A career as a signaller

[galaxynew]

Just wondering if anyone applied for or has any knowledge of the 2 vacancies listed in October at Deansgate Junction?

I had an email confirming i had reached the required benchmark in the online tests but heard nothing since, presuming still with the recruiting manager to decide who to interview or it's on hold

 

[Danc87]

is there any other career other then a signaller worth looking into to that you can walk into off the street with decent pay? as of my 5 applications ive already had to rejections

 

[SignallerJohn]

is there any other career other then a signaller worth looking into to that you can walk into off the street with decent pay? as of my 5 applications ive already had to rejections

Guys on here have had much more than 5 applications, it depends how badly you want the career of a signaller.

 

[Narom]

is there any other career other then a signaller worth looking into to that you can walk into off the street with decent pay? as of my 5 applications ive already had to rejections

At what stage are you getting rejected?

I've seen some on here do 40+. Just keep at it

 

[john.ump]

Quite a variety of jobs come up on the railway, some with better pay than others obviously. I'd guard against doing the job of signaller just for the money. I think you do have to be suited to the type of work it is and the affect shift work has.

 

[Tom Quinne]

is there any other career other then a signaller worth looking into to that you can walk into off the street with decent pay? as of my 5 applications ive already had to rejections

Mate five applications is literally nothing, there are people who are well into the 20-30 range, it took me 36 apps, 3 paper assessment centres and 4 interviews before I was offered two jobs in the same week lol

The beauty with NWR is you can apply for as many jobs as you wish at one time, none of this six month wait rule you’ll have with TOCS.

My advice is if you really want one of, if not the best job on the railway for the overall experience building keep applying for every job you thing is in the slightest do’able.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Quite a variety of jobs come up on the railway, some with better pay than others obviously. I'd guard against doing the job of signaller just for the money. I think you do have to be suited to the type of work it is and the affect shift work has.

Totally agree, you need to be interested in the job or it’ll do your head in. I’ve worked the last three days, with three nights no starting tonight. Money will only sustain you so long !

 

[Narom]

One key will be what you do when not at work.

In my old job I used to do bugger all on my days off or even on annual leave. Now I fill it with hobbies at trips away. It makes the hard work more palatable if you enjoy spending the money you've worked hard for instead of it and you stewing .

 

[mattsfc]

Job Adverised for Grade 2 Signaller at Barrhill.

 

[R.Quintero]

Morning all, any updates on the % pay increase for 2019? I've been off for a couple of weeks so haven't seen any info on it.

 

[headshot119]

Morning all, any updates on the % pay increase for 2019? I've been off for a couple of weeks so haven't seen any info on it.

The next meeting between the union and the company isn't due till after the new year.

 

[Tedhound]

Hi. Following this thread. First time poster.
I’m a bobby with BTP looking to move across to a TOC or NWKrail.
There are some Grade 2 signaller posts advertised that I’m interested locally but I was wondering if there is a payscale or is the role a flat rate.
Network Rail seem to be a little illusive about what signallers actually earn. If anyone knows please let me know.

 

[headshot119]

Hi. Following this thread. First time poster.
I’m a bobby with BTP looking to move across to a TOC or NWKrail.
There are some Grade 2 signaller posts advertised that I’m interested locally but I was wondering if there is a payscale or is the role a flat rate.
Network Rail seem to be a little illusive about what signallers actually earn. If anyone knows please let me know.

Headline pay for a G2 is £27705.

What else you earn will depend on the box, does it do night shifts, does it have Sunday shifts etc. A very rough ball park figure if a box does Sundays and nights, add £5,000 to the headline figure.

 

[Tedhound]

Hi thanks for the quick response. It’s based in bootle so I’m assuming it’s sandhills.
Is there a incremental payscale in Network Rail? Does it go up annually or does it stay the same until you get promoted or change role. I’m obviously trying to compare working in the police with the payscale and seeing if I am going to be able to progress or be able to get my income on par with the police salary I’m currently on. I’m the long run I want to be a MOM but it seems they are a rare role to be advertised.

