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A career as a signaller

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Horizon22

Established Member
Associate Staff
Jobs & Careers
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8 Sep 2019
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7,443
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London
If we can keep speculation to a minimum please. I am sure this will be discussed in detail in a dedicated thread once/if a pay offer is made.
 

HamSandwich

Member
Joined
19 May 2020
Messages
68
Location
Earth
When you move to a new signalling position, I'm sure it always used to be that whilst training you would be paid at one grade below the job, e.g. if it was a grade 3 box you'd be paid grade 2 pay until you pass out. I'm moving from grade 1 (I've already completed IST) to grade 3 and in my offer it stated the following:

"While training, you will be paid on the basis of either the rate of pay and allowances associated with your previous position, or your previous basic rate of pay and the new allowances, whichever is the greater. Following completion of the training, flexibility premium will be paid at the appropriate rate for the role."

I take it this means I'll still be on my grade 1 pay as it's not a relief job so no allowances will apply (night shift, Sundays etc as training is Mon - Fri 9-5) so I'll be worse off?

Is this the same across England? I'm based in the North.
 

headshot119

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Joined
31 Dec 2010
Messages
2,052
Location
Dubai
When you move to a new signalling position, I'm sure it always used to be that whilst training you would be paid at one grade below the job, e.g. if it was a grade 3 box you'd be paid grade 2 pay until you pass out. I'm moving from grade 1 (I've already completed IST) to grade 3 and in my offer it stated the following:

"While training, you will be paid on the basis of either the rate of pay and allowances associated with your previous position, or your previous basic rate of pay and the new allowances, whichever is the greater. Following completion of the training, flexibility premium will be paid at the appropriate rate for the role."

I take it this means I'll still be on my grade 1 pay as it's not a relief job so no allowances will apply (night shift, Sundays etc as training is Mon - Fri 9-5) so I'll be worse off?

Is this the same across England? I'm based in the North.

Query this with your local RMT rep & recruitment. As far as I am aware the conditions of the Green Book (Available on the RMT website) still stand in respect to payments while training, which is generally one grade below, and the FP of the new role straight away.
 

HamSandwich

Member
Joined
19 May 2020
Messages
68
Location
Earth
Query this with your local RMT rep & recruitment. As far as I am aware the conditions of the Green Book (Available on the RMT website) still stand in respect to payments while training, which is generally one grade below, and the FP of the new role straight away.

Thank you, I'll do that :)
 
Joined
15 Apr 2020
Messages
310
Location
Wakefield
I’ve just been through this process. There has been a national change to training pay, well, actually it’s how it’s always meant to be apparently but they were doing it wrong.
It is now as @HamSandwich says:
- 1 grade below (etc…) as it used to be, for new entrants only
Or
- previous grade (plus some FP etc) for existing signallers changing boxes.
This has been agreed with RMT and always officially the rules but not correctly applied for many years.

It’s much worse for moving boxes now as you effectively take a pay cut while training as you don’t get any overtime or allowances if you just train standard hours.
 

Scooby123

Member
Joined
20 Dec 2020
Messages
30
Location
Derby
I’ve been recruited to “Hull area” I currently work at the station but for a TOC not NR just wondering which boxes came under Hull :)
Hey! Under the Hull LOM are the following signal boxes; Hull Paragon, Hessle Road, Beverley, Driffield. And then Crabley creek crossing box.
 

Railwayer

Member
Joined
21 Jan 2022
Messages
20
Location
Driffield
Hey! Under the Hull LOM are the following signal boxes; Hull Paragon, Hessle Road, Beverley, Driffield. And then Crabley creek crossing box.
Ah brilliant thank you! I’m recruited under grade 2 so I think that’s Hull, Beverley or Driffield?
Thanks for your help :)
 

Scooby123

Member
Joined
20 Dec 2020
Messages
30
Location
Derby
Ah brilliant thank you! I’m recruited under grade 2 so I think that’s Hull, Beverley or Driffield?
Thanks for your help :)
Driffield is grade 3, Beverley grade 4 and Hessle road and hull paragon are grade 5’s :) I was also hired as a grade 2 then during/after signalling school you just apply for whatever roles are available. The minimum grade for a signaller is grade 3 in this area. Grade 2 is crossing boxes :)
 

