A career as a signaller

[leomc1627]

Ah excellent. Seems an interesting and nerve inducing way to do it but I'll take it! Cheers

Application Status History

Status Change Date
Application Under Review 21-Oct-2018 11:28:53
Application Accepted 22-Oct-2018 07:06:08
Application Under Consideration 22-Oct-2018 14:32:49
Test Completed 22-Oct-2018 15:30:53
Test Completed 23-Oct-2018 14:32:08
Application under consideration for assessment 2 09-Nov-2018 14:51:26
Assessment 2 Completed 19-Nov-2018

I have never even interviewed any idea

 

[Cavan]

It's a glorified shunting box basically. Grade 3, plus London allowance, 12 hour roster.

Is the 12hr shift relatively new at Willesden South? They used to work 8hr Mon to Fri and 12hr Sat/Sun.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Hi guys

Bit of a random one but a few (many) pages back on this thread it mentions Signaller jobs abroad. I understand not everywhere in the world operates the same system we do, but I'm looking at a move to UAE or Australia in the near future and I understand there may be vacancies for us guys in these locations? However, I've yet to find any vacancy list and they don't seem to be widely available. Any clues? I'm currently based in a ROC so I'm Westcad trained assuming this is how they operate.

Cheers

DB via the UAE has taken on UK Network Rail signallers, general consensus is that it’s on paper a good deal money wise, but the reality is very different.

 

[Cavan]

Hi guys seen new post come up for willensden carriage grade 3 any info on the box shift patterns etc would be great! Also can't seem to find where it is on the map I know London but not sure where

http://photos.signalling.org/index?/category/2068-unknown_date

 

[Norm88]

DB via the UAE has taken on UK Network Rail signallers, general consensus is that it’s on paper a good deal money wise, but the reality is very different.

In what way Tom?

 

[Sanatogen]

Hi guys seen new post come up for willensden carriage grade 3 any info on the box shift patterns etc would be great! Also can't seem to find where it is on the map I know London but not sure where

It’s in NW London just behind Stonebridge Park station, 8 hours with a 12 hour Sunday with local agreement hours of 5.30-12.30, 12.30-20.30 and 20.30-5.30.

 

[Tom Quinne]

In what way Tom?

Westerns are seen much in the same way (some) people see Eastern European’s in this country “selling their jobs” bla bla.

Tax free salary (I believe) but very high cost of living, although DB do offer some benefits to help out. UAE apparently (I’ve never been) not the nicest of countries.

On a side note, I did see someone suggest Oz as another place.

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

My brother-in-law worked for Haliburton in Dubai UAE managing construction crews. He recently moved back to the US, having had enough of it.

He complained there wasn't anything there for him besides work.

 

[Danc87]

It's a glorified shunting box basically. Grade 3, plus London allowance, 12 hour roster.

Any idea where abouts in London please can't seem to find actual location

 

[Danc87]

It’s in NW London just behind Stonebridge Park station, 8 hours with a 12 hour Sunday with local agreement hours of 5.30-12.30, 12.30-20.30 and 20.30-5.30.

Ahh 8 hour days means more days away from home and less time off I guess damn

 

[headshot119]

It’s in NW London just behind Stonebridge Park station, 8 hours with a 12 hour Sunday with local agreement hours of 5.30-12.30, 12.30-20.30 and 20.30-5.30.

I stand corrected, the lad I knew going there didn't mention weekdays was 8 hours.

 

[Narom]

Offer pack received this morning. Woop Woop.

 

[choochoobacca]

Offer pack received this morning. Woop Woop.

Congratulations! Lots of interesting reading in there!

 

[choochoobacca]

Firstly, a massive thank you to all who provide their help and advice on here. After a long journey I've finally got lucky and could not be happier with the position I'll be starting soon! I've found this forum an absolute gold mine of useful information, help, assistance and motivation and I really hope that down the line I can contribute similar advice to those who are starting out on the same journey. I would have probably given up a long time ago, had I not seen that many people had a similar experience but got there in the end. I think perseverance is the key requirement when applying, not losing hope after the (often many) knockbacks and going for anything within commutable distance.
So a massive thank you to all the contributing signallers on this thread!

Now I've got a question regarding pre-signal school admin...
I've recently received a form to fill out from Babcock international who I understand run the signalling apprenticeships in conjunction with NR.
This morning I've received a link to do some 'Forskills' English and Maths assessments and to complete the 'Learning Styles' (??)
I don't recall seeing mention of these elsewhere on this thread (I may be wrong...it's a loooong thread) and just wondered if others who have recently started the signalling apprenticeship scheme did the assessments, or if it's a new thing? For those that have done them, are they fairly basic?

