9 in my guard days - we won (of sorts though).
 
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RailUK Forums

Tom Quinne

On Moderation
Joined
8 Jul 2017
Messages
2,225
I have Just finished reading all 352 pages, starting off completely unaware of the complexities of the role to now being relatively confident going into my interview Thursday at Inverness Signalling Centre (Face to Face interestingly enough)for G4 relief. I consider myself very lucky to be offered an interview on my first application given the current climate.

This behemoth of a thread which probably deserves its own dedicate forum with different section has been extremely valuable. and has answered questions i didn't know i had. Thanks everyone.

I reckon you deserve the job just for ploughing through the thread!

Fair play to you, and best of luck!
 

Kraken

Member
Joined
22 Mar 2020
Messages
247
Location
Lincolnshire
I have Just finished reading all 352 pages, starting off completely unaware of the complexities of the role to now being relatively confident going into my interview Thursday at Inverness Signalling Centre (Face to Face interestingly enough)for G4 relief. I consider myself very lucky to be offered an interview on my first application given the current climate.

This behemoth of a thread which probably deserves its own dedicate forum with different section has been extremely valuable. and has answered questions i didn't know i had. Thanks everyone.

Best of luck with your interview!
 

amanda08

Guest
Joined
19 Oct 2019
Messages
304
Does anyone know how quickly you have access to a nwr email account? I’m relocating for my position and am in the process of renting a house. HR will only provide the reference from my start date (understandably) and if I authorise them to do it, from my nwr email address. I’m on 3 days Induction with my LOM next week, then two days apprenticeship induction in Leeds, then start the actual training. I’m worried I’m going to lose the house if I can’t get the reference quickly enough. Are you able to access your email in Leeds? Is it set up right away?
Thanks to anyone that may be able to let me know
 

Gallius

Member
Joined
10 Nov 2019
Messages
91
Location
Uk
Does anyone know how quickly you have access to a nwr email account? I’m relocating for my position and am in the process of renting a house. HR will only provide the reference from my start date (understandably) and if I authorise them to do it, from my nwr email address. I’m on 3 days Induction with my LOM next week, then two days apprenticeship induction in Leeds, then start the actual training. I’m worried I’m going to lose the house if I can’t get the reference quickly enough. Are you able to access your email in Leeds? Is it set up right away?
Thanks to anyone that may be able to let me know
I'm going to be in a similar position so I'll be interested to know how you resolve it. Can your LOM give the reference or does it have to be done through HR? I'm considering not relocating until towards the end of training and just booking a hotel for my induction week based on complications such as these.
 

amanda08

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Joined
19 Oct 2019
Messages
304
I'm going to be in a similar position so I'll be interested to know how you resolve it. Can your LOM give the reference or does it have to be done through HR? I'm considering not relocating until towards the end of training and just booking a hotel for my induction week based on complications such as these.
Has to come from HR. My son starts college in September so I need to move so he can get settled, otherwise I’d probably wait too. I’ve already lost one house due to not being able to get the reference so I’m really hoping to sort it this time!
 

Gallius

Member
Joined
10 Nov 2019
Messages
91
Location
Uk
Has to come from HR. My son starts college in September so I need to move so he can get settled, otherwise I’d probably wait too. I’ve already lost one house due to not being able to get the reference so I’m really hoping to sort it this time!
That's a shame, I hope you manage to get it sorted!
 

Sammy2019

Member
Joined
22 Sep 2019
Messages
139
Location
Essex
Sorry if this is the wrong place. I’ve been applying for all signaller jobs on the network rail website, i am still waiting a response on Most of these. I have seen an operative role just down the road from me which I am very interested in.

Would applying for an operative role affect my chances of becoming a signaller? As network rail can see what jobs I am applying for.
 

danners430

Member
Joined
2 Dec 2016
Messages
75
Location
Caledonia
Sorry if this is the wrong place. I’ve been applying for all signaller jobs on the network rail website, i am still waiting a response on Most of these. I have seen an operative role just down the road from me which I am very interested in.

Would applying for an operative role affect my chances of becoming a signaller? As network rail can see what jobs I am applying for.

I highly doubt it - it would make perfect sense to have a backup plan in case you don't make the grade, especially as signalling recruitment is highly competitive.