Railwayer

Member
Joined
21 Jan 2022
Messages
20
Location
Driffield
Driffield is grade 3, Beverley grade 4 and Hessle road and hull paragon are grade 5’s :) I was also hired as a grade 2 then during/after signalling school you just apply for whatever roles are available. The minimum grade for a signaller is grade 3 in this area. Grade 2 is crossing boxes :)
Thank you :)
Can I message you?
 

headshot119

Established Member
Joined
31 Dec 2010
Messages
2,052
Location
Dubai
I’ve just been through this process. There has been a national change to training pay, well, actually it’s how it’s always meant to be apparently but they were doing it wrong.
It is now as @HamSandwich says:
- 1 grade below (etc…) as it used to be, for new entrants only
Or
- previous grade (plus some FP etc) for existing signallers changing boxes.
This has been agreed with RMT and always officially the rules but not correctly applied for many years.

It’s much worse for moving boxes now as you effectively take a pay cut while training as you don’t get any overtime or allowances if you just train standard hours.

If that is the case (And I only say that as it's not happening everywhere like that), make sure you are claiming under the 13 week rule (From date of advertisement if the post is vacant) and bypass the training grade all together.
 

otter11

Member
Joined
4 Apr 2016
Messages
93
Hi all
Had my interview today for one of the NLL positions, when I asked about shifts and rosters it was mentioned that NR are looking at changing the 12 hour rosters so the long weekend is not as long and instead moving to something more like 3 on 4 off. Something to do with fatigue management.
Does anyone in the trade know any more details about this?

Many thanks in advance
 

KendalR

Member
Joined
22 Aug 2020
Messages
38
Location
.
Hi all
Had my interview today for one of the NLL positions, when I asked about shifts and rosters it was mentioned that NR are looking at changing the 12 hour rosters so the long weekend is not as long and instead moving to something more like 3 on 4 off. Something to do with fatigue management.
Does anyone in the trade know any more details about this?

Many thanks in advance

Quite a lot of 12 hour rosters are like this:

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
Week 1Day ShiftDay ShiftDay ShiftDay ShiftRest DayRest DayRest Day
Week 2Rest DayRest DayRest DayRest DayNight ShiftNight ShiftNight Shift
Week 3Night ShiftRest DayRest DayRest DayDay ShiftDay ShiftDay Shift
Week 4Rest DayNight ShiftNight ShiftNight ShiftRest DayRest DayRest Day

The ORR have ruled that they don't want any member of staff working more than 60 hours in a rolling 7 day period.

So in Weeks 3-4 currently you will work 72 hours between Thursday Week 3 and Wednesday Week 4 - Thursday, Friday and Saturday Days then Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday nights.

To get around this and reduce it to 60 hours they're going to have to chop the rosters up and the only way you're going to achieve this is by shortening the 7 day long weekend between weeks 1 & 2.

It's not as simple as working 3 on 4 off as that would mean you would be working the same days every week and for some unfortunate souls that would be working every weekend. Some draft rosters have been put out by the union but from what I understand they're disliked by quite a few so maybe getting reworked again. As of now I'd say no one knows what their roster will be come January. (Deadline to implement the new rosters is the end of this year).
 

otter11

Member
Joined
4 Apr 2016
Messages
93
Thanks for the detailed reply, really appreciate it.
Understand the direction to reduce fatigue but can see why people would be angry about losing their long weekend every month!

Guess it’s useful to know that if I did get the job then I’d very likely be on a new roster from January.
 

Gowk1

New Member
Joined
25 Feb 2022
Messages
2
Location
Edinburgh
Hi all,
I’m wondering if anyone who applied for the Scotland grade 2-5 vacancies has heard anything back yet?
Thanks
 

HamSandwich

Member
Joined
19 May 2020
Messages
68
Location
Earth
If that is the case (And I only say that as it's not happening everywhere like that), make sure you are claiming under the 13 week rule (From date of advertisement if the post is vacant) and bypass the training grade all together.

Thank you headshot and end of tunnel - I'll make a note on my calendar when the 13 weeks is up!
 
Joined
9 Jun 2011
Messages
11
Hi all,
I’m wondering if anyone who applied for the Scotland grade 2-5 vacancies has heard anything back yet?
Thanks
Not yet. Funnily enough I had to remind myself yesterday of the closing date as realised had been ages since I last received any missives from NR.
 

