It feels, sometimes, like train drivers are the kings of the railway.
The vast majority of threads are of people looking to find driver jobs, pass the psycho tests, get through interviews and sitting in talent pools, waiting for offers etc etc
Yet there are plenty of roles in the rail industry that pay good money for, I think, less mental effort and much easier to be accepted for, which are never talked about.
I feel this adds to a percentage of drivers (and I am a mainline driver, so no sour-grapes here) having an over exaggerated sense of importance....
I worked in a safety critical role, for a TOC/FOC, for a few years but there was always the air that the footplate grade was somehow elite. They have to pass special tests and only the best get through.
Newer drivers always gave the impression they thought they were slightly elivated because of this and the job wouldn’t run without their skills.
I decided I’d prove to everyone (myself inc) I could pass the tests and complete the rules.
I was lucky enough to pass everything first time of asking and started training within 6 months of applying. Rules were a headache but I cane away with a 98% mark...
But the job is more mentally demarnding in terms of concentration and awareness with long periods of alone time for not much more money than my previous role.
The point I’m trying to get to is that there are much more accessible roles with similar pay, with far fewer applicants which seem to be overlooked in favour of an all out desire to drive trains..
Just a thought
The vast majority of threads are of people looking to find driver jobs, pass the psycho tests, get through interviews and sitting in talent pools, waiting for offers etc etc
Yet there are plenty of roles in the rail industry that pay good money for, I think, less mental effort and much easier to be accepted for, which are never talked about.
I feel this adds to a percentage of drivers (and I am a mainline driver, so no sour-grapes here) having an over exaggerated sense of importance....
I worked in a safety critical role, for a TOC/FOC, for a few years but there was always the air that the footplate grade was somehow elite. They have to pass special tests and only the best get through.
Newer drivers always gave the impression they thought they were slightly elivated because of this and the job wouldn’t run without their skills.
I decided I’d prove to everyone (myself inc) I could pass the tests and complete the rules.
I was lucky enough to pass everything first time of asking and started training within 6 months of applying. Rules were a headache but I cane away with a 98% mark...
But the job is more mentally demarnding in terms of concentration and awareness with long periods of alone time for not much more money than my previous role.
The point I’m trying to get to is that there are much more accessible roles with similar pay, with far fewer applicants which seem to be overlooked in favour of an all out desire to drive trains..
Just a thought