Also, don't be disheartened that you haven't had a response - most of my applications have been in the works for months before I get a rejection or otherwise...
 

LOM

Member
Joined
26 Dec 2019
Messages
405
Location
Been and gone.
Does anyone know how quickly you have access to a nwr email account? I’m relocating for my position and am in the process of renting a house. HR will only provide the reference from my start date (understandably) and if I authorise them to do it, from my nwr email address. I’m on 3 days Induction with my LOM next week, then two days apprenticeship induction in Leeds, then start the actual training. I’m worried I’m going to lose the house if I can’t get the reference quickly enough. Are you able to access your email in Leeds? Is it set up right away?
Thanks to anyone that may be able to let me know

Your LOM needs to request an account for you and that cannot be done until you have a pay number. Speak to your LOM about it.
 

Sammy2019

Member
Joined
22 Sep 2019
Messages
139
Location
Essex
I highly doubt it - it would make perfect sense to have a backup plan in case you don't make the grade, especially as signalling recruitment is highly competitive.

Also, don't be disheartened that you haven't had a response - most of my applications have been in the works for months before I get a rejection or otherwise...

thanks for your quick reply. Yes seems very competitive, but operative does seem like a good role. Just didn’t want to fire lots of applicationS across to network rail if this was frowned upon.
 

amanda08

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Joined
19 Oct 2019
Messages
304
Your LOM needs to request an account for you and that cannot be done until you have a pay number. Speak to your LOM about it.
Thanks
My LOM is on AL till Monday so will have to wait till then. Is the pay number the same as employee number (which I already have)? I'm hoping there may be chance to sort it on Monday as I have to report to Leicester PSB. (but I'm aware I may be considered a giant pain the backside if I ask for this on my first day!)
 

LOM

Member
Joined
26 Dec 2019
Messages
405
Location
Been and gone.
Thanks
My LOM is on AL till Monday so will have to wait till then. Is the pay number the same as employee number (which I already have)? I'm hoping there may be chance to sort it on Monday as I have to report to Leicester PSB. (but I'm aware I may be considered a giant pain the backside if I ask for this on my first day!)
Yes, employee number/pay number. Your LOM has probably already applied for your account as it is part of the on-boarding process to do this in good time so it is ready for your first day.
 

Tigerned371

Member
Joined
8 Jul 2020
Messages
34
Location
Lincolnshire
A bit off topic but just wondering if anyone on here has used the cycle to work scheme through Network Rail. If so which level of the scheme is it? I will be looking to take advantage of the scheme but can’t look at bikes until I know how much I can spend haha. TIA
 

Rockhopper

Member
Joined
29 Apr 2019
Messages
736
£1000 but you may have to work for a qualifying period before they'll let you join the scheme (six months?). Good luck getting anything decent at the moment though!
 

Tigerned371

Member
Joined
8 Jul 2020
Messages
34
Location
Lincolnshire
£1000 but you may have to work for a qualifying period before they'll let you join the scheme (six months?). Good luck getting anything decent at the moment though!
Will I be able to top it up for a bike over 1k? Your right about being difficult to get a decent one, my local bike store have hardly got any stock as their sales during Covid have been 220%!
 

Rockhopper

Member
Joined
29 Apr 2019
Messages
736
You might need to talk to the shop about that. To be honest you can often get a better deal by buying it yourself these days unless you can’t afford to. The scheme costs the shop money so they can’t discount as much.
 

amanda08

Guest
Joined
19 Oct 2019
Messages
304
Yes, employee number/pay number. Your LOM has probably already applied for your account as it is part of the on-boarding process to do this in good time so it is ready for your first day.
Sounds like I’ll be ok then, thank you
edit
HR says they’ll accept an email from my private ema if need be so I should be sorted
 

Sanatogen

Member
Joined
27 Feb 2013
Messages
108
I can’t speak for everywhere in signalling land, but having gained promotion many many years back (it was still called Railtrack back then) from a single manned grade 5 signalbox to a multi person grade 9 signalling centre. The middle grade signalboxes are definitely prized positions, high enough that the workload and pay is good enough to keep most people happy and low enough that you keep out the multi signallers mad houses that comes with working in signalling centres.

this, you can earn a very good wage and have a relatively quiet life in some locations.

doesn’t apply to all mid grade positions obviously.
 