Devonish

Member
Joined
14 Dec 2018
Messages
35
I think the NR careers site is playing up - a couple of emails sent to me from the "zendesk" address are showing on the NR careers dashboard, but never actually arrived in my email (spam checked etc)
 

CoachB

Member
Joined
10 Jun 2022
Messages
43
Location
Scotland
Hi all,
I’m wondering if anyone who applied for the Scotland grade 2-5 vacancies has heard anything back yet?
Thanks
I heard back on Wednesday and have a signaller scenario assessment to complete by the 13th and an interview on the 15th.

What location did you apply for?
 

gostin

Member
Joined
10 Jun 2022
Messages
9
Location
Ayrshire
Hi all,
I’m wondering if anyone who applied for the Scotland grade 2-5 vacancies has heard anything back yet?
Thanks
Yes I have the scenario this weekend and interview on Thursday.
Check your careers hub as I never got an email and checked in by chance and saw I had advanced to the next stage.
 

ArkUTD

Member
Joined
28 Sep 2020
Messages
67
Location
Hinckley
I think the NR careers site is playing up - a couple of emails sent to me from the "zendesk" address are showing on the NR careers dashboard, but never actually arrived in my email (spam checked etc)
I was actually just about to ask about this, as I haven't been receiving any emails for the past 2 weeks, even after applying for jobs.

Really strange, on https://careershub.networkrail.co.uk/members/

This is where I did my applications and it just isn't working at all
 

Devonish

Member
Joined
14 Dec 2018
Messages
35
I was actually just about to ask about this, as I haven't been receiving any emails for the past 2 weeks, even after applying for jobs.

Really strange, on https://careershub.networkrail.co.uk/members/

This is where I did my applications and it just isn't working at all

Yes, I applied for a job yesterday and received no email - but later in the day I saw the "thanks for applying email" in the "emails sent to you" at the bottom of the dashboard.

Its worrying if emails aren't coming as the HR team also use the "zendesk" email for correspondence relating to applications which does not appear on the dashboard emails.
 

CoachB

Member
Joined
10 Jun 2022
Messages
43
Location
Scotland
Yes, I applied for a job yesterday and received no email - but later in the day I saw the "thanks for applying email" in the "emails sent to you" at the bottom of the dashboard.

Its worrying if emails aren't coming as the HR team also use the "zendesk" email for correspondence relating to applications which does not appear on the dashboard emails.
Yeah I never had any of the emails regarding my application goto my email address, they only showed on the dashboard. I just checked it everyday to be safe.

However all emails that I've sent to them to ask questions or confirm my interview were all received in my normal email not the dashboard.
 

Gowk1

New Member
Joined
25 Feb 2022
Messages
2
Location
Edinburgh
Not yet. Funnily enough I had to remind myself yesterday of the closing date as realised had been ages since I last received any missives from NR.
Yes, it does seem to be taking some time although it’s not my first application so I’m used to the long wait. Hopefully we hear something soon
 

Devonish

Member
Joined
14 Dec 2018
Messages
35
Quite a lot of 12 hour rosters are like this:

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
Week 1Day ShiftDay ShiftDay ShiftDay ShiftRest DayRest DayRest Day
Week 2Rest DayRest DayRest DayRest DayNight ShiftNight ShiftNight Shift
Week 3Night ShiftRest DayRest DayRest DayDay ShiftDay ShiftDay Shift
Week 4Rest DayNight ShiftNight ShiftNight ShiftRest DayRest DayRest Day

The ORR have ruled that they don't want any member of staff working more than 60 hours in a rolling 7 day period.

So in Weeks 3-4 currently you will work 72 hours between Thursday Week 3 and Wednesday Week 4 - Thursday, Friday and Saturday Days then Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday nights.

To get around this and reduce it to 60 hours they're going to have to chop the rosters up and the only way you're going to achieve this is by shortening the 7 day long weekend between weeks 1 & 2.

It's not as simple as working 3 on 4 off as that would mean you would be working the same days every week and for some unfortunate souls that would be working every weekend. Some draft rosters have been put out by the union but from what I understand they're disliked by quite a few so maybe getting reworked again. As of now I'd say no one knows what their roster will be come January. (Deadline to implement the new rosters is the end of this year).

Is this change going to apply to all NR signaller 12hr rosters by Jan 2023?
 

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