A career as a signaller

[Jaysub]

If I told you had I have to kill you lol

Lol maybe one day il find out

 

[Tom Quinne]

It’s not Wessex, sorry Southern Region as it is now anyway lol

 

[Tom Quinne]

@Highlandspring could you expand on the controllef grades please mate?

Grade 1/2/3 etc, I’m looking a train running controller job but I don’t understand the various grades.

Cheers !

 

[Danc87]

I was wondering this as I've also applied for the Cambridge crossing keeper one. Have you also applied for the grade 7 Cambridge position?

ive applied for the grade 7 position but considering the crossing keeper just need more info asap as it would be a commute and a wage drop possibly dependingon the top ups

 

[Tom Quinne]

Remember if you possibly take a wage drop, it’s worth it in the long term once you get a Signaller job.

 

[Danc87]

Remember if you possibly take a wage drop, it’s worth it in the long term once you get a Signaller job.

But is it easy to transfer from crossing keeper to signaller role and how long roughly before u can start applying for other posts

 

[Tom Quinne]

It’s as easy or as difficult as you make it, get in head down, work hard = easy.

Get in, mess about, go sick, cause issues = hard to impossible.

Once you’ve completed your initial six months probation you can apply for posts.

As a crossing keeper you won’t go to signalling school, so you can’t transfer as such. But you’ll have a lot of more evidence for your application than someone who is raw to the job.

 

[Habitat]

From the benefits section of the NR website;

• 28 days’ annual leave and the opportunity to buy or sell two days per year

Does this include the 8 Bank Holidays each year?

 

[GingerRH]

From the benefits section of the NR website;

• 28 days’ annual leave and the opportunity to buy or sell two days per year

Does this include the 8 Bank Holidays each year?

No it doesn’t.

Also as signallers you cannot buy and sell leave (it’s usually management grade).

 

[Danc87]

Brilliant thanks

It’s as easy or as difficult as you make it, get in head down, work hard = easy.

Get in, mess about, go sick, cause issues = hard to impossible.

Once you’ve completed your initial six months probation you can apply for posts.

As a crossing keeper you won’t go to signalling school, so you can’t transfer as such. But you’ll have a lot of more evidence for your application than someone who is raw to the job.

Brilliant thanks so I'd have to go to signalling school if I managed to transfer! Do they still get the same perks i.e. shift allowances and outer London allowances etc as I'm trying to work out how much of a pay cut I'd be taking as I'd have to commute and possibly stay over it says base salary 25k

 

[Habitat]

No it doesn’t.

Also as signallers you cannot buy and sell leave (it’s usually management grade).

Thanks for the clarification

 

[Tom Quinne]

Brilliant thanks

Brilliant thanks so I'd have to go to signalling school if I managed to transfer! Do they still get the same perks i.e. shift allowances and outer London allowances etc as I'm trying to work out how much of a pay cut I'd be taking as I'd have to commute and possibly stay over it says base salary 25k

You’ll still get all the allowances regardless of signaller or crossing keeper their both regarding as “signalling grades”.

I think as a grade 2 crossing keeper you’d do £30,000+ just with your nights and Sundays etc, add to that any RDW etc.

 

[Highlandspring]

@Highlandspring could you expand on the controller grades please mate?

I've sent you a wee private message.

 

[Tom Quinne]

I've sent you a wee private message.

Thanks mate, much appreciated

 

[Jaysub]

Has there been a new grade chart with the new payrise ??

 

[GingerRH]

Has there been a new grade chart with the new payrise ??

No as the current offer hasn’t been accepted yet (as far as I’m aware).

 

[Tom Quinne]

I believe it’s with the Union top boys for consideration at the moment.

 

[nom de guerre]

It shows the Train Service Code from which the FOC can be derived if you can find the appropriate information to do so...

Didn’t know that - ta.

 

[nom de guerre]

what sort of shift allowance etc would i be looking at on top of the cambridge crossing keeper base pay which i think is 25k please? and does anyone know anymore about the job ie shifts bing 12 hours etc.
same with the sittingbourne one please

This vacancy is for a Bridge Operator at Kingsferry Bridge.

8hr roster. Good starter job: no signalling required and generally not too many bridge lifts per shift.

You’d clear £30K and property in the surrounding area is relatively cheap.

 

[Danc87]

This vacancy is for a Bridge Operator at Kingsferry Bridge.

8hr roster. Good starter job: no signalling required and generally not too many bridge lifts per shift.

You’d clear £30K and property in the surrounding area is relatively cheap.

Brilliant thanks for the clarification only trouble is 8hour rosters meaning I'd have to stay away more days in a month I guess!

 

[Danc87]

Anyone know much about the Cambridge one same wage and shift pattern? For the crossing

 

[Davieo]

If you're looking at jobs in the south east, I'd recommend the talent pool for the medway valley line, or strood as its advertised. A majority of the signallers who are recruited down there are external applicants and the turnover of staff is reasonably high too as signallers regularly move on up to higher grades elsewhere.

Good luck with your applications, its a great job once you get in.

what sort of shift allowance etc would i be looking at on top of the cambridge crossing keeper base pay which i think is 25k please? and does anyone know anymore about the job ie shifts bing 12 hours etc.
same with the sittingbourne one please impretty much now willing to apply for anything to get my foot in the door,
also will it be easier to go from a crossing keeper to a signaller then getting a job straight into signalling?

 

[ljmac]

Hi all,

My first post. I have been lurking for a bit and I am reading through this thread.
I have a pending application for grade 3 at Hexham. I have so far met the test benchmark and the application is under consideration. There is now a grade 2 position at Bedlington.

My question is, should I also apply for this? Will I have to fill out the 69 questions again?

Many thanks.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Yes apply !!!

You’ll also need to complete the intial application as well, top tip write the answers out in a word document for future reference, makes future apps quicker and allows for editing if required.

Good luck !

 

[ljmac]

Thanks, what is a realistic achievable salary at grade 2?

 

[Tom Quinne]

Basic is £27,705

£121 per day turn (8hr roster)
£182 per day turn (12hr roster)
£12.18 per night turn on top of the day rate.

£182 per Sunday day turn (8hrs)
£274 per Sunday day turn (12hrs)

All in grade with just booked turns would probably be circa £33,000, you could easily do £40,000 with an average amount of RDW.

It really does depend on how understaffed your location is, if there are Sunday or night turns some locations close or switch out on nights or Sundays.

 

[ljmac]

Basic is £27,705

£121 per day turn (8hr roster)
£182 per day turn (12hr roster)
£12.18 per night turn on top of the day rate.

£182 per Sunday day turn (8hrs)
£274 per Sunday day turn (12hrs)

All in grade with just booked turns would probably be circa £33,000, you could easily do £40,000 with an average amount of RDW.

It really does depend on how understaffed your location is, if there are Sunday or night turns some locations close or switch out on nights or Sundays.

Thanks Tom that's great! I better get filling in my second application then.

 

[bouff34]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if I am likely to be able to park at Network Rail, Gresley Rd, Basingstoke - I have my medical there tomorrow...

Thanks

 

[GingerRH]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if I am likely to be able to park at Network Rail, Gresley Rd, Basingstoke - I have my medical there tomorrow...

Thanks

If you phone in advance and book it in, then I’d say yes. If you don’t and just turn up, then I’d say no.

 

[bouff34]

If you phone in advance and book it in, then I’d say yes. If you don’t and just turn up, then I’d say no.

thanks