Sanatogen

Member
Joined
27 Feb 2013
Messages
108
Hi anyone applied for the signaller roles in Birmingham? I’ve applied and passed the benchmark on the test. But it’s gone very quiet. Does that usually mean I’ve missed out this time

don’t mean to put a dampener on things for you but apart from NR being notoriously slow I was talking to a LOM today and they are getting 170+ plus applicants atm, he’s having to put aside a lot of time to go through them all.
 

Defenestrate

Member
Joined
6 Aug 2019
Messages
130
Does anyone know how quickly you have access to a nwr email account? I’m relocating for my position and am in the process of renting a house. HR will only provide the reference from my start date (understandably) and if I authorise them to do it, from my nwr email address. I’m on 3 days Induction with my LOM next week, then two days apprenticeship induction in Leeds, then start the actual training. I’m worried I’m going to lose the house if I can’t get the reference quickly enough. Are you able to access your email in Leeds? Is it set up right away?
Thanks to anyone that may be able to let me know

I moved house recently, but had no idea about the HR contact details for any reference. So, I asked my LOM about who in HR that I should get in touch with, and he provided me with the reference himself - never contacted HR at all!
Suppose it may be different depending on the circumstances, letting agency, mortgage etc etc.
I think they just want an official email address to tick a box...or is that a little too cynical?!
 

LAX54

Established Member
Joined
15 Jan 2008
Messages
3,754
I moved house recently, but had no idea about the HR contact details for any reference. So, I asked my LOM about who in HR that I should get in touch with, and he provided me with the reference himself - never contacted HR at all!
Suppose it may be different depending on the circumstances, letting agency, mortgage etc etc.
I think they just want an official email address to tick a box...or is that a little too cynical?!

I think giving your LOM as reference/address is a good idea, it is a method staff have used here (Colchester) for various things, although Mortgages I think have to go via HR/Pay Office for obvious reasons, also the LOM will answer a lot quicker than HR
 

amanda08

Guest
Joined
19 Oct 2019
Messages
304
I moved house recently, but had no idea about the HR contact details for any reference. So, I asked my LOM about who in HR that I should get in touch with, and he provided me with the reference himself - never contacted HR at all!
Suppose it may be different depending on the circumstances, letting agency, mortgage etc etc.
I think they just want an official email address to tick a box...or is that a little too cynical?!
I’d asked my LOM the same question but was told I’d have to go through HR. Maybe because I’m a new starter?
Bit of a pain as I ended up losing the house and now I’m going to have move whilst training in York so that’s going to be fun lol. But hopefully next time I move, I’ll be buying, so this should be a one time only issue.
And to be fair to HR, they have been very friendly in dealing with me and have responded to my emails within a few hours each time. I just hit the brick wall of no reference being done, prior to my start date.
 

Katey89

Member
Joined
16 Jul 2020
Messages
29
Location
London
Hello everyone!
Just signed up although been reading through these posts for a while now.
Just wanted to say thank you for all of your outstanding advice!
I’ve applied for a grade 9 at Liverpool St, I’ve so far passed all of the tests (SJT, verbal and numerical reasoning etc) and my application is now still under consideration!
How competitive is this type of role?
Thanks, Katey :)
 

Gallius

Member
Joined
10 Nov 2019
Messages
91
Location
Uk
I’d asked my LOM the same question but was told I’d have to go through HR. Maybe because I’m a new starter?
Bit of a pain as I ended up losing the house and now I’m going to have move whilst training in York so that’s going to be fun lol. But hopefully next time I move, I’ll be buying, so this should be a one time only issue.
And to be fair to HR, they have been very friendly in dealing with me and have responded to my emails within a few hours each time. I just hit the brick wall of no reference being done, prior to my start date.
I'm assuming the agency/landlord wouldn't accept a copy of your contract and email confirmation of your start date?
 

Rockhopper

Member
Joined
29 Apr 2019
Messages
736
Hello everyone!
Just signed up although been reading through these posts for a while now.
Just wanted to say thank you for all of your outstanding advice!
I’ve applied for a grade 9 at Liverpool St, I’ve so far passed all of the tests (SJT, verbal and numerical reasoning etc) and my application is now still under consideration!
How competitive is this type of role?
Thanks, Katey :)

Very - expect close to two hundred other applications and you won't be far wrong!
 

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