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In 2020/2021/2022 I earned very well - I won't give the exact figure though. I was one of only a tiny tiny handful of instructors at my TOC that was willing to continue in cab training during covid. It resulted in me working 12-13 days on, 1-2 days off for a 24+ month period, usually on max...

Zahedan (just short of the Pakistani border) is the in theory the end of the Standard Guage route but as others said, that involves a railway boat across Lake Van. The boat is only for the train. I did a trip on the train Ankara to Tehran over a decade ago which used this boat, albeit the loco...

I've had my London commuter trains so full that there was zero chance of leaving the cab if I needed to. I generally just leave the passengers to decide when full is too full (and that's when they can no longer squeeze on Japanese style). Once the doors are closed the remaining passengers on the...

Consider going one way only. I recently did... Day 1 Late afternoon London to Brussels on Eurostar Brussels to Passau on the nightjet Day 2 Passau to Prague via several loco hauled trains in Czech Republic Day 3 Day in Prague the night train to Kosice Day 4 Kosice Day 5 Kosice to Oradea via...

I got 100% of an open return ticket through delay repay last summer due to a strike day. I had booked on a particular train, but as that day had no trains, I travelled the following day. As this was 2+ hours late in applied for delay repay.

Apologies to piggyback onto this thread but I can’t see the info regarding the MTR Elizabeth Line pay deal anywhere. The members appear to have voted roughly 75% in favour of a recent pay offer. Rumours suggest it’s because they know it’s poor but they want a deal rather than a never ending...

It’s either rear 4 or rear 5 depending which end you are driving from.

I landed at Stansted back in February at about midnight, but it took a further 15 minutes before the doors were opened, and then another 4 minutes before it was my turn to disembark. From stepping foot off the plane to the train wheels rolling / departing Stansted it was 11 minutes. I ran like...

Nope. The lifts are outside the main set up. I travel to Stansted a lot - most recently was 2 weeks ago. Last off the train, probably first in the terminal building. The other 1000 people were left behind queuing at the bottom of the escalators! You do get your ticket checked before entering the...

The trick for Stansted Airport is to always use the lift… both going down and up. You avoid all the queuing that way.

There's a Facebook group for all European staff travel related stuff. It's very good. The Hungary FIP requirements for coupon travel are on there as I just visited and needed a few questions asked along the way. But in summary, most domestic IC services require a reservation in Hungary. You...

It's the only way of keeping cool when you are issued with a dark navy uniform (trousers and polos) and black shoes!

I successfully managed to claim delay repay for a strike day in summer 2022 from GWR. That meant I got 100% of the return ticket cost back. I did actually travel on the first available train the following day which in all truth, did delay me by more than 2 hours.

£23 can be claimed back at my TOC, which doesn't even come close to paying for a decent pair of shoes. Perhaps 20 years ago £23 was ok. All TOCs I've worked at so far haven't required Drivers to safety shoes.

The biggest problem I've had with all railway uniforms I've had to wear to date is the poor quality. But as a driver I'm happy with my TOC issued fleece which has no branding on it at all (and it's actually of such good quality that I occasionally wear it in my own time too). I get minimum time...

Getting a cab ride in the UK is very difficult. I have managed to get a family member a cab ride a few times (and even a drive on the simulator), but even as a driver myself, I have really struggled to do this. I wouldn't be prepared to organise it for anyone else except family members. If you...

I refuse to re open the doors when people do this. I just sit there with the doors closed waiting and waiting. They generally let go at some point at which point power is taken. In terms of people holding the doors open - I generally make a PA to say that they are delaying the train for other...

This doesn't surprise me in the slightest at all. And it's a real shame TfL / TOC staff treat other TfL / TOC staff with this attitude. It's mainly a London and South East thing. Being friendly with one another goes much further in life.

I've got a TfL staff travelcard. When the district line is messed up, I use SWR to get home. When TfL says "TfL tickets are valid on alternative routes", I take that to mean my staff travel pass too - it is just an oyster card at the end of the day with a zero fare on applicable routes. I did...

Won't happen at the moment, but in my opinion, Elizabeth Line should take over the HEX paths and run non stop to Paddington and directly into the COS - and then all stations to Abbey Wood / Shenfield. Edit: just realised it's been mentioned already. Apologies.