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With all due respect I’d say that says more about those particular friends than it does anything else. Most non railway folk I speak to (friends or not) know that it’s definitely a respected grade and one that carries great responsibility. Tell those friends to speak to experienced pilots...

I would say it depends how desperate you are to get the job compared to your current position. If you’re happy enough in your current job and think that it has enough about it to help you get through a recruitment campaign then just hang fire for the drivers jobs. If you really want a change...

Quite the opposite at the moment. There’s never been so many train managers, catering crew and other internal positions obtaining trainee driver jobs with Virgin. When going for a driving position no matter who the Toc, starting as a train manager/guard is always beneficial. My advice to anyone...

Yes I agree mate? Most densely populated areas have quite a few people in that situation, let alone within 60 minutes of one. There’s lots of people trying to be train drivers.

You’d be very surprised.

4 years is a drop in the ocean compared to the wait some have had so keep smiling. It’ll happen soon enough

Yes as an expert was driving it ha!

Because when the recruits waiting start their training they will want more waiting in a talent pool should another bunch of vacancies arise...... saves so much time and is the sensible way to do it. It’s the way the railway and numerous other industries have worked for quite some time now.

Don’t worry yourself about the operational needs of the company as you’ve no idea who or what they need. Get the job first and worry about the numbers of other trainees joining you at a later stage.

Absolutely spot on. This job isn’t for everyone for many different reasons. The novelty of a decent salary is something that can ware off very quickly if you find it’s not for you. I know when this job throws it’s worst at me, the last thing that enters my mind is the salary.

10 months is a relative drop in the ocean mate in terms of Talent pools..... some have been sat in them so long they’ve actually forgotten they were in there!..... then end up with a random phone call out of the blue offering them a position. That’s the only problem with talent pools...

Fair play mate that a top drawer post hats off to you.

How long is long?

Yeah same here. Although from what I hear if it’s in the companies interest there is flexibility with that. No harm putting any transfer request in I suppose and if it’s in their interests to move you earlier then result!

It stands for post qualifying assessments or something of that ilk...... no, probation is different to PQA mate. Or so I believe haha

Hshaha I had a nice little technicality to aid me there though remember hahaha!!!

Could be numerous things, the depot’s in need of staff, time served in the talent pool etc, the choice of depot on your application. But I’d imagine in all likelihood it’ll be done on assessment scoring.

It’s generally 2-3 years which is a drivers PQA period. Not many other Toc’s would touch a driver still in PQA anyway so it’s not really an option to move if a driver even wanted to. In regards to these training fees that companies want back should you leave...... I heard they’re not worth the...

Yes standard questions as they may still need to plan course dates etc, so they need to know who can start on what dates if they’re successful.

Your best bet is to plan around being on a training rate for 12 months and if it’s less then happy days. Not sure how long it takes for full rate. Most Toc’s I’ve seen it seems to average around 2 years from training rate to full rate. From what I gather Sunday’s are outside the working week...