 

[headshot119]

Hi thanks for the quick response. It’s based in bootle so I’m assuming it’s sandhills.
Is there a incremental payscale in Network Rail? Does it go up annually or does it stay the same until you get promoted or change role. I’m obviously trying to compare working in the police with the payscale and seeing if I am going to be able to progress or be able to get my income on par with the police salary I’m currently on. I’m the long run I want to be a MOM but it seems they are a rare role to be advertised.

If it's the Bootle job that is up currently, it's for Bootle Cumbria, not Bootle Merseyside. In that particular box assuming you work booked Sundays (1 in 3) you can add £4000 to the headline.

There isn't an incremental payscale, though there is usually a yearly increase which is negotiated between the Unions and NR.

 

[Narom]

Hi thanks for the quick response. It’s based in bootle so I’m assuming it’s sandhills.
Is there a incremental payscale in Network Rail? Does it go up annually or does it stay the same until you get promoted or change role. I’m obviously trying to compare working in the police with the payscale and seeing if I am going to be able to progress or be able to get my income on par with the police salary I’m currently on. I’m the long run I want to be a MOM but it seems they are a rare role to be advertised.

Bootle in Cumbria. Not sandhills. I made that same mistake 8 months ago!

 

[Tedhound]

Ah my mistake. Well Cumbria is too far to go.
I’ll have to keep watching them. Still kicking myself for not going for a mom job whilst I was still in the south.

 

[nom de guerre]

Morning all, any updates on the % pay increase for 2019? I've been off for a couple of weeks so haven't seen any info on it.

Talks ongoing.

Next meeting on Jan 16 or 17th.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Morning all, any updates on the % pay increase for 2019? I've been off for a couple of weeks so haven't seen any info on it.

Mid month I think is the next meeting between the company and unions, although I fear the RMT will drag us into a dispute if they have their way.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Hi thanks for the quick response. It’s based in bootle so I’m assuming it’s sandhills.
Is there a incremental payscale in Network Rail? Does it go up annually or does it stay the same until you get promoted or change role. I’m obviously trying to compare working in the police with the payscale and seeing if I am going to be able to progress or be able to get my income on par with the police salary I’m currently on. I’m the long run I want to be a MOM but it seems they are a rare role to be advertised.

What others have said there are 10 grades of signaller, 1 being the lowest and 10 being supervisor grade which is the highest paid.

The headline salary is your sick for a year rate of pay, you can add £5000+ on top doign up to circa £10,000 as you go up the grades.

Typically though you can probably add £20,000 to your all in rate with RDW and Sunday’s at the top end of the grades without killing yourself on RDW.

MOM jobs are usually grade 6 or 7 Signaller grade rate of pay, they are sort after jobs internally hence why you probably won’t see a external one advertised.

Once your in the door there is a massive list of internal jobs open to you, at the moment there are about 30 Signaller jobs on the list.

 

[Highlandspring]

The headline salary is your sick for a year rate of pay

I know what you mean but it would be remiss not to point out to potential new recruits that the NR long term sickness arrangements are that you ‘only’ get 6 months full pay then 6 months at half pay. Not that anyone should be planning to go long term sick!

Typically though you can probably add £20,000 to your all in rate with RDW and Sunday’s at the top end of the grades without killing yourself on RDW.

Those estimates seem to lean a little on the optimistic side. If your location is fully staffed or close to it then you’d struggle to bump up your take home pay that much with ham, even in the highest grades. Also bear in mind that it isn’t pensionable.

 

[nom de guerre]

I know what you mean but it would be remiss not to point out to potential new recruits that the NR long term sickness arrangements are that you ‘only’ get 6 months full pay then 6 months at half pay. Not that anyone should be planning to go long term sick!

Those estimates seem to lean a little on the optimistic side. If your location is fully staffed or close to it then you’d struggle to bump up your take home pay that much with ham, even in the highest grades. Also bear in mind that it isn’t pensionable.

How many boxes are fully staffed, or close to it, though?