Many thanks for any replies

 

[Saracen_83]

They are just “pre tests” that you complete to see if you need any help with your learning... you’ll also have to do some diagnostics after.. these are designed to see if you need help with your level 2 English and maths (which you won’t have to sit if you have English and maths at c or above for gcse and this can be proved via certificates)

Don’t worry, they just part of the course! Nothing to worry about! And more importantly is to pass the signalling part of the course

 

[Journeyman]

Tax free salary (I believe) but very high cost of living, although DB do offer some benefits to help out. UAE apparently (I’ve never been) not the nicest of countries.

See recent news coverage of UK academic jailed for life on trumped-up spying charges.

There's a lot of rail jobs in the Middle East, but all the people I know who have worked out there have said it's a pretty grim experience, and wouldn't recommend it for more than a few months, a year or two at the very most.

 

[Highlandspring]

I would second that, a former colleague went to Saudi Arabia to work on the railway there and regretted it within days of arrival. Some on here may remember a few years ago when Network Rail Consulting was bidding for a contract in SA and there were jobs on the vacancy list which “strongly discouraged” applying if you were a woman or gay, or both, and the massive comments thread on Connect about it.

 

[Journeyman]

I would second that, a former colleague went to Saudi Arabia to work on the railway there and regretted it within days of arrival. Some on here may remember a few years ago when Network Rail Consulting was bidding for a contract in SA and there were jobs on the vacancy list which “strongly discouraged” applying if you were a woman or gay, or both, and the massive comments thread on Connect about it.

Ultimately, whether you'll enjoy it or not depends on what sort of person you are, and what your priorities in life are. If all you're concerned about is making shedloads of money and living the wealthy expat lifestyle, you'll probably love it, but if you have a social conscience and like a bit of culture and history, I suspect you'll hate it.

And yeah, if you're not a straight male, I wouldn't even think about it.

 

[Rusto]

After stupidly turning down a offer of a signalling job 12 months ago and starting a different job instead, I'm throwing my hat back in the ring to try again!

Is anyone else waiting for updates for the Grade 2 at Cardiff Control centre?

 

[choochoobacca]

They are just “pre tests” that you complete to see if you need any help with your learning... you’ll also have to do some diagnostics after.. these are designed to see if you need help with your level 2 English and maths (which you won’t have to sit if you have English and maths at c or above for gcse and this can be proved via certificates)

Don’t worry, they just part of the course! Nothing to worry about! And more importantly is to pass the signalling part of the course

Thanks Matt711, I'll crack on with them.

 

[Danc87]

Anyone have an 8 hour shift pattern they can post trying to work out how much time I'll have off with family as I'd have to commute

 

[nom de guerre]

The last 8hr single-manned roster I worked:

Su M T W Th F S

OFF RD RD L L L L
N N N N N N N
OFF L L RD RD E E
E E E E E RD RD

E(arlies)
L(ates)
N(ights)

 

[LeGrimpeur]

Regarding position IRC2110453 Lancing signaller I just called HR and the vacancy is on hold at the moment if anyone else has application under consideration on that one.

 

[Sunset route]

Regarding position IRC2110453 Lancing signaller I just called HR and the vacancy is on hold at the moment if anyone else has application under consideration on that one.

Probably because of the displaced staff From the Lewes and Seaford Branch resignalling scheme that need to be accommodated first before they know what vaccines they have left.

 

[Qball]

After stupidly turning down a offer of a signalling job 12 months ago and starting a different job instead, I'm throwing my hat back in the ring to try again!

Is anyone else waiting for updates for the Grade 2 at Cardiff Control centre?

Received a email today asking me to attend a interview next week.

 

[LeGrimpeur]

Probably because of the displaced staff From the Lewes and Seaford Branch resignalling scheme that need to be accommodated first before they what vaccines they have left.

Thanks for the info, appreciated.

 

[Danc87]

Wow really 7 days on the spin? Not much time off then doesn't look as appealing as 12 hour shifts

The last 8hr single-manned roster I worked:

Su M T W Th F S

OFF RD RD L L L L
N N N N N N N
OFF L L RD RD E E
E E E E E RD RD

E(arlies)
L(ates)
N(ights)

 

[leomc1627]

Just want to say a massive thank you too all the people who gave me help on my journey to finally being offered a job as a signaller very excited. If anyone has any info on the next steps and can inbox me much appreciated

 

[Amack92]

What does it mean when the position you have applied for has been put on hold? I have passed the tests, but been told the position has been put on hold but it is with the hiring manager. Signaller Grade 3 Mansfield. Any information would be great.

 

[Highlandspring]

Wow really 7 days on the spin? Not much time off then doesn't look as appealing as 12 hour shifts

That's 8 hour rosters in a nutshell.