Of course you can’t - and shouldn’t - rely on RDW, but if you can average two RDs per period at G6 upwards, Tom’s figure is comfortably achievable.

 

[headshot119]

How many boxes are fully staffed, or close to it, though?

Of course you can’t - and shouldn’t - rely on RDW, but if you can average two RDs per period at G6 upwards, Tom’s figure is comfortably achievable.

Certainly I agree with your first point in some of the larger locations, a lot of boxes on my line (3 per box) are fully staffed, which makes it hard to find any Rest Days to work.

Again if you're on an 8 hour roster, it can be quite hard to find Rest Days in a fully manned location as the amount you have to potentially work is limited. On the other hand if you're in a 12 hour location, it's much easier.

 

[R.Quintero]

Thanks for the updates re the pay negotiations.

With regards take home pay and the potential to 'bump it up', with a bit of luck and willing on your part it's incredibly achievable. I say luck; this isn't necessarily the best word as in my location it means one resident on long term sickness and a couple more who don't jump at OT. I tend to do anywhere from 5 to 8 OT days per 4 week period (12 hour rota) and when you chuck in Sunday nights and things like the night premium I quite comfortable make around £3k per 4 week period after tax. Granted I also get London allowances but then I pay through the nose for my rent being in London, so it's all relative.

I appreciate it may be a bit crass to specifically mention what I'm getting paid, but in the interests of anonymously giving people an idea I figured it may relevant. I'm grade 2 btw so this is from a base of £27,705.

 

[Tom Quinne]

I know what you mean but it would be remiss not to point out to potential new recruits that the NR long term sickness arrangements are that you ‘only’ get 6 months full pay then 6 months at half pay. Not that anyone should be planning to go long term sick!

Those estimates seem to lean a little on the optimistic side. If your location is fully staffed or close to it then you’d struggle to bump up your take home pay that much with ham, even in the highest grades. Also bear in mind that it isn’t pensionable.

I glad you know what I mean lol but to clarify your no overtime, no Sunday, no nights salary for the year would be the headline rate.

As my right honourable colleague says 6 months full pay, then 6 months half pay.

Without “willy waving” I’ve added my last years net pay up its over £60,000 that’s not with a huge amount of RDW either. But my two locations where/are understaffed so RDW is there if you forget to put NA you will be marked to a job!

 

[exsignalman]

Just wondering if anyone applied for or has any knowledge of the 2 vacancies listed in October at Deansgate Junction?

I had an email confirming i had reached the required benchmark in the online tests but heard nothing since, presuming still with the recruiting manager to decide who to interview or it's on hold

I used to work Deansgate Junction years ago.
Interesting box to work with a 6 minute service on the Metrolink side you are in effect dealing with a tram/train movement every 90 seconds.

Fitted with a Westinghouse Signalling Systems M5 NX panel utilising SSI (Solid State Interlocking)

 

[Highlandspring]

. . .

 

[galaxynew]

I used to work Deansgate Junction years ago.
Interesting box to work with a 6 minute service on the Metrolink side you are in effect dealing with a tram/train movement every 90 seconds.

Fitted with a Westinghouse Signalling Systems M5 NX panel utilising SSI (Solid State Interlocking)

Thanks for the info, i did park up next to it a few weeks ago as was passing and certainly was busy yes. I did read somewhere it is double "manned", is that correct do you know?

Are you still with NR, bit strange that have heard nothing at all since October and when i called HR they just said the application is still live and in the hands of the recruiting manager, the listing was for 2 positions on an 18 month secondment which i presume is due to plans for it to close and move to the ROC.

Cheers

 

[galaxynew]

Have tried to google this but not having any luck so thought would ask on here.

Is there an up to date list of signal boxes that can be accessed online or be downloaded, presumed there would be but can't find anything?

Thanks

 

[Llanigraham]

Have tried to google this but not having any luck so thought would ask on here.

Is there an up to date list of signal boxes that can be accessed online or be downloaded, presumed there would be but can't find anything?

Thanks

In what way?